Archived decisions

    AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on 25 March, 2009

PRESENT:

Councillors: P.R.C. Hutcheson (Chairman); M.F. Cartwright; M.G. Cooper; P. Galton; D. Harrison; R. Smith.

Also in attendance were Linda Krywald, Kate Handy and Charlotte Smith from the Audit Commission.

87. APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D.A. Kirk; P. Marsh-Jenks and R. McIntosh.

88. 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, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 12 of the Code.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members under this item.

89. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 November, 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

90. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to the meeting.

91. HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY - AUDIT COMMISSION'S TRIAL ORGANISATIONAL ASSESSMENT

Charlotte Smith (Audit Commission - Performance Specialist) introduced a handout tabled at the meeting (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the Audit Commission's Trial Organisations Assessment of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority in 2008. The model for the assessment was explained, together with the key lines of enquiry and the outcomes which had been reached.

RESOLVED:

That the positive report obtained by the Authority as a result of the Audit Commission's Trial Organisational Assessment of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority be welcomed and that Members and Officers be congratulated for their parts in this.

92. AUDIT COMMISSION - DRAFT ANNUAL AUDIT INSPECTION LETTER 2008

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) introducing the Audit Commission's Draft Annual Audit Inspection Letter 2008. Members welcomed the positive comments made in relation to the Authority's performance and that Hampshire was one of only five fire and rescue authorities in the country assessed as "improving strongly".

RESOLVED:

    (a) That the Audit Commission's Draft Annual Audit and Inspection Letter 2008 be noted.

    (b) That the actions already being taken to address the main areas for improvement summarised in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.4 of the report be endorsed.

93. INTERNAL AUDIT STRATEGY 2009/10 REVIEW

The Committee considered the report of the Treasurer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) about the Authority's current internal audit strategy and on the proposed 2009/10 internal audit plan.

RESOLVED:

    (a) That the Committee endorse the view that the internal audit strategy 2008 to 2013 remains valid.

    (b) That the internal audit plan for 2009/10 to 2011/12 be noted.

    (c) That the revised terms of reference for the internal audit service be approved.

94. SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWANCE FOR DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTH-EAST FIRE AND RESCUE CONTROL CENTRE LIMITED

The Committee considered the report of the Clerk (Item 9 in the Minute Book) about the possibility of a special responsibility allowance (SRA) being introduced for Hampshire's Director of the South-East Fire and Rescue Control Centre Limited, in recognition of his duties in relation to that Company. In supporting this in principle Members noted that the Authority's existing holder of this post already received a SRA as Liberal Democrat Party Spokesperson. Only one SRA is payable to any Member under the Members' Allowances Scheme whilst a current postholder already receives a higher SRA in respect of another post. The Committee did not feel it was necessary to ask the Fire Authority to consider the amount of SRA paid to this post but instead agreed in principle to it being £2,000. The Clerk advised that, if this recommendation was accepted, the amendment would be incorporated in the Members' Allowances Scheme the next time that it was reviewed. Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Fire Authority:

That approval in principle be given to a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) of £2,000 per annum being paid to this Authority's Board Director on the South East Fire and Rescue Control Centre Limited at such time in the future, when there is a change to the Authority's existing Board Director.

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