Chairman's Announcements
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Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes:
The Chairman shared that on the 5 December 2023 he and the Chief
Fire Officer officially opened the new live fire training
facilities at the Service Headquarters. The unit had been designed
in conjunction with firefighters and was one of very few of its
kind,offering firefighters from across HIWFRS
and neighbouring services the opportunity to train in realistic,
controlled situations, to learn how fire behaves in different
conditions, and how best to respond.
It was confirmed that the independent review by Green Park into
culture within HIWFRS had concluded. The findings and
recommendations of the report were being considered and would
enhance the work already underway. A progress report would come to
a later Authority meeting.
The Chairman confirmed that he and other Members had recently
completed the Service’s mandatory Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion training and had been very impressed with the delivery.
The Chairman had also attended an event run by the Service’s
Fire Proud network group marking the start of LGBTQ+ history month
with a guest speaker, Katie Cornhill, sharing her affirmation
story.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman shared that he had attended the
official topping out ceremony at Cosham Fire Station on 19 October,
marking the completion of the main structure as well as plans to
attend the Emergency Services Carol Service in Winchester on the 15
December.
A combined Fire Cadet and Princes Trust presentation ceremony was
scheduled for the 14 December at Basingstoke Fire Station. The
Chairman concluded by thanking HIWFRS staff and volunteers for all
their work and service in 2023.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
After welcoming observers to the meeting, the Chairman
shared that five specialist search and rescue firefighters had been
deployed to Morocco as part of the UK International Search and
Rescue (ISAR) team providing specialist help following the
devastating earthquake. While in Morocco, the UK ISAR team received
a letter from Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, thanking them for their
assistance with the operation.
On the 4 October, a LIVEX 2023 exercise had taken place, arranged
by the Local Resilience Forum. It included setting up a Strategic
Coordinating Centre at Headquarters and two tactical centres, one
on the mainland and one on the Isle of Wight and the purpose was to
rehearse multi-agency tactical and strategic response, and how
partner agencies reacted to information as if it was a real
event.
The Chairman confirmed that new live fire facilities were in place,
which provided realistic burning and multi floor and scenario-based
training to further support operational teams in their development.
The first students were expected to utilise it in the middle of
October.
Finally, the Chairman shared the sad passing of Geoff Hockley, who served on the Fire Authority between June 2019 and May 2021. Condolences were sent to Geoff’s friends and family on behalf the Fire Authority.
Chairman's Announcements
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Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed new Members to the Fire Authority before sharing that Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Shantha Dickinson had been seconded to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) for up to a year. Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Stew Adamson, would take the DCFO role for this period, leading the Policy, Planning and Assurance directorate. Glenn Bowyer has been appointed as the Director of Operations and was welcomed to the Full Authority.
The Chairman informed the Authority that
the Service held a one-minute silence on
Firefighters Memorial Day to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice
of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The Service had
also participated in the Coronation of King Charles III and the
Firefighters graduation ceremony, which took place on 15
June.
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Minutes:
The Chairman confirmed attendance at the opening of Bishops Waltham Fire Station on 27 March and thanked those who attended the volunteer recognition event that took place on the 28 March.
The Chairman also paid tribute to Watch Manager Arron Jepp, who had sadly passed away after a period of ill health. Arron was a highly regarded member of Rushmoor’s White Watch and On-call team for many years and had served in a wholetime and on-call capacity and as a Prince’s Trust team leader.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman shared that Fire and Rescue
Service colleagues from across the country observed a
minute’s silence on Monday 13th February following the sad
death of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighter, Barry
Martin. Barry sadly died following
injuries sustained at a building in Edinburgh in January and the
Chairman sent condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues on
behalf of the Authority.
Members heard how nine of the search and rescue firefighters had
been deployed to Turkey to assist with life-saving activity and
praised officers for their exemplorary
training and assistance.
There had been a recent graduation of firefighters, which had been the first time that Hampshire and Isle of Wight wholetime trainees had been trained on both the mainland and the island. The next course that started on 13 February would see another 11 individuals join the Service.
In January, the Service had received its first full inspection report since becoming a Combined Fire Authority. The report included many positive findings and where the Service had veen graded ‘requires improvement’, it had been recognised for the work that was already underway in many areas to make improvements.
The Chairman updated the Authority on
industrial action, and confirmed that a ballot of Fire Brigade
Union members had begun following an offer made. Members would be
updated in due course once the ballot had closed.
