Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Eastleigh on 27 July 2006
PRESENT:
Councillors: P.A. Heath (Chairman); I.F.E. Beagley; M.F. Cartwright; D. Horne; P.R.C. Hutcheson; R.H. Price; D. Simpson; R. Smith; M.J. Woodhall.
33 APOLOGIES
No apologies for absence were received.
34 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 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.
35 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 June, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
36 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations made under this item.
37 BUDGET MONITORING 2006/2007 (1)
Prior to the commencement of this item Jon Pittam, Treasurer to the Authority, reported that Paul Carey-Kent had accepted a secondment with the Department of Health for a twelve month period. As a result, Ejner Knudsen, an Assistant County Treasurer would in future be the officer covering this Committee and other appropriate Fire Authority meetings.
The Committee considered the report of the Treasurer and Chief Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing the latest budget predictions for the year. The Treasurer highlighted the current pressures on the budget and reported that a balanced outturn is expected, though this may require some savings to be made later in the year. Members' attention was drawn to the purchase of the fire station-end ICT equipment mentioned in Appendix B of the report. The Chief Officer reported the intention to proceed with a single tender so as not to delay this 2006/07 capital starts scheme.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority:
(a) That the latest 2006/07 budget position be noted, including the potential spend against the Modernisation Reserve.
(b) That the latest capital starts values, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be approved, including the increased Phase 1 building works at Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Eastleigh and that the Chief Officer's intention to proceed with a single tender for the purchase of the fire station-end ICT equipment, as referred to in Appendix B, be noted.
38 ASSET MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP - 22 JUNE 2006
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out the recommendations of the Asset Management Working Group following their discussion on 22 June, 2006 about the opportunity to relocate the vehicle workshop from Winnall, Winchester to the Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters at Eastleigh and the Winchester Fire Station to the Winnall workshop site. In supporting the conclusions of the Working Group, the Committee felt that the proposed further investigation concerning the possible relocation of the workshops should also include an assessment of the costs of a rental alternative.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority:
(a) That the proposed strategy and outline business case for resolving various building issues and needs, including those arising out of the Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan, be approved.
(b) That, in the context of this proposed strategy, a full project appraisal, together with an indication of relevant timescales, be presented to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and to the Authority for the relocation of the vehicle workshop to the Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters site, Eastleigh.
(c) That, in order to obtain the best possible financial information to inform the project appraisal, approval be given to negotiate (without commitment) with the existing contractor on site (Brazier Kier) a tender price for the design and build of a vehicle workshop on the Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters site, Eastleigh.
(d) That a project appraisal for the relocation of the Winchester Fire Station to the Winnall (workshop site), together with an indication of relevant timescales, be presented to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Authority in due course; to include an assessment of the whole life costs of a rental alternative compared with the ownership option.
(e) That officers be requested to present a report (initially to the Asset Management Working Group) on the potential benefits of relocating the Eastleigh Fire Station to the Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters site, Eastleigh.
39 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That in relation to Minute 38, the public be excluded from the meeting as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the appendix.
40 ASSET MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP: 22 JUNE 2006 - EXEMPT ANNEX
The Committee considered and noted the exempt appendix relating to the Asset Management Working Group on 22 June 2006 (Item 6 in the Minute Book refers).