Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 8

29 May, 2003

Appointment of Committees, Deputies and Other Appointments

Report of the Clerk

Contact: Mr. K. Ridout. (01962) 847356

(With the concurrence of the Chairman under Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, this matter is included on the agenda to enable the Authority to make the necessary appointments).

1. Summary

1.1. This report seeks approval to the proportional allocation of members to the Authority's Finance and General Purposes, Personnel, Best Value and Standards Committees, to the appointment of members and deputies to serve on each, the appointment of their respective Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen; and to various other appointments. It is also proposed at this meeting to rename the Best Value Committee the Performance Review Committee. This is to more accurately reflect its work.

2. Size and Political Composition of Committees

2.1. Following the recent Portsmouth and Southampton City Council elections, the political composition of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority remain as before with 14 Conservative, 7 Liberal Democrats and 4 Labour. From the County Council, Councillor E.F. Gale MBE has replaced Councillor Mrs A.M. McNair Scott. Portsmouth City Council have reappointed Councillors D. Horne and G. Semmens and appointed Councillor M. Andrewes in place of Councillor A. Bentley. At their Annual Meeting on 21 May 2003, Southampton City Council appointed 1 Conservative, 1 Labour and 1 Liberal Democrat Member to the Authority. However, the names of each of their representatives is still awaited at this time but are expected over the course of the next few days in time for the meeting.

2.2. The political proportionality of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 apply to the Authority. This requires, inter-alia, that where one political group has an overall majority, that group must have a majority on any Committee.

2.3. The existing number of seats on the Authority's Committees is set out below and it is proposed that the seats on the Committees remain unchanged.

3. Appointment of Deputies

3.1. The Authority's Standing Orders normally require each Committee to include one Member from each of the constituent authorities. In respect of the two Cities, where they have had only one representative on a Committee it has been the practice to appoint a deputy. Notwithstanding this, currently there is no Portsmouth Member on either the Best Value or the Standards Committee. The Authority may wish to take this into consideration in making their appointments. The former Membership of the four Committees, together with deputies, as previously appointed, appears as an appendix to the report.

4. Other Authority Appointments

4.1. The Fairness and Dignity Group - This Group comprises Fire Service Management Staff and union representatives and deals with issues of equality etc within the Fire Service. Meetings are normally held bi-monthly. Meetings are held on a rotation basis at different fire stations across Hampshire and the local Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority member is invited to attend those Fairness and Dignity meetings held in their particular area.

4.2. The Authority is asked to re-appoint members and deputies to this Group.

4.3. Community Fire Safety Task Force - Community Fire Safety within HFRS is partly managed by a Community Fire Safety Task Force. This Group normally meets bi-monthly and comprises of Fire Service Management staff, a teaching advisor, union representatives and five Members of the Authority. Meetings are held at different fire stations across Hampshire in a similar way to the Fairness and Dignity Group. Also, staff are able to join the meetings as observers. It's present role is currently being re-evaluated by the Chief Fire Officer.

4.4. The Authority is asked to re-appoint members and deputies to this Group.

5. European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

5.1. The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. That the Best Value Committee be renamed the Performance Review Committee with immediate effect.

2. That, for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the allocation of seats on the Finance and General Purposes, Personnel, Performance Review and Standards Committees of the Authority, be as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report.

3. That, the Authority re-appoint Members of the Finance and General Purposes, Personnel, Performance Review and Standards Committees and their respective Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, as necessary.

4. That the Fairness and Dignity Group be re-appointed on a similar basis as previously.

5. That the Community Fire Safety Task force be re-appointed on a similar basis as previously.

6. That the Clerk be notified by the Members appointed in (4) and (5) of their respective deputies to attend a particular meeting if required.

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Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclosure exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

APPENDIX

CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS

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