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01 |
Apologies for Absence |
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02 |
Declarations of Interest |
Members are reminded that they should declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests at this point and that they should leave the meeting room before any item, in which they have a prejudicial interest, is discussed.
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03 |
Minutes |
Members are asked to agree the minutes, attached marked 3, of the Audit and Performance Management Committee meeting, held on 30 November 2010, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.
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For decision |
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04 |
Public Questions |
Members are asked to receive any questions, statements or petitions, of which notice has been received, from members of the public.
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05 |
Audit and Performance Management Committee Work Plan 2011-12 |
This report, attached marked 5, puts forward a 2011 / 2012 Work Plan for the Audit and Performance Management Committee for consideration and approval by Members.
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For decision |
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06 |
Audit Commission Matters |
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06a |
External Audit Statement of Audit Progress 2010/11 |
This paper, attached marked 6a, reports on the Audit Commission’s progress in delivering its responsibilities as the Authority's external auditor. It also seeks to highlight key emerging national issues and developments, which may be of interest to Members. At the end of this update Members may wish to consider a number of questions in order to ensure that they have received sufficient assurance on the emerging issues.
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For information |
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06b |
2010/11 Revised Fee Letter |
This letter, attached marked 6b, advises of the Audit Commission's revised fee for 2010/11.
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For information |
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06c |
2010/11 Opinion Audit Testing Strategy |
This paper, attached marked 6c, sets out the audit work, which the Audit Commission proposes to undertake to support its opinion on the Fire Authority's 2010/11 financial statements and the value for money conclusion.
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For information |
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07 |
Internal Audit: Progress Report on 2010/11 Audit Plan and Proposed 2011/12 Audit Plan |
This report, attached marked 7, details progress on the 2010/11 Internal Audit Plan and seeks the Committee's confirmation of the 2011/12 Plan.
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For decision |
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08 |
Risk Management Group Internal Audit Progress Monitoring Report |
This report, attached marked 8, provides Members with an update on the monitoring of recommendations made by Internal Audit, which is undertaken by the Risk Management Group. It specifically covers details about the progress made against outstanding recommendations.
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For information |
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09 |
Annual Governance Statement |
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09a |
Timetable |
This report, attached marked 9a, informs Members of the process, which will be put in place to ensure that the Fire Authority's Annual Governance Statement is ready for inclusion in the Final Accounts for 2010/11.
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For decision |
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09b |
Improvement Plan 2010/11 |
This report, marked 9b, summarises the progress made to date against the improvements contained in the Annual Governance Statement Improvement Plan 2010/11.
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For information |
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10 |
Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy |
This report, marked 10, requests Members to recommend that the Fire Authority adopt the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy, following the annual review conducted by officers.
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For decision |
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11 |
Performance Monitoring |
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11a |
Performance against Best Value Performance Indicators April 2010 to December 2010 |
The Service Performance Group has received a management paper detailing performance. This agenda item acts as an Exception Report, bringing to the attention of Members key strategic performance issues, which are summarised below. Areas of poor performance are being addressed through the Service Performance Group.
Corporate measures continue to experience high levels of achievement against targets. Financial Indicators are all performing on target with the exception of BV8, with the achievement falling to 96.9 percent of undisputed invoices being paid within 30 days (target is 99 percent). Sickness indicators are within agreed targets and performing well, as are those for Equality and Diversity, where still appropriately measured. Environmental impact has improved from the last quarter to a current assessment value of 823 against the year end target value of 820. There have been 46 personal injury staff accidents in the year to date, whereas there were a total of 49 for the last full year. Of these, 15 have been during operational incidents – 9 in December alone.
Operational measures show that wholetime appliances remain available for 100 percent of the time. The previous high increase in the number of deliberate secondary fires has noticeably reduced, with only 10 occurring in December, and it is now predicted that target should be met. The number of accidental dwelling fires has risen, with the expected seasonal high occurring in December. It should be noted that 57 out of 169 accidental dwelling fires were out when the Service arrived. Improvements have been seen in all three smoke alarm measures (number fitted, number NOT fitted and number which failed to activate), which, although still failing target, are experiencing a reduced margin of percentage failure.
