Networking Women in the Fire Service
National Executive Committee
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
At: The Firefighters Charity, Marine Court, Littlehampton.
Present:
Dany Cotton, Chair (DC)
Julie Gilbert-King, Vice-Chair (JKG)
Anne Waters, Treasurer (AW)
Louise Brown, HR Advisor (LB)
Katie Robinson-Brown, South East RR (KRB)
Nicola Lown, Executive Member, (NL)
Caroline Anderson, South West RR (CA)
Serena Benassi, London RR (SB)
Lisa Hicks, Executive Member (LH)
Apologies: Alex Johnson, Natalie Parkinson, Sue Heathfield, Kellie Hawley, Shelley
Turner-Dockery, Linda Boar, Divine Zake, Alison Scott, Emma Morgan, Tessa Schooling,
Lynsey McVay, Kathy Collis, Christine Svenson, Karen Elliott, Julia Hawkins, Janette
Morris, Sonia Earle, Karen Smith, Lee Joss.
1. Minutes of last meeting held on 2 May 2013 were accepted as a true record.
2. Matters Arising
2.1: New name and logo agreed at AGM.
LWMcK did not attend the TDWE and has resigned from her position.
T shirts, with new logo, were bought through LWMcK, some were sold at the
TDWE, Representatives have a small stock each for selling at Devon & Herts
events. KS is storing the rest.
Polo shirts were not supplied.
2.4 LWMcK resigned, Business Development position is vacant.
2.7 No progress on Evaluation Form. KRB agreed to draft a new form, simplified
to 3 or 4 key questions. What was good, what could be done better, how will the
experience impact on return to workplace?
4.Treasurers report -The Downham Market office has now been vacated. AW &
Sue Heathfield attended the office to assist in clearing and sorting. The bulk of
the old stock was sold off at the TDWE. KS is now working from home.
Committee agreed to making a monthly payment to KS to compensate for the
inconvenience of working from home, storage of stock, and additional
lighting/heating costs.
Action AW
JGK agreed to visit KS to do a workplace risk assessment and appraisal.
Action JGK
5.Regional Representatives Reports – Suffolk – KE has not provided DC with any
information regarding a training weekend in Suffolk in 2014. Write to KE for
clarification
Action KS
9 – Not completed (LWMcK resigned)
10 – Not completed (LWMcK resigned)
11.1 Skydive postponed due to weather.
11.5 Vicky Lowry & team completed the 3 Peaks, well done from the NEC. Article
to be requested for the newsletter.
Action KS
4. Chairs Report.
DC reported that she was pleased to be elected Chair at the AGM, and that both the LFB
Commissioner and Deputy were very supportive of her involvement and reaffirmed
their support for the organisation. In view of this DC is considering the possibility of
running a development day in LFB, for London & surrounding services in 2014.
DC raised the possibility of strike action, explained some of the related issues, discussed
the slightly different circumstances for Scotland’s FRS, and acknowledged the fact that
members were anxious and this was obviously having an effect on moral within the FRS
workplace. Consideration will need to be given to any of our events that may be
scheduled before/during/after any strike, and LB will draft a statement should it prove
necessary to cancel or postpone events.
Action LB
5. Treasurers Report
Financial Statement attached.
AW highlighted the unpaid TDWE invoices, the largest being Suffolk, to be investigated
through KE.
Action KS
DC will investigate LFB & Babcocks ( £660 & £140).
Action DC
A monthly saving will be made now that office rental has ceased.
AW met with accountant this week. Accounts for year ending April 2013 are now ready
for signing and filing at Companies House.
Action AW/DC
6. Regional Reps Reports
LB reported that Petra Barneveld and Maria Buck would soon be having their passing
out parade in Lincolnshire FRS. Congratulations to both from NEC.
West Sussex, South East Region Development Day 11/09/13. KRB reported that
everything was in hand. Facilitators from MLR would be meeting with the group
following the NEC meeting. KRB reported that L&D in ESFRS (G Chapman) had been very
helpful, and offering sponsorship advice.
Devon & Somerset: CA reported that due to some in house issues their next proposed
event had been postponed.
CA asked for information relating to women in senior management posts, and statistics
of women going for promotion. This was discussed. DC agreed to help CA find the info
from CLG returns. CA to email DC with query. Please copy KS with any information as
this is a FAQ.
Action CA/DC
LFB: SB reported that she was keen to reenergize the WFS committee in London. LH &
SB will focus on arranging an event next year with support from DC. (as detail around
Suffolk event is unknown, it is not possible to agree a date for London’s event)
7.1 Awards
No awards nominations had been received. Discussions around how to re energise this
and broaden the scope of nominees.
Action All NEC to consider.
7.2 Gifts & Hospitality - nothing to report.
8. Training and Development Weekend.
KS had sent feedback summaries to all NEC. In general terms all delegate feedback good.
