SFRS is conducting a review of its
Retained Duty System (RDS). In order to assist this review a policy
development panel has been directed to carry out an in-depth look
at the RDS within Suffolk and provide a report to Suffolk county
Council (SCC) Cabinet in April 09.
Policy Development Panels have an important role to play in
breaking new ground and looking to the future; investing in the
continuing improvement of SCC. They exist to:
· Develop new policy, focusing on entirely new areas or areas of
transformational change
· Make fully-costed and evidence-based recommendations on the
above to Cabinet
A PDP has been constructed to focus on the Retained Duty System.
Lead by Councillor Jane Midwood, the Chair of the PDP, the PDP will
hold its meetings at various Retained fire stations around the
county, in order that members of the Panel can get a feel for the
range and type of stations and provide an opportunity for the panel
to meet as many RDS staff as possible, to seek their views.
The PDP will look at these broad
headings under their TOR
1. The Role of Retained Firefighters
2. Recruitment of Retained
Firefighters
3. Selection and progression of
Retained Firefighters
4. Retention of Retained
Firefighters
5. Training and development of
Retained Firefighters
6. Remuneration arrangements for
Retained Firefighters
The review gets underway with the first of 4 meetings at Eye
Fire Station on 17th November. The PDP have now agreed
the focus group, which will consist of Gary Clark, Martyn
Hazelwood, Graeme Gould, Mel Buck, Lucy Alexander and Mark
Cooper.
- Future meetings are scheduled for;
- 15th December Stowmarket,
- 20th January Southwold
- 23rd February at Colchester Road.
In addition to the focus group in providing evidence are members
of Training & Development, Human Resources, Representative
Bodies and people from outside the service which contribute support
to the RDS in Suffolk.
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