Agenda item

To consider item 17

The Head of Human Resources advised Members that a report was presented to the Executive Committee in March which showed the work to date and the planned work, and this report was an update on the work to date. In March 2023 HMICFRS published the ‘Values and Culture in Fire and Rescue Services’ report.  An Extraordinary Fire Authority meeting was held on 28 April 2023 where the HMICFRS recommendations were approved. The plan was to combine the action plans from the two reports and base them on the draft National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Culture Action Plan.  Updates on progress would be presented in due course.

Appendix 1 showed an updated version of work to date and planned work. Appendix 2 showed the DBS letter sent to HMICFRS in March. Appendix 3 showed the Equality Impact Assessment and Appendix 4 showed the updated HMICFRS values and culture in fire and rescue services recommendations and update.

A Members asked why action 16 – ‘Review of Vision and Values to include Code of Ethics’ was in red.

The Head of Human Resources advised that it was in red as it had not yet been started and was due to commence in quarters 2 and 3.

The Chairman asked about the HMICFRS action plan and why concern 4 was marked as off track and had a moved due date of 1 January 2024. The due date was 1 June 2023 for Chief Fire Officers to assure themselves on how concerns were being raised. The Chairman asked the Chief Fire Officer if he had assured himself against the 1 June target and was the off track date because of the work being undertaken with the professional standards.

The Chief Fire Officer advised Members that he was assured he was aware of everything going on within the organisation, he was assured that people coming forward were dealt with, and that they were dealt with in the appropriate way, and this was followed up.

The Chief Fire Officer advised that in terms of the professional standards function, there were ongoing discussions looking at collaboration in the Thames Valley, and with other fire and rescue services.

The Chairman suggested that the action was split into two. That phase one of the action had been completed on time, the next phase was in progress, rather than off track, and a target of 1 January 2024 had been set. This was also the case with items 20 and 21.

The Head of Technology, Transformation and PMO advised Members that the reason it was showing as off track was that the date had been revised, and in the next report it would not be showing as off track.

The Chief Fire Officer advised that in terms of evidencing this, confidentiality was key in encouraging people to come forward, so it was difficult to provide evidence more broadly to HMICFRS. Anything that was of concern had been notified to HMICFRS, but the detail was not shared.

RESOLVED –

That the work carried out to date and the planned work in respect of Exploring our Culture be noted.