Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY held at the Borough Council Offices, Eastleigh on 11 February 2004.
PRESENT:
Councillors: M F Cartwright (Chairman); M Andrewes; Mrs A E Bailey; Mrs E S M Barron; R Baulk; K Chapman; E F Gale; MBE; Mrs D Harrison; P A Heath; Mrs P G E Holden-Brown; D Horne; K. House; P R C Hutcheson; D A Kirk; S Letts; P Luffman; R McIntosh; R H Price; K P J Searle; G Semmens; R Smith; Mrs M D Snaith; M J Woodhall.
212 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Galton and J. Stocks.
213 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Fire Authority's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.
214 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 10 December 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to amendments to Minutes 197 and 201 as set out below.
LGA and Fire Protection Association Conference (Minute 197)
It was clarified that Councillor D.A. Kirk and SDO M. Rayner, had attended a Community Fire Safety: Working in Partnership Conference on 25 September 2003 in Sunderland and not a LGA/CFA Seminar as previously minuted.
Scheme of Allowances for Members of HFRA (Minute 201)
Members recalled that at the last meeting they had indicated a wish to receive a report by the Clerk on the feasibility of providing an allowance for those Members who sit on Disciplinary or Grievance Panels. It was felt appropriate for the Standards Committee to consider this item at their next meeting on 19 March 2004.
215 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS AND INCIDENTS OF INTEREST
(i) The Chairman welcomed Councillor K. House to his first meeting of the Authority. The Chairman also reported on his attendance at recent national and other Fire Authority related meetings.
(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.
216 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
There were no Members' questions.
217 DEPUTATION ON FUTURE OF FIRE BRIGADE CONTROL ROOMS
Sharon Eames, Julie Barton and Paul Vine representing HFRS Headquarter's Control Room staff, gave a deputation against plans to regionalise Fire Brigade Control Rooms.
218 SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) about the establishment and participation in the South-East Fire and Rescue Service Regional Management Board.
During a full discussion some Members were opposed to the proposal for each relevant Authority to have one representative only on such Boards. They wished instead to pursue some form of proportional representation but noted that this had failed to gain agreement at a recent South East Regional Forum meeting.
The required number of Members, pursuant to Standing Order 16(3) signified their support for the voting on the three recommendations, to show how each Member present voted.
Members supporting recommendations (i) - (iii):
R Baulk; M.F. Cartwright; K Chapman; E F Gale; MBE; Mrs D Harrison; P A Heath; P R C Hutcheson; D A Kirk; R McIntosh; G Semmens; R Smith; Mrs M D Snaith; M J Woodhall
Total : 13
Members opposing recommendations (i)-(iii):
M. Andrewes; Mrs A.E. Bailey; Mrs. E.S.M. Barron; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; D. Horne; K. House; S. Letts; P. Luffman; R.H. Price; K.P.J. Searle;
Total : 10
RESOLVED:
(i) That the establishment and participation in the South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board as a Joint Committee under Sections 101 and 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 be on the basis of the draft constitution as set out in the report.
(ii) That the Clerk to the Authority be given delegated power (in consultation with the Chairman and the Chief Fire Officer) to agree any subsequent changes to the constitution that may be required and to sign the final version of the agreement bringing the South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board into effect.
(iii) That the Chairman of the Authority be appointed as the Authority's representative on the South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board with either of the two Vice-Chairmen being appointed as the substitute member, should, for any reason, the Chairman be unable to attend.
219 BUDGET 2004/05
The Authority considered the report of the Treasurer and Chief Fire Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on setting the budget for 2004/05.
The Treasurer highlighted those issues which had been finalised since the Finance and General Purposes Committee on 14 January 2004 had recommended to the Authority a budget of £59.7m; representing a 16.4% budget increase. He further indicated that subsequent advice on the treatment of transitional grant would lead to this proposal being expressed as a £59.1m requirement net of grant, a budget increase of 15%. This adjustment did not affect the Council Tax level proposed, i.e. £52.38, for a Band D property.
Members were reminded that the Finance and General Purposes Committee proposal comprised the base budget plus unavoidable costs plus priority 1 proposals and priority 2 proposals, but excluded the option for funding vehicle purchase from revenue rather than through borrowing. The Authority's particular attention was drawn to a recent letter from the ODPM which had been sent to all Fire Authorities setting out the Government's view on the level at which capping might be applied to Fire Authorities.
