Archived decisions

    AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY held at the Borough Council Offices, Eastleigh on 17 September, 2003.

PRESENT:

    Councillors: M.F. Cartwright (Chairman); M. Andrewes; Mrs. A.E. Bailey; Mrs. E.S.M. Barron; K. Chapman; E.F. Gale, MBE; P.A. Heath; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; D. Horne; P.R.C. Hutcheson; D.A. Kirk; S. Letts; P. Luffman; R. MacIntosh; J. Stocks; M.J. Woodhall.

171 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R. Baulk; J.E. Coles; P. Galton; Mrs. D. Harrison; R.H. Price; K.P.J. Searle; G. Semmens; R. Smith; Mrs. M.D. Snaith.

172 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest reported on this item.

173 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 29 May, 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

174 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS AND INCIDENTS OF INTEREST

      (i) The Chairman reported on several changes in fire safety legislation, his attendances at recent South-East Region Fire and Rescue Service Forums, a Fire Service Conference in Brussels and a presentation and certificates of congratulations, from the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Constable for Red Watch at St. Mary's Fire Station, Southampton. Also, the Chairman referred to a recent remembrance service at St. Paul's Cathedral which he and other HFRA members had attended for firefighters who had lost their lives in the past.

      (ii) The Authority received and noted a report by the Chief Fire Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on a number of notable fire and rescue service incidents since the last meeting.

175 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no Members' questions.

176 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

177 DRAFT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2002/03

The Authority considered the report of the Treasurer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) seeking approval to the statement of accounts for 2002/03. It was clarified that the draft contained several typographical errors which would be corrected in the final version.

RESOLVED:

      (i) That the statement of HFRA accounts for 2002/03 be approved and, after final editing, the statement be published, once the external audit opinion has been obtained.

      (ii) That authority be given to the Finance and General Purposes Committee to approve the Statement of Accounts for 2003/04 and 2004/05 alongside the final accounts at its July meeting next year and the terms of reference of the Finance and General Purposes Committee be amended accordingly.

178 INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLANNING

The Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) about the requirement on fire authorities to produce Integrated Risk Management Plans and setting out this Authority's proposed draft Plan for consultation in October 2003.

The Chief Fire Officer and Councillor P.A. Heath gave a detailed presentation on the aims and contents of the Authority's draft Plan. It was reported that it had also been forwarded in advance for comments to the Audit Commission whose initial verbal response had been positive and who had agreed to convey written comments to the Chief Fire Officer shortly.

The Authority praised the relevant Members and Officers involved for what they had achieved in the time available. Also, they very much welcomed the opportunities which IRMP would provide for developing the fire and rescue service in Hampshire. Members felt that in order to be successful, the Plan would need to be received in a positive way by the public. In highlighting the importance of appropriate marketing and sufficient funding for this initiative, the Authority asked to receive more details about the expenditure involved and how it might be met at the next Finance and General Purposes Committee.

RESOLVED:

      (i) That, the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan be endorsed as a basis for consultation with all stakeholders, subject to any changes subsequently agreed by the Chief Fire Officer.

      (ii) That following this consultation a revised draft Plan be presented to the Authority at its meeting in December, 2003 and a final draft presented at the February, 2004 meeting for approval and implementation.

      (iii) That in supporting the required expenditure referred to in the Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan, a more detailed report on the "real" costs be submitted to the Finance and General Purposes Committee on 5 November, 2003.

179 WHITE PAPER "OUR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE"

The Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) setting out the Government's vision for the public sector fire and rescue service, including its main themes and impact on the way the HFRS and HFRA are managed in the future.

During the ensuing discussion Members recognised that this was probably the most significant document to affect the fire service since 1948. They were interested to learn that a LGA Fire Forum on 5 September, 2003 had considered a paper about the Government's preference for fire and rescue services to be operated on a regional basis and wished to learn more about this.

RESOLVED:

      (i) That the report on the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" be noted.

      (ii) That the Clerk arrange for a copy of the LGA Fire Forum report of 5 September, 2003 to be circulated to Members of the Fire Authority for their information.

      (iii) That the Chief Fire Officer invites the Head of the ODPM's Service Improvement Team to make a presentation to a future meeting of the Authority on their work and the proposed timescales for implementation of the reforms recommended in the White Paper.

