Programme Plan

Programme planning is not simply project planning on a larger scale. Planning a programme requires the integration of various strategies so that the programme plan reflects not only the schedule of projects within the Project Portfolio, but also the way the programme is to manage quality, risk, communication and benefits.

       PDF of the WMRMB Programme Plan 2006-08

The WMRMB Modernisation Programme comprises of seven thematic project streams. The project streams address the following themed areas of modernisation and reform:

Each area encompasses the key activities considered by WMRMB to be the minimum necessary to deliver the levels of reform and modernisation required within this region's fire and rescue services, as set out within the government's 'Fire and Rescue National Framework: 2006-08' document.

Full in-life details of each project are recorded within the region's 'WMRMB Programme Plan 2006-08'.

The programme strategy document - 'Benefits Management Strategy' documents WMRMB's strategy for managing the delivery of benefits arising from each project. The strategy document - 'Benefits Realisation Plan' acts as a live and dynamic document indicates what will happen, where and when the benefits will occur and who will be responsible for their delivery.

The 'Benefits Realisation Plan' integrates with this document (Programme Plan 2006-08) and shows a very clear handover and responsibilities for ongoing operations in the changed state (where the benefits will actually accrue).

The purpose of the 'Benefits Realisation Plan' is to ensure that:

Nominated fire authority Business Change Managers are responsible for the tracking process which monitors achievement of benefits against expectations and targets. The tracking process will be capable of tracking both 'hard' (e.g. cost, headcount) and 'soft' (e.g. image) benefits and operates alongside the changed operation.

The derived benefits will contribute to the achievement of government's stated modernisation objectives and targets.

The Programme has, since 1st April 2004, been managed in accordance with the Office of Government Commerce's (OGC) Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) methodology. An overview of the WMRMB programme governance arrangements is illustrated in Figure 1 below.

       PDF of the WMRMB Programme Governance Structure

The Programme is governed through a formally established Programme Board Executive (Board) representative of the key stakeholders within the Region. The Board's appointed Programme Manager (who heads the Programme Office) undertakes the day-to-day management of the Programme. Both the Board and WMRMB are provided with financial advice and support from the region's Treasurers' Working Group.

The Board has functioned in accordance with the MSP governance arrangements, reporting its progress and recommendations to WMRMB on a three-monthly basis.