AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY Item 13 STANDARDS COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on 19 March 2004.

PRESENT:

Councillors: M.J. Woodhall (Chairman); P A Heath; P Luffman; J. Stocks

Independent Members: Mrs W. Burton; Ms. S. Roberts

20 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P. Galton.

21 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.

22 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 October 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

Arising thereon:

Proposed Scheme of Allowances (Minute 19)

The Clerk reported that the Committee's recommendation on this item had been approved by the Authority on 10 December 2003 subject to the special responsibility allowance for the two Vice-Chairmen being increased from £500 to £1500. However, the Authority had also agreed that only one special responsibility allowance is to be payable to any member under the scheme. Therefore, the £1500 special responsibility allowance for the existing Vice-Chairmen will not be paid as the current post holders receive a higher special responsibility allowance in respect of another post.

23 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's communications.

24 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

25 SCHEME OF MEMBERS ALLOWANCES

Following a request by the Authority on 11 February 2004, the Committee considered a report of the Clerk (Item 6 in the Minute Book) about the feasibility of providing an allowance for those Members who sit on Disciplinary/Grievance Panels.

The Committee, on taking into account the information contained in the report, including the number of Disciplinary/Grievance Panels over the past three years did not feel that a special responsibility allowance for the Councillors involved was justified. However, they supported a proposal that the Independent Remuneration Panel consider this issue at a future date.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority:

(i) That no special responsibility allowance be payable to those Members who sit on Disciplinary/Grievance Panels on behalf of the Authority.


(ii) That this issue be referred to the next meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel with a recommendation that, in the opinion of the Standards Committee, it would not be appropriate to pay such an allowance.

26 THIRD ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF STANDARDS COMMITTEES 13-14 SEPTEMBER 2004 AT THE ICC IN BIRMINGHAM

The Authority considered appointing Members to attend this Annual Assembly on 13 and 14 September 2004.

RESOLVED:

That Councillors M.J. Woodhall, P. Luffman and Mrs. W. Burton be authorised to attend the Third Annual Assembly of Standard Committees on 13 and 14 September 2004 at the ICC, Birmingham.

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