Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY held at the Borough Council Offices, Eastleigh on 16 September, 2009
PRESENT:
Councillors: R. Smith (Chairman); I. Beagley; A. Carew; C. Carter; K. Chapman; A. Evans; L. Fairhurst; J. Frankum; A. Fraser; D. Fuller; P. Galton; D. Harrison; F. Jonas; D.A. Kirk; Sam Payne; F. Pearce; R. Price; D. Simpson; M. Tucker; A. Weeks;
P. West.
26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Marsh-Jenks; R. McIntosh; J. West.
27 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, 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.
28 MINUTES
The Minutes of the Authority held on 24 June, 2009 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Matter arising:
Appointments to Crime and Disorder Reduction/Community Safety Partnerships
Pursuant to Minute 10, the Chairman reported that, after consultation with the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, Councillors A. Fraser and D. Fuller would serve as the Authority's representatives on the Portsmouth Crime and Disorder Reduction/Community Safety Partnership. This would leave two outstanding vacancies (Eastleigh and Winchester Partnerships). It was agreed that these appointments would be confirmed by the Clerk on the advice of the Chairman, following consultation with the other political group leaders.
29 DEPUTATION
Pursuant to Standing Order 19, the Authority received a deputation by Mr. E. Burrows on behalf of the Fire Brigades Union making the case for increasing from four to five the number of riders on front line fire appliances.
30 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
Whilst there were no Members' questions, Councillors K. Chapman and P. West both reported their disappointment over the content of the Local Government Association Equality and Diversity Seminar they had attended on 3 September, 2009.
31 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reported upon the success of the HFRS' Rope Rescue, Extrication and Trauma Team's participation, in the recent United Kingdom Rescue Organisation Challenge held in Glasgow. The team had been awarded first place in all four categories of the rope rescue challenge. The Authority congratulated those individuals involved on their success.
The Chairman reported that Hampshire had been among nine fire and rescue services who had signed-up to the European Road Safety Charter on 10 September, 2009. The Charter sought to reduce the number of road accident victims in the European Union by 50% by 2010. Also, the Service had reaffirmed its commitment to health and safety by signing-up to "The Pledge", a Health and Safety Executive Strategy aimed at reducing the numbers of work related deaths, injuries and ill-health cases in the work place.
The Chairman reminded the Authority of a Members' awareness session taking place from 12.30 p.m. on 29 September, 2009 at Service Headquarters. It would provide the Chief Officer with the opportunity to update Members on national issues in his capacity as President of the Chief Fire Officer's Association and to report on the Service's work with other public bodies and agencies.
Finally, various Members reported that they had been contacted individually by the Local Government Association about their commitment to equality and diversity. The Chief Officer undertook to write to all Members to clarify the position.
32 ACTIVITY REPORT
The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) highlighting prevention, protection and response activities in each of the group areas.
33 SOUTH EAST FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARD - UPDATE
The Authority received the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) highlighting some of the key issues discussed at the South-East Fire and Rescue Service Regional Management Board meeting held on 15 July, 2009. It was noted that the next Regional Board Meeting was to be held on 7 October, 2009 in Rushmoor and that any Member of the Authority who wished to attend should contact the Chief Officer.
34 FIRE CONTROL AND FIRELINK PROJECTS - UPDATE
The Authority received an oral report by Mark Rayner, Head of Training and Development summarising recent developments concerning the Fire Control and FireLink projects. His report highlighted the latest position regarding the Hampshire/Sussex Fire and Rescue Services switch over to the Regional Control Centre which had been put back to March 2012; the next phase of the FireLink Communication System to be fitted to HFRS frontline appliances from November, 2010 and those staffing and other issues, raised at the Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC) meeting on 11 September, 2009.
35 DRAFT HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PLAN 2010 TO 2013 - PROPOSED CORPORATE OBJECTIVES AND CONSULTATION STRATEGY
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on a proposal to consult on seven new corporate objectives for the draft "Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services Plan 2010 to 2013" as a basis for consultation with stakeholders and other interested parties.
Whilst noting that arrangements had been made following this meeting for a briefing and discussion session on the item, some Members were critical as to the timing of the briefing and to it being held after rather than before this Authority meeting in case any relevant issues were to arise. The Chief Officer reported why it had been felt necessary to adopt this arrangement and assured the Authority that there would be every opportunity for individual Members along with stakeholders and other interested parties to make comments on the draft Plan as part of the consultation process. It was noted that the Authority would receive a report back on this item at its meeting in February, 2010.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Authority endorses the proposed corporate objectives, as set out in Appendix A to the report, as a basis for consultation with stakeholders.
