Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY held at the Borough Council Offices, Eastleigh on 6 June, 2002

PRESENT:

    Councillors: M.F. Cartwright (Chairman); Mrs. A.E. Bailey; Mrs. E.S.M. Barron; A. Bentley; K. Chapman; J.E. Coles; B.D. Dash; M. Gausden; Mrs. D. Harrison; P.A. Heath; D. Horne; PR.C. Hutcheson; D.A. Kirk; P. Luffman; R. McIntosh; Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott; R.H. Price; P. Russell; K.P.J. Searle; G. Semmens; R. Smith; Mrs. M.D. Snaith; J. Stocks; M. Woodhall.

89 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R. Baulk.

90 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 22 May, 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Chairman's Communications (Minute 77)

A Member suggested that it might be helpful if the NJC was to communicate not only to the Chief Fire Officer on the 2002 Firefighters' Pay Claim but directly with the 3 Political Spokespersons on the Authority and the Chairman of the Personnel Committee. The Chairman undertook to investigate this suggestion further and to arrange for the Members mentioned to meet as required on this issue.

Members congratulated those HFRS personnel involved in the sprinkler demonstration given at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton on 27 May,2002. They felt it was important not only for the Chief Fire Officer to continue giving publicity to the effectiveness of sprinklers in the home but to ensure housing authorities in Hampshire were made fully aware of this.

BT Systems Failure - 25 April, 2002 (Minute 82)

The Chief Fire Officer reported on the outcome of the joint meeting with BT and other representatives on 23 May, 2002 to discuss the BT Systems failure on 25 April, 2002. A number of issues had been raised and an assurance given by BT that such an incident was most unlikely to occur again

Councillor K. Chapman declared an interest and took no part in questions on this item.

LGA Conference 3-5 July, 2002 (Minute 88)

The Chief Fire Officer noted that Councillor J. Coles would represent the Liberal Democrat Group at this Conference.

91 MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES AND OTHER BODIES

The Authority considered the report of the Clerk (Item 3 in the Minute Book) about a Liberal Democrat vacancy which had arisen on the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Community Fire Safety Task Force as a result of Councillor Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown having been replaced by Councillor B.D. Dash on the Authority. Also, it was reported that since the report had been prepared the Labour Group had replaced Councillor W.H. Wheeler by Councillor P. Luffman on the Authority.

RESOLVED:

      (i) That Councillor B.D. Dash be appointed in place of Councillor Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown on the Finance and General Purposes Committee and on the Community Fire Safety Task Force.

      (ii) That Councillor P. Luffman be appointed in place of Councillor W.H. Wheeler on the Standards Committee.

      (iii) That the Clerk write thanking Councillors Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown and W.H. Wheeler for their most valuable contributions to the work of the Authority.

      (iv) That the Clerk be authorised to approve changes in Committee Membership where proportional rules apply.

92 DEPUTATIONS

[Prior to receiving the deputations, the Chairman made a statement of his intention to move amended recommendations to the Authority outlining a modified short to medium term strategy in respect of Copnor Fire Station which, if approved, would result in it remaining open for a period of 3-5 years whilst minimum repair works were undertaken]

The Authority received the following 7 deputations opposing the option in the report to revisit the operational need for Copnor Fire Station. They each hoped the Authority would support the way forward outlined above by the Chairman.

      (i) Mr. K. Bains - local resident

      (ii) Mr. C.J. Ayres - local resident and former firefighter

      (iii) Councillor M. Park - City Councillor and local resident

      (iv) Miss S. Roe - local resident

      (v) Mr. R. Chamberlane - local resident

      (vi) Mr. H. Williams - Fire Brigades Union

      (vii) Councillor M. Andrewes - City Councillor and local resident.

93 COPNOR FIRE STATION, PORTSMOUTH

The Chief Fire Officer reported that prior to the meeting 3 individual letters and an e-mail had been received opposing the closure of the Copnor Fire Station.

The Authority had before them the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on possible options for dealing with this matter, including revisiting the operational need for Copnor Fire Station. Also, the Chairman referred to amended recommendations (Item 5(i) in the Minute Book) by him which proposed a modified short to medium term strategy to deal with the Copnor Fire Station issue. As a result of this development, the Authority agreed that it would not be necessary to receive a further presentation by the Chief Fire Officer at this meeting on the main Fire Cover Review issues and other data upon which his conclusions over Copnor Fire Station had been based.

The Chief Fire Officer tabled at the meeting a letter from Mr. M. Toosey of the County Council's Property, Business and Regulatory Services Department (who was also acting as the Authority's building's consultant) setting out a summary of the condition survey of the Copnor Fire Station building. The letter dated 28 May, 2002 (Item 5(ii) in the Minute Book) included a financial summary of the minimal short-term and medium term repairs which would be required.

During a full discussion the Authority raised detailed questions on the condition survey, particularly in relation to the accuracy of the estimated costs shown. Members were assured that the figures were as reasonable estimates as it was possible to make them at this stage and that the minimum repairs referred to would include the removal of the existing scaffolding around Copnor Fire Station and measures to make the building safe for continued occupation.

In considering the overall fire cover arrangements of Hampshire, the Authority recognised the importance of providing a second fire station at Basingstoke and felt, notwithstanding that it would be prudent to make contingency provision from its existing capital resources towards repairs to Copnor Fire Station, its capital priority should be for providing the new Basingstoke Fire Station. They felt that in view of the costs involved in keeping Copnor Fire Station open it was most important to seek additional financial support from the constituent authorities.

The Authority supported further discussions taking place on the future requirements for fire stations in Portsmouth and felt particular attention should be paid to a replacement fire station at Cosham and the need for full public consultations on the matter. Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

That in the light of the latest costs, and the belief that operations can be continued during repairs, the Fire Authority approve the following:

      (i) the modified short to medium term strategy be approved in accordance with revised estimates for minimum repairs at a figure of £135,000;

      (ii) that capital resources be allocated to include a contingency of £115,000, making a maximum of £250,000 over a period of 3-5 years;

      (iii) that a request be made to the constituent authorities for additional financial support to cover these costs;

      (iv) during this period, further discussions be undertaken to establish, and a decision made on, the future requirements for fire stations in Portsmouth, which shall include a process of public consultation to be agreed by the Authority and in particular further consideration be given to a replacement station at Cosham and that the Chief Fire Officer present a report to a future meeting of the Authority.

      (v) that the Authority's Capital Priority should be a new second station at Basingstoke.

4gM91602