Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 10

1 June, 2005

Appointment of Committees, Deputies and Other Appointments

Report of the Clerk

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

(A) Appointment of Committees, Deputies and Other Appointments

1 Summary

1.1 This report seeks approval to the proportional allocation of members to the Authority's Finance and General Purposes, Governance, Human Resources, Performance Review 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.

2 Size and Political Composition of Committees

2.1 As a result of the County Council elections on 5 May, 2005, Hampshire County Council have appointed 11 Conservatives, 7 Liberal Democrats and 1 Labour Member to the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority. Prior to the elections, the County Council's representation was 12 Conservatives, 5 Liberal Democrats and 2 Labour Members. Neither Portsmouth or Southampton City Councils were involved in local elections on this occasion and their representation remains unchanged with both Councils each having 1 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Labour Member. The names of the Hampshire County, Portsmouth and Southampton City Council Members now serving on the HFRA appears as Appendix 1.

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. The Act states "... the authority or committee are bound only to make allocations according to the overriding principles that:

(a) All the seats are not allocated to the same political group;


(b) The majority of the seats go to the political group majority on the Authority;


(c) Subject to the above two principles, that the number of seats on the total of all the ordinary committees of the Authority allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the proportion on the Authority;


(d) Subject to the above three principles, that the number of seats on each ordinary committee of the Authority allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the proportion on the Authority".

2.3 In accordance with the above principles and the new political proportionality, it is proposed to allocate seats to committees in the way indicated. The existing number of seats on the Authority's Committees is set out in brackets below.

Committees Conservative Liberal Democrat Labour Group Cttee No
Group Group
Finance and General
Purposes 6 (7) 4 (4) 1 (2) 11 (13)

Human Resources 6 (7) 4 (3) 1 (2) 11 (12)

Performance Review 5 (4) 3 (2) 1 (1) 9 (7)

Governance 5 (4) 3 (2) 1 (1) 9 (7)

Standards 4 (3) 2 (1) 1 (1) 7 (5)

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 Standards Committee or the Governance Committee. The Authority may wish to take this into consideration in making their appointments. The former membership of the five Committees, together with deputies, as previously appointed, appears as Appendix 2.

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 and on a rotation basis at different fire stations across Hampshire. The local HFRA 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 - Strategic Steering Group - This is a cross-party steering group that meets at Service Headquarters on a regular basis. It oversees the development of CFS Strategy in HFRA, monitors the performance of the service through the use of Performance Indicators and also provides a forum for Members to remain updated on current and future developments within Community Fire Safety. The Group comprises of Fire Service Management staff, a teaching advisor, union representatives and members of the Authority.

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

4.5 Corporate Management Team - The Authority has previously agreed that leading members (the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, and spokespersons for the two minority political groups) would meet as a preliminary sounding board with senior officers to develop policies, plans and recommendations for subsequent presentation to the Authority. This informal working group - called the Corporate Management Team (CMT) - was originally established to make progress with the Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). It has also been used as a useful cross-party group to discuss and deal with matters of urgency. However, at the Authority meeting on 9 February, 2005 members queried the current constitutional position of the CMT and whether it should be changed to become a committee of the Authority or whether its working arrangements could be improved. As a result the Clerk was asked to prepare a report for the Governance Committee. Such a report was considered by that Committee on 8 March, 2005. However, they felt unable to come to a conclusion over this matter and have sought a further report on other alternative options in relation to this item. It is recommended that the Corporate Management Team remains in place pending any future recommendation from the Governance Committee to the Authority.

4.6 The Authority is asked to nominate 2 Liberal Democrat and 1 Labour Member spokespersons for the minority political groups on CMT.

4.7 Crime and Disorder Partnerships - The Authority by way of the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman, has appointed one of its members to serve on each of the 13 partnerships currently operated by the 11 district and 2 unitary authorities in Hampshire. They are seen as an important way to achieve and improve the delivery of "joined-up" services to local

community and enable resources to be targeted using the most appropriate skills.

4.8 The Authority is asked to re-appoint members to the 13 Crime and Disorder Partnerships.

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:

(i) 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, Governance, Human Resources, Performance Review and Standards Committees of the Authority, be as set out in Paragraph 2.3 of the report.

(ii) That, the Authority re-appoint members of the Finance and General Purposes, Governance, Human Resources, Performance Review and Standards Committees and their respective Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, as necessary.

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

(iv) That the Community Fire Safety - Strategic Steering Group be re-appointed on a similar basis as previously.

(v) That the Clerk be notified by the Members appointed in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.4 of their respective deputies to attend a particular meeting, if required.

(vi) That the Authority appoint one member to each of the 13 Crime and Disorder Partnerships currently operated by the 11 districts and 2 unitary authorities in Hampshire on a similar basis as previously.

(vii) That, for the time being, the Corporate Management Team of leading Members continue as previously; the Team to comprise the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, and two Liberal Democrat and one Labour Member as spokespersons for the two minority political groups.

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Section 100D - 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 disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

None None

Appendix 1

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Membership

Appendix 2

PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

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