HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY

WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2005 AT 10.00AM

COUNCIL CHAMBER, BOROUGH COUNCIL OFFICES

LEIGH ROAD, EASTLEIGH

KELVIN RIDOUT

01962 847356

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive any apologies for absence.

2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

All Members who believe they have a personal or a prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare their personal 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 is discussed. The declaration should be made at the time of the relevant debate.

3 MINUTES (Copy herewith)

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 September, 2005.

4 DEPUTATIONS

Pursuant to Standing Order 19, to receive any deputations to this meeting.

5 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

To receive any Members' questions to this meeting.

6 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

To receive any Chairman's communications.

7 ACTIVITY REPORT (Copy herewith)

To receive the activity report provided by the Chief Officer.

8 DRAFT BUDGET 2006/07 (Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Treasurer and Chief Officer on the draft budget 2006/07.

9 REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - UPDATE (Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Chief Officer on the key issues arising from the South-East Regional Management Board meeting held on 19 October, 2005.

10 ITEM REQUEST FROM COUNCILLOR R. PRICE

Councillor R. Price has asked that the following item be placed on the Fire Authority agenda for discussion at this meeting:

"Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority request that the Regional Fire Management Board be increased from nine members to fifteen members. The Committee is then made up of the nine Chairmen or Executive Members of the nine Authorities and the remaining six places be used to provide political proportionality to the Committee. The three Political Parties will individually choose their top-up members after they know the number they are allowed to appoint."

11 ANNUAL AUDIT LETTER (Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Chief Officer and the Annual Audit Letter for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

12 ENDORSEMENT OF THE HFRS EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY AND COMPREHENSIVE EQUALITY POLICY
(Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Chief Officer seeking approval to the Equality and Diversity Strategy and the Comprehensive Equality Policy.

13 REVIEW OF HFRA MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME
(Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Clerk on the recommendations of the HFRA Independent Remuneration Panel meeting of 17 November, 2005 following their review of the HFRA Members' Allowances scheme.

14 INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLANNING - UPDATE
(Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Chief Officer on progress with regard to the Integrated Risk Management Plan and in relation to the current proposed content of the 2006 IRMP.

15 HFRS BUSINESS CONTINUITY (Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Chief Officer about the proposed development of a HFRS Business Continuity Plan.

16 ARSON REDUCTION IN HAMPSHIRE (Report herewith)

To consider the report of the Chief Officer on arson reduction activities carried out by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

17 PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE PROJECT

In February 2005 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, with sponsors New Forest Community Partnership and Connexions South Central, ran two highly successful Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) courses. The courses were attended by 24 New Forest teenagers aged 13-19 and were aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour, particularly fire setting. Councillor L. Dunsdon is to give a presentation on the LIFE project.

18 MINUTES OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE - 21 OCTOBER, 2005 (Copy herewith)

To receive the Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 21 October, 2005.

19 MINUTES OF HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 29 NOVEMBER, 2005 (Copy to follow)

To receive the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee held on 29 November, 2005.

20 NOTES OF COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY STRATEGY STEERING GROUP - 11 NOVEMBER, 2005 (Copy herewith)

To receive the notes of the Community Fire Safety Strategy Steering Group held on 11 November, 2005.

21 CONSTITUTION OF HFRA - STANDARDS COMMITTEE

To note that in view of the statutory provisions regarding the constitution of the Standards Committee, one Councillor Member, is required to be removed to give the correct Councillor/Independent member balance. The Chairman of that Committee is to recommend to the Authority which member is no longer to serve.

22 HFRA - STANDARDS COMMITTEE - INTERVIEW PANEL

The Authority is asked to give its approval to the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman of HFRA - Standards Committee, to approach 3 Members of that Committee to form an Interview Panel to see a short-list of candidates who have applied to serve as Independent Members on the Standards Committee. The recommendations of the Panel will be reported to the HFRA meeting next February for approval.

23 FREQUENCY OF HFRA MEETINGS

To note that CMT have considered this matter and agreed that the present number of HFRA meetings each year should continue as at present (e.g. four per year).

24 LGA ANNUAL FIRE CONFERENCE, RUNCORN, CHESHIRE ON 14 AND 15 MARCH, 2006

To appoint Members to attend this Fire Conference next year.

25 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RECOMMENDATION:

That by virtue of the relevant paragraph shown below of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting.

Paragraph 1 - Item 26
Paragraph 3 - Item 27

26 HFRA GRIEVANCE APPEAL (Report herewith)

To receive the confidential report of the Clerk on the outcome of a HFRA Grievance Appeal held on 27 September, 2005.

27 ASSET MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP - REPORT ON RECENT ACTIVITY (Report herewith)

To receive the confidential report of the Chief Officer on recent activity involving the Asset Management Working Group.

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