AW reported considerable difficulties from the financial point of view.
Lack of bookings was of great concern, as we were “contracted to 100 delegates” (NEC
had felt confident of achieving up to 150 delegates) and we only achieved 75 with
considerable effort.
The agreement with FSC, to pay a fixed amount per delegate, did not work in our favour,
even at the reduced rate. Our own discount agreements with CAMs were over
generous.
The final invoice from FSC was over £4,000 more than anticipated, although eventually
it was reduced, from £29k to £25k, following sterling efforts by KS. The final position will
probably be break-even.
NEC members raised several questions and points were discussed:a) lack of childcare provision, (the costs were prohibitive).
b) poor take up due to people at grass roots not knowing the event is for them.
c) senior managers agreeing places but event not being advertised, poor take up
d) senior manager not having funding for places, or not seeing value.
e) middle / line managers blocking applications
f) new employees feeling that it is not necessary, times have changed
g) Choices of workshops : new & topical & what people asked for – yes.
h) less interest from operational people, more from administrative & support staff
i) we need more promotion of positive evaluations & benefits back in the workplace
j) weekend better for some people, others cant do weekends.
k) is there still the desire / need for these events
Outcomes: NEC members need to tackle some of these issues within their own
workplaces, with their peers, & their own services.
DC would like to arrange a review meeting with FSC.
Action DC/AW
9. Business Plan & Sponsorship
Decision made to reduce business plan and make it as simple and short as possible.
KRB has drafted a Business Information Pack.
Email old business plan and a copy of Katie’s to all NEC for comment
Action KS
NEC to respond by 10/10/13
Action ALL
10. Change of name and logo from NWFS to WFS
AW to see solicitor to see if we can continue as “NWFS trading as WFS”
Change Limited Company at Companies House (charge £10)
Change logos on website.
Registered business address to AWs
Changes to Memorandum & Articles – ask solicitor.
Action AW
Change of letterheads, headers footers, invoices etc. Send templates to LB to produce
new templates
Action KS/LB
Autumn Newsletter (Oct/Nov) Content
TDWE write up (KS)
West Sussex DD (KRB)
Herts event write up (?)
3 Peaks (Vicky Lowry)
Seven Sisters article & link (JGK)
Skydive Update (CA/KH)
Action: KS to collect articles.
Action: AW to collate & send
Some NWFS emails are going into junk mails or rejected as spam etc. Request all to add
the address to favorites, put message on FB etc
Action: KS
11. AOB
11.1 Scotland E&D manager to be invited to meet at NEC in LFB.
Action KS
11.2 Draft response to Preith Shergill, West Midlands E&D:
Action LB
11.3 Purple Polo shirts for NEC, committee members present agreed to pay for own
polos up to a value of £15 each. Funding would be made available for assistance
wherever necessary.
Action DZ
11.4 CAM 2014 continue with same rates, adjust discount to 10% across the board.
KS please send copies of last years CAM benefits sheets to LB.
Action KS
Redraft the CAM benefits sheets & use some recent evaluation comments. Action LB
11.5 SB proposed Voice Coaching as a future workshop.
SB: Suggested utilizing FF Charity Team (physios, counselors) to provide workshops on
Fitness & Well being, Mental Health Issues
SB: Has a contact to deliver workshop on Breast Cancer Care
All workshops potentially could be used in LFBs WDD 2014.
Action SB
11.6 Fire Sector Federation.
NL reported on the last meeting of the FSF.
Discussed the various workstreams, the CFOA trading arm, and the “Blue Watch”
new fire safety advice business they have set up
11.7 FSSAA
JGK discussed her membership of this group, her role in relaying information to the
membership. JGk said that FSSAA has advertisers’ links on their website (Home
Insurance, Cotton Traders etc) which produce revenue through purchases. JGK to
investigate further, to see if it is a profitable venture.
Action JGK
12. Next Meeting: LFB
NEC Thursday 28 November 2013 - Social Wednesday: 27th November 2013
DC recommended early bookings for hotels to achieve better rates.
Action KS/DC
Appendix 1
NWFS Limited
Financial Statement
As at 3rd September 2013
Bank Accounts (as at 03.09.13)
Community Account 10689300
£ 5,458.85
Business Tracker Account 40891207
£ 29,663.90
Total in bank accounts:
Invoices issued from 1st May 2013
£ 35,122.75
£ 26,738.00
Amount received to date:
£ 24,398.00
NWFS invoices outstanding at 03/09/13 *
£ 2,340.00
Outstanding:
30150 Suffolk FRS NWFS Training w/e June 2103
£
840.00
30172 Cheshire FRS NWFS Training w/e June 2013
£
350.00
30174 Northern Ireland FRS NWFS Training w/e June
£
350.00
30179 London Fire Brigade NWFS Training w/e June
£
660.00
30180 Babcock Int Group NWFS Training w/e June
£
140.00
£
2,340.00