It was confirmed that the Chief Fire Officer was not present at the
meeting due to receiving his Queen’s Fire Service Medal at
Windsor Castle. It was the highest award of its kind that a serving
fire officer could receive, and the Authority sent congratulations
and thanks to the CFO for the well
deserved recognition.
Vice Chairman Councillor Gary Hughes was due to step down from Fire Authority and it was his last meeting. He was thanked for his outstanding service since joining the Authority in 2021.
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Minutes:
The Chairman confirmed that the Prince’s Trust 20-year celebration event had been held at the headquarters on 18 November and a special award was presented to the Chief Fire Officer to celebrate the involvement and commitment of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to the Prince’s Trust. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s Children and Young People’s Team were had also been highly commended in the children and young people award category at the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Celebrating Prevention Awards was held on 10th November.
On Remembrance Sunday, services across the county
including Hampshire and Isle of
Wight Fire and Rescue Service and
alongside Fire Cadets from around the country, represented to
commemorate the end of the First World War and pay their
respects to all fallen soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in
countless wars at the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph in
London.?The Chairman also laid a wreath at headquarters on behalf
of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Fire and Rescue Authority.
The Chairman confirmed that there had been report on the London Fire Brigade and the Chief Fire
Officer and team would be working with teams to ensure that each of
the questions raised by the report were considered by the
organisation. The Authority would then receive a report providing
further insight at a future meeting.
An update was also provided on upcoming industrial action and
Members were reassured that the
Service was working on plans to continue delivering the vital
public service during periods of reduced staff
availability.
The Chief Fire officer confirmed that further work
was anticipated around lithium battery storage and the importance
of good management and involvement of the Fire and Rescue Service
and a signed letter had requested more inclusion during the
planning process.
It was also shared that some members of staff were participating in
the Atlantic Sailing Challenge and wished them luck.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman confirmed the passing away of Crew Manager Adrian Johnson after a short illness. The Chief Fire Officer shared how the funeral was well attended and thoughts were with the friends, family and colleagues.
I further announcements, it was confirmed that on Thursday 30 June, the newest group of 17 recruits completed their training to become Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters. The HMICFRS Inspection field work had also been completed, which was a great opportunity to understand what more could be done to improve the Service for communities and staff and also a means to share what had been proudly achieved.
The Fire Authority was also updated on recent incidents attended to by the Service and the Oregon exchange programme.
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Minutes:
The Chairman was pleased to announce the award
of the Queen’s Fire Service Medal to the Chief Fire Officer,
which was the highest award of its kind that a serving fire officer
could receive.
The Chairman confirmed his attendance at the first ever Isle of Wight based HIWFRS Princes Trust
Team Programme as well as highlighting a recent consultation by Her
Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue
Services ( HMICFRS) on its proposed inspection programme and
framework for 2023/24.
The Chairman also shared that there was a consultation on Emergency
Evacuation Information Sharing by the Home Office, which aimed to
establish a way forward in identifying and recording vulnerable
persons in high risk (high rise) residential premises. The
consultation was open until 10 August 2022.
Finally, the Chairman announced that Councillor Ian Stephens was stepping down from the Fire Commission Committee and thanked his for his work and support of the Fire Authority at the meetings he had attended.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman confirmed that he had been over to visit the Fire Stations over on the Isle of Wight on the 9th August and there were also plans for another recruitment phase in early 2022, where the Service hoped to expand on a more diverse workforce.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman thanked the Authority for his appointment and welcomed new and returning Members to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority.
Chairman's Announcements
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Minutes:
The Chairman shared condolences on behalf of the Authority to Her Majesty
The Queen on the death of her husband, His Royal Highness The
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who passed away at Windsor Castle
on Friday 9 April. The Chief Fire Officer invited Members to join
with a few moments of silence.
Thanks were paid to all staff who had worked to get the Combined
Fire Authority up and running as Members commemorated the inaugural
meeting of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue
Authority.
Congratulations were made to the Chief Fire Officer as the new
Clerk of the Authority, as well as the Shantha Dickinson who had
been appointed to be the new Deputy Chief from June 2021.
The Authority also said thank you and farewell to Councillor David
Simpson and Councillor Geoff Hockley who were retiring. A statue of
commemoration was presented to them both on behalf of Fire Service
and Fire Authority.