Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY held at the Borough Council Offices, Eastleigh on 31 May, 2006.
PRESENT:
Councillors R. Baulk; I. Beagley; M.F. Cartwright; K. Chapman; M.G. Cooper; L. Dunsdon; Mrs. J. Frankum; E.F. Gale, MBE; P. Galton; P.A. Heath; D. Horne; K. House; L. Hunt; P.R.C. Hutcheson; R. Kimber; D.A. Kirk; R. McIntosh; Sam Payne; R.H. Price; D. Simpson; R. Smith; R. Williams; M.J. Woodhall.
83 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillors D. Harrison and H. Jones.
84 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED:
That Councillor M.F. Cartwright be appointed Chairman until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2007.
85 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMEN
RESOLVED:
That Councillors P.A. Heath and R. Smith be appointed Vice-Chairmen until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2007.
86 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.
There were no declarations of interest made by members under this item.
87 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 15 February, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
88 DEPUTATIONS
Julie Barton and Sharon Eames had indicated a wish to postpone their deputation about Regional Control Centres until after the ODPM Parliamentary Select Committee report on Regional Control Centres had been published.
89 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
There were no Members' questions.
90 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman welcomed Councillor Lee Hunt to his first meeting of the Authority in place of Councillor Mrs. E. Baker. There had been no other changes in membership. He undertook to write and thank Mrs. Baker for her past contributions.
The Chairman referred to his attendance at meetings of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Modernisation Board and to his continuing visits to fire stations. Members were invited to attend their local stations if they had not already done so.
The Chairman reported on a recent house fire incident in Netley. The house involved had been fitted with a number of smoke detectors after a home fire safety visit by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. As a result of the alarm given, the occupants had all managed to escape unharmed. The Authority congratulated the Service as the incident had demonstrated the importance of smoke detectors in saving lives. Finally, Members' noted that HFRS had recently become a partner in supporting the Children's Fire and Burns Trust which sought to help children who had been injured as a result of being either burnt or scolded.
91 ACTIVITY REPORT
The Authority received the report of the Chief Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) highlighting prevention, protection and response activities in each of the group areas. In noting the report, the Authority wished to congratulate the Service on the number of its on-going home fire safety visits it had made. Also, they welcomed those discussions taking place between HFRS and Southampton City Council to progress a formal partnership on issues involving Premises Risk Management . The intention was to replicate a similar existing partnership between HFRS and Hampshire County Council. Members fully endorsed the Chief Officer's proposal to have similar discussions with Portsmouth City Council.
92 APPOINTMENTS OF COMMITTEES, CHAIRMEN, VICE-CHAIRMEN, DEPUTIES AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS
The Authority considered the report of the Clerk (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the appointment of committees, deputies and various other appointments. It also made reference to the role of independent members and in particular whether or not the Standards Committee should be chaired by an independent rather than an elected member. On the latter issue, some Members felt that this was something which ought to be referred to the Standards Committee for determination. However, it was noted that the Committee had already considered this on 9 December 2005 and had asked for it to be raised at the Annual Meeting. The Authority took a vote on this and concluded that a Councillor Member should be appointed as Chairman of the Standards Committee for a further year.
RESOLVED:
(i) That, for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the allocation of seats on the Committees of the Authority, be as follows:
Committee Conservative Liberal Democrat Labour Group
Group Group
Finance and 6 4 1
General Purposes
Human Resources 6 4 1
Performance Review 5 3 1
Governance 5 3 1
Standards 3 2 1
(plus 3 Independent Members)
(ii) That a Councillor Member be appointed as Chairman of the Standards Committee and that the position as to whether an independent member shall assume this role in the future be reviewed at the annual meeting of the Authority in 2007.