The National Indicators show the Authority to have improved, with the number of primary arson fires occurring in the Telford and Wrekin area reducing and with secondary arson falling in the Shropshire Council area. A reducing trend is continuing as the year progresses. The Authority is on track to achieve target for the number of all primary fires and resulting casualties and fatalities.
The above commentary acts as a précis of performance for the previous reporting period. More detailed information is available upon request from the Service’s Performance Analyst.
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For information |
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11b |
Summary of Progress within the Improvement Priorities |
At its meeting on 11 February 2009 the Fire Authority agreed a suite of Improvment Priorities to ensure the successful delivery of its overarching aims and objectives. There are three priority areas, namely Capacity, Competence and Communication, each supporting stages / work streams managed under the heading "Customer Focus". There is nothing of exception to report with these supporting stages / work streams up to the end of February 2011.
Further information on the above will be reported in the 2010/11 Annual Report due for publication in June 2011.
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For information |
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11c |
Retained Duty System Performance Monitoring October to December 2010 |
This report, marked 11c, provides information regarding the ongoing performance of the Retained Duty System in Shropshire.
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For information |
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12 |
Public Value Performance Measures (Revised) 2011/12 |
This report, marked 12, informs Members of further developments to produce and implement a meaningful and simplified suite of performance measures.
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For decision |
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13 |
Equality and Diversity |
There are currently 52 actions contained in the Single Equality Scheme (SES), of which to date:
• 4 (8%) have been completed since the last review;
• 19 (36%) are in progress;
• 13 (25%) are not yet due;
• 12 (23%) are ongoing actions, which are completed for the duration of the Scheme; and
• 4 (8%) are overdue (to be reviewed by the Steering Group).
A summary of some of the actions is given below.
The discipline and grievance training programme has now been completed and dyslexia awareness training was completed in December 2010. The actions from the Equality Impact Assessment of the new HQ building have now been completed and incorporated, where reasonable, into the programme. An audit of part of the Equality Framework is currently being considered with our regional partners as long as it is cost neutral. The HR team is currently testing the proposed electronic application form. Feedback has now been received on the Crucial Crew presentations and an updated lesson plan is to be introduced in June 2011, which will be more interactive and use the smoke filled tent.
We are currently attending the Shrewsbury Action Against Racism group and hope to be involved in local projects during the forthcoming year. We have also been working with our regional Fire Service partners on a review of our Equality Impact Assessment process.
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For information |
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13b |
Equality and Diversity Steering Group Progress |
Since the last Committee update the Steering Group has met once (on 26 January 2011). A presentation was given by Andy Griffiths, Wellington Station Manager, informing the Steering Group of its local work and links to Equality and Diversity. The following are some of the groups/events they have been involved with:
• Wellington Neighbourhood Delivery Group
• Donnington Partnership
• Connecting Communities
• Youth Parliament
• Women’s Eid Mela
• Telford College of Arts and Technology
• Age UK celebration
A presentation was also given by Patrick Devine the Equalities Co-ordinator of the Telford Race, Equality and Diversity Partnership, informing the Group of the changes to this partnership and how the new organisation, Rights and Fairness Telford (RAFT) will focus their work activities in the future.
The Group also received positive feedback from managers, who had attended the transgender awareness course, provided by the Gender Advisory Bureau. A briefing guide for managers on the Equality Act is currently being devised and a similar one will be developed for Members. The Group agreed to renew the membership of Networking Women in the Fire Service (NWFS) and the Asian Fire Service Association (ASFA), both of which have given a reduction in their current rates to reflect budget cuts. Membership of Stonewall is also due for renewal shortly and the E&D officer has contacted them to review their membership costs.
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For information |
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