      (iv) That the leading Members/Officer Working Group currently dealing with Integrated Risk Management Planning expands its role to embrace the work required to progress the reforms recommended in the White Paper.

      (v) That the increasing workload on Members, Officers and personnel of HFRA and HFRS and the associated costs of the reforms recommended in the White Paper, be acknowledged.

180 INTEGRATED PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

The Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) giving an update on the implementation of the Integrated Personal Development System in Hampshire.

RESOLVED:

That the Authority endorses the approach taken to date in relation to the introduction of the Integrated Personnel Development System and support the continuation of the IPDS Members' Working Group.

181 THATCH FIRES

The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) about thatched property fires in the County and those actions being taken by the HFRS to reduce such incidents.

182 STORAGE OF CYLINDERS IN DOMESTIC PREMISES

The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) about the storage of cylinders in domestic premises and the legislation relating to this matter.

183 THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES (MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2003

The Authority received and noted the report of the Clerk (Item 13 in the Minute Book) about proposals to introduce a scheme for the payment of HFRA Members' allowances for approval at the Authority meeting in December, 2003.

184 MINUTES OF PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE - 19 JUNE, 2003

The Authority received the Minutes of the Performance Review Committee held on 19 June, 2003 (Item 14 in the Minute Book).

185 MINUTES OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE - 10 JULY, 2003

The Authority received the Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 10 July, 2003 (Item 15 in the Minute Book) and approved the recommendations in relation to the Final Accounts 2003.

In anticipation of Combined Fire Authorities becoming future "precepting authorities" from April, 2004, it was agreed that the Treasurer should convene informal meetings between the Authority's Precepting Working Group, the Leaders of the Constituent Authorities and other interested persons to discuss "precepting" and the business need and scope for any supplementary levy in 2003/04, together with the possibility of the sharing of balances at 31 March, 2004.

186 MINUTES OF STANDARDS COMMITTEE - 10 JULY, 2003

The Authority received the Minutes of the Standards Committee held on 10 July, 2003 (Item 16 in the Minute Book). It was clarified that the word "partner" in paragraph 5 should be amended to read "parties".

187 MINUTES OF PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - 12 SEPTEMBER, 2003

The Authority received the Minutes of the Personnel Committee held on 12 September, 2003 (Item 17 in the Minute Book) and adopted the recommendation in relation to missed pension contributions during periods of industrial action.

188 NOTES OF FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY GROUP - 10 JULY, 2003

The Authority received the notes of the Fairness and Dignity Group held on 10 July, 2003 (Item 18 in the Minute Book).

189 LGA AND COMBINED FIRE AUTHORITY SEMINAR : 23-24 OCTOBER, 2003 AT ALTON TOWERS CONFERENCE CENTRE, STAFFORDSHIRE

The Authority considered appointing one Member from each of the political parties to attend this Seminar in October, 2003. Also, it was reported that Councillor D.A. Kirk was to attend at a LGA/Fire Protection Association Conference on Community Safety in Sunderland on 25 September, 2003.

RESOLVED:

      (i) That Councillors Mrs. E.S.M. Barron, M.F. Cartwright and K.P.J. Searle be appointed to attend a LGA and Combined Fire Authority Seminar on 23 and 24 October, 2003 at Alton Towers Conference Centre, Staffordshire.

      (ii) That approval be given to Councillor D.A. Kirk attending an LGA/Fire Protection Association Conference on Community Safety in Sunderland on 25 September, 2003.

190 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS

The Authority received the report of the Clerk (Item 20 in the Minute Book) the Calendar of future meetings. In noting the relevant dates, the Clerk was asked to check to ensure there was no clash of dates involving any County Council Committee meetings and the HFRA Performance Review and Personnel Committees in September and December, 2004.

191 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of Paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for Minute 192.

192 CIVIL PROTECTION (NEW DIMENSION)

The Authority considered the confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 22 in the Minute Book) about the work of the New Dimension Group with regard to civil protection.




RESOLVED:

      (i) That the report be noted.

      (ii) That the work by Members of the HFRS in developing training and operational procedures in support of the Government be noted.

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