(iii) That, Members be appointed to the five Committees and other groups, as follows:-
Finance and General Purposes
I. Beagley R.H. Price
M.F. Cartwright D. Simpson
P.A. Heath (Chairman) R. Smith (Southampton)
D. Horne (Portsmouth) M.J. Woodhall
K. House
P.R.C. Hutcheson (Vice-Chairman)
H. Jones
Human Resources
R. Baulk D. Horne (Portsmouth)
K. Chapman (Chairman) K. House
M.G. Cooper L. Hunt (Portsmouth)
P. Galton (Southampton) R. Kimber
E.F. Gale, MBE R. McIntosh (Vice-Chairman)
Sam Payne
Performance Review Committee
R. Baulk (Vice-Chairman) D.A. Kirk (Chairman)
I. Beagley D. Simpson
K. Chapman R. Williams (Southampton)
L. Dunsdon
L. Hunt (Portsmouth)
H. Jones (Portsmouth)
Standards Committee
Mrs. J. Frankum R. Kimber
E.F. Gale, MBE (Vice-Chairman) M.J. Woodhall (Chairman)
P. Galton (Southampton)
D. Harrison
Independent Members
Mrs. W. Allen ) appointed by
Mr. M. James ) Authority on
Miss S. Roberts ) 6.2.06 for a 4
year period
expiring Feb
2010
Governance Committee
M.F. Cartwright
M.G. Cooper
D. Harrison
P.R.C. Hutcheson (Chairman)
H. Jones (Portsmouth)
D.A. Kirk
R. McIntosh
R. Smith (Southampton) (Vice-Chairman)
R. Williams (Southampton)
Fairness and Dignity Group
M.F. Cartwright (Chairman ex-officio)
K. Chapman
D. Horne (Portsmouth)
(Deputy - Mrs. J. Frankum)
Sam Payne
(Deputy - D. Simpson)
Community Fire Safety Strategy Steering Group
M.F. Cartwright (Chairman ex-officio)
R. Baulk
K. Chapman
R. McIntosh
P. Galton (Southampton) (Deputy - R.H. Price)
Mrs. J. Frankum (Deputy - D. Horne (Portsmouth))
Crime and Disorder Partnerships
P. Heath - Basingstoke
M.F. Cartwright - East Hampshire
K. House - Eastleigh
R. Price - Fareham
Vacancy - Gosport
P.R.C. Hutcheson - Hart
E.F. Gale MBE - Havant
L. Dunsdon - New Forest
H. Jones - Portsmouth
R. Baulk - Rushmoor
R. Smith - Southampton
M. Woodhall - Test Valley
Sam Payne - Winchester
Corporate Management Team of Leading Members
M.F. Cartwright - Chairman
M.G. Cooper - Liberal Democrat Minority
Party Member
P. Heath - Vice-Chairman
R. Smith - Vice-Chairman
R. Price - Liberal Democrat Minority
Party Spokesman
D. Horne - Labour Minority Party Spokesman
K. Chapman - Chairman of Human Resources Committee
and also a Member of Performance Review
Committee
P.R.C. Hutcheson - Chairman of Asset Management Working Group of
Finance and General Purposes Committee
93 REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - UPDATE
The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) summarising the key issues arising from the South East Regional Management Board meeting held on 5 April, 2006.
94 RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REGIONAL CONTROL CENTRES
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on a draft response to the Department of Communities and Local Government on proposals for the governance arrangements for the new Regional Control Centres.
RESOLVED:
That the response to the proposed governance arrangements for the new Regional Control Centres, as set out in the appendix to this report, be approved and submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government; and that it also be shared with other fire and rescue authorities in the South East Region.
95 FIRE AND RESCUE PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK 2006/07
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 13 in the Minute Book) about the Fire and Rescue Performance Framework for 2006/07. As part of this item, a presentation was given to explain how the Performance Framework had been developed as a follow-up audit and inspection process to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment process undertaken in 2005.
RESOLVED:
That the strategies and resource implications for meeting the requirements of the Fire and Rescue Performance Framework for 2006/07 be noted.
96 PRESENTATION BY THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM
The Authority received a presentation by Charlie House and other colleagues about the work being undertaken by the Community Outreach Team within Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. A copy of the presentation appears as Item 14 in the Minute Book.
Members congratulated the Team on their valuable work.
97 MINUTES OF THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE - 8 MARCH, 2006
The Authority received the Minutes of the Performance Review Committee held on 8 March, 2006 (Item 15 in the Minute Book).
98 MINUTES OF THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE - 15 MAY, 2006
The Authority received the Minutes of the Performance Review Committee held on 15 May, 2006 (Item 16 in the Minute Book) and adopted the recommendation in relation to the outcome of the best value review of vehicle workshops. The Chairman of the Committee wished to place on record his thanks to Councillors K. Chapman and R. Price and to John Randall, external auditor, for their particular involvement in the review.
99 MINUTES OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE - 9 MARCH, 2006
The Authority received the Minutes of the Governance Committee held on 9 March, 2006 (Item 17 in the Minute Book).
100 MINUTES OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE - 17 MARCH, 2006
The Authority received the Minutes of the Standards Committee held on 17 March, 2006 (Item 18 in the Minute Book).
101 MINUTES OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 21 APRIL, 2006
The Authority received the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee held on 21 April, 2006 (Item 19 in the Minute Book).
102 CALENDAR OF HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2007
The Authority received and noted the report of the Clerk (Item 20 in the Minute Book) setting out the proposed dates for the Authority and its committees for the remainder of 2006 and for 2007. The Clerk undertook to re-arrange the Governance Committee meeting scheduled for 9 November, 2006 as it coincided with a Fire Conference involving various Members of the Committee. Also, to circulate as appropriate the calendar of future meetings to seek to avoid clashes over dates when each of the three Constituent Authorities and the Hampshire Police Authority set their future 2007 meetings.
103 NOTES OF COMMUNITY SAFETY STRATEGY STEERING GROUP MEETING - 31 MARCH, 2006
The Authority received the notes of the Community Safety Strategy Steering Group meeting held on 31 March, 2006 (Item 21 in the Minute Book).
104 APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE FIRE CONFERENCE - 8 AND 9 NOVEMBER, 2006 AT TELFORD
The Authority considered the appointment of Members to attend this Fire Conference.
RESOLVED:
That Councillors M.F. Cartwright, Mrs. J. Frankum, R.H. Price and R. Smith be appointed to attend the Fire Conference on 8-9 November, 2006 in Telford.
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