(b) That the proposed consultation strategy and programme, as set out in Appendix B and C respectively to the report, be approved.
36 STRATEGIC RISK REGISTER
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) about the Strategic Risk Register.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the current version of the Strategic Risk Register be approved.
(b) That risk reference number 05 "failure to comply with, and properly manage the Authority's legal and regulatory responsibilities in respect to the statutory duties imposed by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill and Compliance Code 2008", be endorsed as "low risk", and removed from the active Register.
(c) That risk reference number 07a "failure to ensure that the transition to FireLink will not adversely affect the delivery of service", be removed from the Register.
37 FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITIES MUTUAL LIMITED (FRAML) : WINDING-UP OF THE COMPANY
The Authority considered the report of the Clerk (Item 12 in the Minute Book) about the winding-up of FRAML. Attention was drawn to the risk assessment that had been carried out. It was noted that there were still certain technical legal issues to be resolved.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman, be given delegated authority to sign the deed of indemnity with Charles Taylor Consulting (CTC) plc when a form of wording acceptable to CTC and all nine participating member fire and rescue authorities of the Fire and Rescue Authorities Mutual Limited (FRAML) has been agreed.
(b) That the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Clerk and Treasurer, should prepare a response to the Government's consultation paper, "Strengthening Local Democracy" for the Chairman to send on behalf of the Authority.
38 DISPOSAL OF WINCHESTER FIRE STATION SITE
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 13 in the Minute Book) on the present position regarding the disposal of this site.
RESOLVED:
That the Chief Officer be given delegated authority to accept the most economically advantageous offer for the disposal of Winchester Fire Station site in North Walls, Winchester subject to the details of the accepted offer being reported to the Finance and General Purposes Committee in due course.
39 HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE INSPECTION OUTCOMES
The Authority considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 14 in the Minute Book) about a recent inspection of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Members felt the action plan which the HSE proposed for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to address those recommendations it had identified should be given a time frame in which to be completed. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Authority note the contents of the report.
(b) That those recommendations contained in the report of the Inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (attached as Appendix A) be progressed positively by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service over the next twelve months by way of an action plan and that progress be reported to the Governance Committee as part of the Service's Health and Safety Annual Report.
40 THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND THE IMPACT ON THE SERVICE'S OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY
The Authority received and noted the report of the Chief Officer (Item 15 in the Minute Book) about the economic climate and the impact on the Service's operational activity.
41 MINUTES OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 3 JULY, 2009
The Authority received the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting held on 3 July, 2009. (Item 16 in the Minute Book).
42 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE - 30 JULY, 2009
The Authority received the Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held on 30 July, 2009 (Item 17 in the Minute Book).
43 MINUTES OF THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 26 JUNE AND 4 SEPTEMBER, 2009
The Authority received the Minutes of the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 June and 4 September, 2009 (Items 18(i) and 18(ii) in the Minute Book). Members adopted the recommendation that the Chairman and Chief Officer sign the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change to enable the Authority to work with Central Government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010.
44 SCHEDULE OF FUTURE HFRA AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Authority noted the intention of the Clerk to work-up the schedule of future HFRA and Committee meetings once the County Council's Calendar of Meetings had been agreed. It was also the Clerk's intention to check the Authority's proposed calendar with both Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils, prior to it being issued to Members in due course.
45 APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO CONFERENCES - LGA ANNUAL FIRE CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION - 9 AND 10 MARCH, 2010 IN MANCHESTER
The Authority considered the appointment of Members to attend the LGA Annual Fire Conference and Exhibition entitled "Challenging Times, Keeping Up the Pace" taking place on 9 and 10 March, 2010 in Manchester.
RESOLVED:
That the Chief Officer contact each of the Political Group Spokespersons on the Authority to obtain any nominations for Member places at the LGA Annual Fire Conference and Exhibition next March.
46 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, as it was 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 this item, there would be disclosable to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part I 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.
47 DIRECTORATE REVIEW
The Authority considered the exempt report of the Chief Officer (Item 22 in the Minute Book) about the Directorate Review.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Authority notes the review of the Service Directorate Structure currently being conducted by the Chief Officer.
(b) That the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Chairman, is authorised to proceed with a re-structuring of the directorates following discussions with Corporate Management Team.
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