Archived decisions

Item 3

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 14 November 2007.

PRESENT:

Councillors: R. Smith (Chairman); I.F.E. Beagley; M.F. Cartwright; D. Horne; P.R.C. Hutcheson; R.H. Price; D. Simpson.

78 APOLOGIES

    Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.G. Cooper; K. House and M.J. Woodhall.

79 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.

80 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June, 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

81 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations made under this item.

82 PRESENTATION FROM THE REGIONAL PROCUREMENT MANAGER

With the consent of the Chairman, this item was moved forward on the agenda of the meeting. The Committee received a presentation from the South East Regional Procurement Manager, Steve Dutton. The purpose of considering procurement issues as a region was to find ways to enhance efficiency through collaboration and to generate economies of scale by seeking out and developing new and existing procurement approaches across the various Fire Authority workstreams. Since January 2007, there had already been some progress in achieving this aim, and a target of £500,000 of gross savings had been set. The next stage of the project was for all the Fire Authorities involved to benchmark their current positions on procurement, to enable best practice to be determined.

    Members agreed that it was vital for the Authority to identify efficiency savings through better procurement, especially given budget pressures; but, they were keen to see more information on projected and actual savings in order to confirm the ongoing success or otherwise of collaborative procurement..

83 BUDGET MONITORING 2007/08

    The Committee considered the budget monitoring report prepared by the Treasurer and the Chief Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) setting out the latest budget predictions for the year. The figure in the heading in paragraph 2.1 on page 1 incorrectly listed Wholetime firefighters pay and allowances as +£74,000. This was corrected to +£90,000. Additionally, the Committee was informed that an additional residential property had been sold for £280,000. It was pointed out that given the current volatility in the housing market, it would be necessary to reconsider some of the original estimated values for the remaining residential properties which the Authority had previously declared as surplus to operational requirements..

    Members were pleased to note that the Headquarters Development Project was proceeding within its budget and on time. Members discussed the use of the Modernisation Reserve, and possibilities and future opportunities for fund to be transferred to it.

    RESOLVED:

    (1) That, it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority that the latest revenue budget position be noted.

    (2) That the increases in starts values in relation to vehicles 07/08 and HQ Phase 2 be approved.

84 PROVISIONAL BUDGET STRATEGY 2008/09 - 2010/11

    The Committee considered the report of the Treasurer and the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the provisional budget strategy for the years 2008/09 - 2010/11, and the factors that will impact on it. The first step in preparing the provisional budget strategy was to determine the base budget of expected expenditure for the next financial year and then to consider the key budget pressures on the Authority. Members were told that further information on the Government's grant settlement would not be available until December, but that Council Tax capping was likely to be set below 5%. A first draft of the forward budget would be presented to the Authority's meeting on 12 December 2007.

    The key budget pressures, such as any financial implications such as those arising from proposals in the Integrated Risk Management Plan and costs associated with the new (Firelink) radio scheme and the move to Regional Control Centres were highlighted to Members.

    The Committee agreed that it was important that the Authority aim for a Council Tax increase of 3.9% or less, but that this should not be achieved at the expense of the Authority's important work and responsibilities to the people of Hampshire.

    RESOLVED:

    That the Committee notes the issues set out in the report, and approves the assumptions used to prepare the first draft of the budget for 2008/09.

85 ACTIVITY REPORT - PROPOSED NEW FORMAT

    The Committee considered the proposed new format of the activity report (Item 7 in the Minute Book). This document was produced to gather initial feedback from the Members in respect of the new format, which had been developed to address the criticisms and comments previously raised by Members. It would be produced in black and white rather than in colour, and would feature only relevant photographs of some incidents and activities. It was planned that the document would be limited to internal circulation within the Authority, in the same way as the current format.

    Members comments were positive regarding the layout, the ease of use and the pictures, but expressed the concern that producing the document in this format would require significant officer time.

86 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

    RESOLVED:

    That in relation to the following items the press and 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 the items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to 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 reports.

87 MINOR ESTATE MATTERS

    The Committee considered and approved the exempt report of the Chief Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) requesting approvals for minor estate matters and to undertake a review of the current Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

    [SUMMARY OF AN EXEMPT MINUTE]

88 VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME 2008/09 TO 2010/11

    The Committee considered and approved the exempt report of the Chief Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) concerning the Authority's vehicle replacement needs for the years 2008/09 to 2010/11.

    [SUMMARY OF AN EXEMPT MINUTE]