In the light of the ODPM letter, amended budget proposals were tabled at the meeting by the Chairman (Item 7(i) in the Minute Book) . Members noted that the amended budget proposals, whilst reducing the budget to £58.4m (an increase of 13.75% over 2003/04), would also reduce the level of reserves held by the Authority from the £2m considered appropriate by the Finance and General Purposes Committee to £1.4m in 2004/05.
During a full discussion, the Authority recognised that the high level of budget increase was common across fire authorities and reflected particular pressures: the high costs of pay award to fire authorities, additional pension costs to be paid for from the revenue budget, the upfront costs of modernisation and the need to set up working balances for the Authority now that it was wholly financially independent.
In response to the Government's threat to cap fire authorities some Members felt that the balance of risk was in favour of reducing the level of reserves to £1.4m in 2004/05 increasing to £1.6m in 2005/06. Other Members felt that it would not be prudent to reduce the level of reserves. As a result a further alternative proposal was put to set the Authority's reserves at £2m in 2004/05 as recommended by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The required number of Members, pursuant to Standing Order 16(3), signified their support for their voting on this to be recorded to show how each Member present voted.
Members supporting:
M Andrewes; Mrs A E Bailey; Mrs E S M Barron; Mrs P G E Holden-Brown; D Horne; K. House; S Letts; P Luffman; ; R H Price; K P J Searle;
Total : 10
Members opposing:
R Baulk; M.F. Cartwright; K Chapman; E F Gale; MBE; Mrs D Harrison; P A Heath; P R C Hutcheson; D A Kirk; R McIntosh; G Semmens; R Smith; Mrs M D Snaith; M J Woodhall
Total : 13
In respect of the amended budget proposals tabled at the meeting by the Chairman (Item 7(i) in the Minute Book) it was
RESOLVED:
(i) That the capital programme for 2004/05 to 2006/07 as set out in Appendix 8 of the report be approved.
(ii) That no further operational leasing of vehicles be undertaken.
(iii) That the revenue budget for 2004/05 as set out in Appendix 6 of the report be approved but with the establishment of reserves being reduced by £600,000 to £785,000 and £50,000 leasing savings and additional income incorporated.
(iv) That the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the Authority for the year beginning 1 April 2004 be £59,154,914.17 before Transitional Grant and £58,367,914.17 after Transitional Grant.
(v) That the Authority's basic council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2004 be £51.30.
(vi) That the Authority's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2004 for properties in each tax band be:
Band A £34.20
Band B £39.90
Band C £45.60
Band D £51.30
Band E £62.70
Band F £74.10
Band G £85.50
Band H £102.60
(vii) That precepts be issued totalling £30,879,864.17 on the billing authorities in Hampshire, requiring the payment, in such instalments and on such dates set by them and previously notified to the Authority, in proportion to the tax base of each billing authority's area as determined by them which are set out below:
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council 58,048.10
East Hampshire District Council 45,830.43
Eastleigh Borough Council 41,762.61
Fareham Borough Council 41,241.00
Gosport Borough Council 25,766.30
Hart District Council 35,678.00
Havant Borough Council 41,997.00
New Forest District Council 70,293.80
Portsmouth City Council 58,240.80
Rushmoor Borough Council 29,127.09
Southampton City Council 64,674.80
Test Valley Borough Council 44,349.00
Winchester City Council 44,937.74
(viii) That the Treasury Management policy statement set out in Appendix 10 of the report be approved.
(ix) That the policies set out in Appendix 10 of the report be approved to form the basis of the Authority's prudential framework for capital finance.
(x) That the Prudential Indicators in Appendix 11 of the report be approved with the following amendments:
(xi) That the Authority confirms the level of general reserves included in the budget requirement to be £1.4m.
220 MINUTES OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE - 14 JANUARY 2004
The Authority received the Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 14 January 2004 (Item 8 in the Minute Book). The recommendations in relation to the budget 2004/05 and on Treasury Management and Prudential Code for Capital Finance formed part of the previous item (Minute 219 refers). The Committee's recommendation on Council Tax on Second Homes was approved as part of this item.
