Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY held at the Borough Council Offices, Eastleigh on 14 February 2007.

PRESENT:

Councillors: M.F. Cartwright (Chairman); R. Baulk; I.F. Beagley; K. Chapman; M.G. Cooper;

L. Dunsdon; Mrs. J. Frankum; E.F. Gale, MBE; P. Galton; D. Harrison; P.A. Heath; D. Horne;

P.R.C. Hutcheson; H. Jones; R. Kimber; D.A. Kirk; R. McIntosh; Sam Payne; R.H. Price; D. Simpson; R. Smith; R. Williams; M.J. Woodhall.

Also in attendance: Mr. G. Ball, Lead Assessor in relation to the Authority's Corporate Performance Assessment.

155 APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillors K. House and L. Hunt.

156 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.

157 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 13 December, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

On Minute 154(b) it was clarified that Councillor D.A. Kirk was to attend the LGA Annual Fire Conference on 13 and 14 March 2007 in Peterborough.

158 DEPUTATION

Pursuant to Standing Order 17, the Authority received a deputation by Lord Conrad Jordan on behalf of the Fire Brigades Union. He spoke against any proposal to merge the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Services and favoured instead better collaboration.

159 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no Members' questions.

160 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman welcomed Mr. G. Ball from the Audit Commission who was attending the meeting as an observer as part of his assessment in relation to elements of the Fire and Rescue Service's Performance Framework.

The Chairman reminded the Authority of the tragic explosion and fire in East Sussex at the end of last year. They noted that a number of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's fire appliances had been severely damaged by the blast of the explosion. As a result, a request was made to other fire and rescue services for assistance and Hampshire had provided on loan three Volvo appliances for which East Sussex expressed their gratitude.

The Chairman reported that the visit by the Fire Minister, Angela Smith, MP, to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters was now planned to take place on 1 May 2007.

Finally, the Chairman reminded the Authority of the Members' "Awareness Session" taking place that afternoon at Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters and hoped as many Members as possible would attend.

161 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE - 18 JANUARY 2007

The Authority received the Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 18 January 2007 (Item 7 in the Minute Book) and adopted the recommendation on budget monitoring. They agreed to consider the recommendations in relation to the budget for 2007/08, the capital programme and associated prudential indicators and treasury management system as part of the subsequent item on the budget for 2007/08 (Minute 162 refers).

162 BUDGET 2007/08

The Authority considered the report of the Treasurer and Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the budget for 2007/08. The Director of Corporate Services and the Treasurer gave a presentation on the main issues involved in the construction of the budget, highlighting the key elements and feedback from the statutory consultation exercise. A copy of the presentation material appears as Item 8(i) in the Minute Book.

After careful consideration, the Authority supported the recommended Option B for a 4.53% increase in Council Tax as proposed in the report. Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

(a) That revenue budget, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.


(b) That the capital programme, as set out in Appendix 6 of the report and the associated prudential indicators as set out in Appendix 7 of the report be approved.


(c) That the total budget requirement for the general expenses of the Authority for the year beginning 1 April 2007 be £62,450,000.


(d) That the Authority's basic council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2007 be £56.07.


(e) That the Authority's council tax for the year beginning 1 April 2007 for properties in each tax band be:

(f) That precepts be issued totalling £34,566,536.55 on the billing authorities in Hampshire, requiring the payment, in such instalments and on such dates set by them and previously notified to the Authority, in proportion to the tax base of each billing authority's area as determined by them which are set out below:

£
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council 61,049.70
East Hampshire District Council 47,044.89
Eastleigh Borough Council 43,012.29
Fareham Borough Council 42,043.00
Gosport Borough Council 26,948.20
Hart District Council 36,953.10
Havant Borough Council 42,468.00
New Forest District Council 71,687.40
Portsmouth City Council 58,128.00
Rushmoor Borough Council 30,359.64
Southampton City Council 65,114.40
Test Valley Borough Council 45,019.00
Winchester City Council 46,661.35
Total 616,488.97


(g) That the Treasury Management Strategy set out in Appendix 9 of the report be approved.

163 REFRESHED INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) seeking approval to the refreshed Integrated Risk Management Plan covering the next three years (2007/10). Members' had been issued separately with a copy of the draft document (Item 9(i) in the Minute Book).

The Chief Officer highlighted the main achievements and success of the Authority's current Integrated Risk Management Plan and drew attention to the new proposals for inclusion in the 2009/10 Plan. Members made some comments on the draft IRMP and the Chief Officer agreed to incorporate these in the final version. Members congratulated the Chief Officer and staff involved for their work on the Plan.

RESOLVED:

That the Authority notes the progress made in 2006/07 and approves, subject to inclusion of those comments made at the meeting, the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan 2007/10 and authorises the Chief Officer to commence implementation, as of 1 April 2007. [Note: Councillor P. Galton asked the Clerk to record in the Minutes his wish to be shown as abstaining on this item].

164 HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE OPTIONS' REVIEW : RESULTS OF CONSULTATION EXERCISE

The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) summarising the findings of the consultation exercise commissioned by the Service following the Authority's consideration of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Options Review.

RESOLVED:

(a) That, in recognising a merger will be best and more successfully achieved if it is entered into willingly by both partners, this Authority's position is such that it will be willing to negotiate on the arrangements for an enlarged combined fire and rescue authority covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight areas if that is something the Isle of Wight Council itself wishes to pursue.


(b) That, notwithstanding the outcome of stakeholder consultation, the Authority concludes that it will not be in its best interests to pursue the more formal collaboration option, but will be quite prepared to continue to support and assist the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service on an ad-hoc and cost neutral basis.

165 ACTIVITY REPORT

The Authority received the report of the Chief Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) highlighting prevention, protection and response activities in each of the group areas.

166 OUTCOMES OF THE HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE/HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL PARTNERSHIP - YEAR 1

The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the results of the first year of formal partnership between the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire County Council as detailed in the report.

167 SOUTH EAST FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - UPDATE

The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Officer (Item 13 in the Minute Book) about the key issues arising from the South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board Meeting held on 17 January 2007.

168 FIRE AUTHORITY CONFERENCES

(a) Fire and Rescue Service Conference and Exhibition : 22 - 24 May 2007 at NEC Birmingham

The Authority considered the appointment of Members to attend this Conference and Exhibition.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairman and Minority Party Spokespersons communicate their representatives to the Chief Officer.


(b) The Local Government Annual Conference : 3 - 6 July 2007 at ICC, Birmingham

The Authority considered the appointment of Members to attend this Annual Conference.

RESOLVED:


(a) That Councillors M.F. Cartwright and L. Dunsdon be appointed to attend the Local Government Annual Conference on 3 to 6 July 2007 in Birmingham.


(b) That the Labour Group Spokesperson communicate their Member representative and the Chairman their second Conservative Member representative to the Chief Officer.

169 MINUTES OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 2 FEBRUARY 2007

The Authority received the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting held on 2 February 2007 (Item 17 in the Minute Book). They agreed to consider the confidential recommendation about a review of Principal Officer Pay rates as a confidential item. (Minute 171 refers).

170 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, 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 report.

171 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS' LOCAL PAY AGREEMENT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW SERVICE MANAGEMENT TEAM STRUCTURE

The Authority considered and adopted the Principal Officers' Pay Review Group's findings and recommendations in regard to a local pay agreement for Principal Officers and associated issues in relation to the new Service Management Team Structure. The Chairman of the Pay Review Group wished to place on record his thanks and appreciation to members of this Group for their involvement in this matter.

[SUMMARY OF A MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION]

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