Page 131 - Archived Back Issues

FIREFIGHTERS’
MEET THE CHIEF
Peter Hopkins meets Ann Millington, Chief of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
ruled that retained firefighters had been treated less favourably in terms of pension rights and sick pay. In addition, a spate of EU legislation around driver's hours, health and safety and working time also put a focus on the 60-year-old system.
The Service was also undertaking a comprehensive emergency response review, and it was clear that guaranteed availability of crews was vital to future changes.
In addition, the recent deaths of retained firefighters in other parts of the UK focussed attention on being absolutely sure retained staff worked enough hours to complete essential safety training.
KFRS Chief Executive, Ann Millington, said "We needed to know we had staff available when and where we needed them, and that we could forward plan with accuracy and reliability. Previously, retained staff often committed to over 120 hours, but chose themselves which hours they would work. Now staff are on call for an agreed number of guaranteed hours based on a risk assessment for each station area. This is no criticism of the very dedicated retained firefighters we had here in Kent, but the 60-year-old retained system we inherited after World War II was no longer fit for our needs."
Kent's new contracts identify the annual number of hours for core training, as well as simplifying the previously complicated retained payments system which was largely claim based. Under the new on-call system firefighters are paid an annual salary - whether called out or not. They also receive extra payments if they are called out to incidents over and above an agreed threshold, at the same hourly rate as wholetime firefighters.
KFRS aimed for around 60 on-call contracted hours, allowing firefighters to have a more sensible work-life balance to fit in with family commitments and primary employment, as well as ensuring KFRS has guaranteed availability when and where it is needed.
To further enhance the availability of staff at the right time and in the right place, annualised contracts have also been developed to provide a flexible resource to fill gaps in crewing on part-time pumps on a pre-planned basis by drawing on a 'pot' of hours that individual firefighters commit to. The use of annualised contracts in this way is subject to review to ensure that this resourcing model is right for the organisation.
KFRS is currently recruiting for around 80 new on-call firefighters, and is offering contracts to work specific hours that match the local risk profile of particular stations.
With thanks to Ann Millington CEO and KFRS PR Officer.
NEWS
PM appoints new Fire Minister
Brandon Lewis has replaced Bob Neill as Fire Minister in England as part of the Coalition Government reshuffle.
Mr Lewis becomes Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
He was elected the Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth in 2010 after a career in law and business, and currently sits on the Regulatory Reform Committee and the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
Taking up the role, Mr Lewis said: 'I am honoured to have been appointed to the position of Fire and Rescue Minister. I recognise the important service fire and rescue authorities deliver to local communities. Fire and rescue authorities and wider sector partners play a key role in ensuring public safety, reducing deaths and injuries from fire, promoting fire prevention and responding to major national emergencies. It is a key public service and one that I look forward to learning more about in this new challenging role.
'I would also like to wish my predecessor Bob Neill MP all the best for the future and thank him for his contribution to the Government's work during his time in the role.'
Mr Lewis’ website says he has a wealth of business experience and fully understands the challenges facing small businesses and the burdens placed on them by government.
The appointment was one of a host of changes in junior ministerial ranks at DCLG.
In the first of these new articles I met Ann Millington from Kent Fire and Rescue Service during which Ann outlined how Kent FRS is first in the UK to move from retained fire fighter to on-call contracts
Ann Millington is originally from Wales and graduated with a philosophy and psychology degree. She has worked in HR in the Home Office, as well as the NHS, and for the London Borough of Bexley. Most of her career has been in Organisational Development, involving developing systems and managing change projects. Ann joined Kent Fire and Rescue and Service in 2007 as HR Director, then became Deputy Chief Executive. She became Chief Executive of Kent Fire and Rescue Service in early 2011 and is the first woman to take the helm at KFRS.
Eighteen months ago Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) became the first in the UK to move its 750 retained firefighters to on-call contracts with virtually the same terms and conditions as their wholetime colleagues, allowing KFRS more control over the availability of pumps when and where they are needed.
Several significant factors led to the change. In 2010 the results of the FBU tribunal finally
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