221 INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on a proposal to adopt the Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). A further report by the Chief Fire Officer (Item 9(i) in the Minute Book) was considered at the meeting in relation to a proposed amendment to the IRMP Year 1 Action Plan to reflect guidance aimed at reducing attendances to unwanted (False Alarms) calls from Automatic Fire Protection Systems.
Members supported the proposed IRMP, including the amendment to the Year 1 Action Plan to reflect the guidance on attending calls from Automatic Fire Protection Systems. Also, they were pleased with the way in which the various consultation exercises had been organised and wished to congratulate those Members and Senior Management Team representatives involved for their excellent work.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Integrated Risk Management Plan and Year 1 Action Plan be amended to reflect the guidance issued by the Fire and Rescue Service Practitioners Forum Task and Finish Group and that, for the time being a minimum attendance of one pumping appliance will be mobilised to calls from automatic fire detection systems.
(ii) That, subject to (i) above, the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan, as previously presented to the Authority and published on the website, together with the results of various consultation exercises, be formally approved and adopted.
222 NATIONAL DRAFT FRAMEWORK : RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION EXERCISE
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) about this draft framework and consultation exercise.
RESOLVED:
That the Chief Fire Officer, in consultation with leading Members, drafts a response to the consultation exercise which, whilst generally supportive of the National Framework, highlights the issues raised in the submitted report.
223 MINUTES OF PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - 17 DECEMBER 2003 AND 4 FEBRUARY 2004
The Authority received the Minutes of the Personnel Committee meetings held on 17 December 2003 and 4 February 2004 (Items 12(i) and 12(ii) in the Minute Book). The meeting on 4 February 2004 included a recommendation in relation to the Local Government Pension Scheme which was adopted. [Note: All County Members declared a personal interest as trustees of the Local Government Pension Scheme and wished this to be recorded in the Minutes].
224 MINUTES OF PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE - 4 FEBRUARY 2004
The Authority received the Minutes of the Performance Review Committee held on 4 February 2004 which included a recommendation on the programme of best value reviews which was adopted (Item 13 in the Minute Book).
225 NOTES OF FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY GROUP - 22 JANUARY 2004
The Authority received the notes of the Fairness and Dignity Group held on 22 January 2004 (Item 14 in the Minute Book).
226 LGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 6 - 9 JULY 2004 AT THE BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
The Authority considered appointing one Member from each of the political parties to attend this Annual Conference and Exhibition in July 2004.
RESOLVED:
That Councillors S. Letts (Labour Group); Mrs. A.E. Bailey or Mrs P.G.E. Holden-Brown (LD Group) and a Conservative Member be appointed to attend the LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 6-9 July 2004 at the Bournemouth International Centre; the Conservative representative to be notified to the Clerk.
227 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That, by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting.
228 RETIREMENT OF THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
The Committee considered and approved the confidential report of the Clerk (Item 17 in the Minute Book) about the proposed retirement of the Chief Fire Officer, on the basis of the submitted report.
[SUMMARY OF A MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION]
229 HFRA - GRIEVANCE PANEL APPEAL
The Authority received and noted the confidential report of the Clerk (Item 18 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of a recent HFRA - Grievance Panel Appeal.
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THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS DEALT WITH CONFIDENTIALLY AND THE PRESS AND PUBLIC WERE NOT ENTITLED TO BE PRESENT (CONFIDENTIAL)
228 RETIREMENT OF THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
The Authority considered the confidential report of the Clerk (Item 17 in the Minute Book) recommending the retirement of the Chief Fire Officer. It was noted that the Personnel Committee at its meeting on 4 February 2004 had supported the proposal.
The Chief Fire Officer explained the reasons for his request and that it was as a result of the significant modernising process now facing the Authority over the coming years and the opportunity to enable a new incumbent to lead it through this period of change.
In discussion, Councillor K.P.J. Searle was opposed to the retirement and highlighted among his comments the additional costs involved as set out in the report. He asked the Clerk to record his opposition in the Minutes.
RESOLVED:
That the Authority approve the retirement of the Chief Fire Officer with effect from 30 September 2004.
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