Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY - FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held at Fire Brigade Headquarters, Eastleigh on 24 April, 2002
PRESENT:
Councillors: Mrs. M.D. Snaith (Chairman); M.F. Cartwright; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; P.R.C. Hutcheson; Mrs. A.M. McNair-Scott; R. Price, JP; J. Stocks; M.J. Woodhall.
Also in attendance was Councillor G. Semmens.
22 APOLOGIES
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Russell.
23 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January, 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
Budget Monitoring 2001/02
In response to a question concerning the need for early discussions on the budget, the Chief Fire Officer reported that the Authority's property advisers condition survey had been received. This identified the short, medium and long-term building repair and maintenance needs for each fire station which would assist officers and members when determining priorities in terms of budget preparation. The Chief Fire Officer agreed to provide a financial summary presenting an indication of the major problem areas.
24 COPNOR FIRE STATION AND B DIVISION HEADQUARTERS - MAJOR BUILDING DEFECTS
Pursuant to Minute 10 of the last meeting, the Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on the major defects associated with Copnor Fire Station.
The Chief Fire Officer reported that the Authority was faced with a situation of a fire station in need of major structural repair a solution to which must be considered in the context of the longer-term needs of fire cover in the area. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the building was also the base for a number of divisional support staff.
During the discussion, the question of the Authority's financial position, given that any significant capital expenditure on Copnor would effect the provision of a second fire station in Basingstoke and the replacement of the existing Cosham Fire Station was debated. The Committee also discussed the possibility of utilising a Public Finance Initiative (PFI) but felt that although this area of funding might lend itself to some fire station sites it did reduce the amount of future flexibility.
Some members preferred Option 1, (to carry out the minimum amount of works necessary to make the building safe for continued occupation) given the need to progress the Basingstoke scheme but asked for further detailed information on costings to be provided.
In considering Option 4, members felt that clarification of the estimated figures was needed and the Chief Fire Officer agreed to provide these for the special meeting.
In considering the four options, Members proposed that the four options together with an additional option of revisiting the operational need for the Copnor Fire Station option be considered by the Authority.
Members supported the amendment with the exception of Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown and R.H. Price who wished their opposition to review the operational need for the Copnor Fire Station closure to be recorded.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE AUTHORITY:
(i) That a special meeting of the Fire Authority to discuss all options for dealing with the major building defects at Copnor Fire Station and B Division Headquarters, be convened as soon as possible after the Annual meeting of the Authority in May, 2002.
(ii) That the decision of the Fire Authority at its meeting on 6 February, 2002 "that no application be made under Section 19 of the Fire Services Act to close the Copnor Fire Station or to transfer existing operational personnel and appliances to Southsea Fire Station" be revisited at the special meeting of the Authority on a date to be determined.
(iii) That the Authority's property adviser provide estimates of the urgent structural repairs needed to the existing building as outlined in Paragraph 3.1 of the report.
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