Agenda and minutes

Councillor Darrell Pulk (Other Fire and Rescue Authority Business)

Councillor Chris Barnfather

Councillor John Clarke

Councillor Jon Collins

Councillor Roger Jackson

Councillor Ken Rigby

Councillor Gail Turner

In the absence of Councillor Darrell Pulk, Councillor Brian Grocock, as Vice-Chair, Chaired the meeting.

Neil Timms, Assistant Chief Officer for Finance and Resources, declared a personal interest in agenda item 10, Strategic Management Team Restructure, and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of this item.

Of the meeting held on 5 June 2015 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2015 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair presiding at the meeting.

The Chair made the following announcements:

(a)  a members’ seminar is to be held on 21 July 2015, starting at 9.30am until approximately 1.30pm;

(b)  the end of life Fire Engine, referred to in the Chair’s announcements of the last meeting, has now departed and is due to arrive in Nepal during August, with three fire fighters due to meet the appliance and train Nepalese firefighters;

(c)  the Peer Assessment taking place at Fire Service Headquarters finishes today. The outcomes will be received with interest;

(d)  Chief’s Challenge, raising funds for the Firefighter’s Charity, was launched this morning with a display held in front of Headquarters which alone raised £140;

(e)  in recognition of their contribution to the Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillors David Smith and John Wilmott, and former Councillor Tim Spencer, were in attendance and presented with a certificate of gratitude.

Joint Report of the Treasurer and Chief Fire Officer

Peter Hurford, Treasurer to the Fire and Rescue Authority, presented the report which provides the latest estimates of the financial performance of the service in the year 2014/15.

The following points were highlighted:

(a)  the final statement of accounts for 2014/15 will be submitted to the September meeting of the Authority;

(b)  the report identifies variances against the original budget and provides a brief commentary on each variance;

(c)  whilst the provisional variants for 2014/15 totals £198,000, this is less than 0.5% of the total budget and is part of the Fire and Rescue Authority strategy in preparation of known further financial restraints;

(d)  the capital programme is a rolling programme and not all projects for which funds have been allocated will be completed in the current financial year.

Members of the authority thanked Peter Hurford and the Finance Team for their thorough and hard work.

RESOLVED

(1)  to note the report;

(2)  to approve for the total capital slippage of £5.884 million to be carried forward.

Report of Chief Fire Officer

The report provided the minutes of the following subcommittee meetings of the Fire and Rescue Authority:

Policy and Strategy Committee 13 March 2015

Community Safety Committee 27 March 2015

Finance and Resources Committee 17 April 2015

Policy and Strategy Committee 17 April 2015

Human Resources Committee 12 June 2015

RESOLVED that the report and minutes are noted.

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration

of the remaining items in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local

Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the

circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption

outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information by virtue of

Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items in accordance with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, as defined in paragraphs 1 & 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  

Report of Chief Fire Officer

John Buckley, Chief Fire Officer, presented the report which requests that the Authority approve the recommendations of the Human Resources Committee to amend the permanent establishment.

Resolved to approve the recommendations within the report.

Report of Chief Fire Officer

John Buckley, Chief Fire Officer, presented the report requesting that the Authority approved the recommendations of the Human Resources Committee, to reorganise the Hydrant Maintenance and Equipment Sections, leading to permanent changes to the establishment.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations within the report.

Report of Chief Fire Officer

Prior to the Authority’s consideration of this item, Neil Timms, Assistant Chief Officer, Finance and Resources, withdrew from the meeting following a personal declaration of interest, in that he is a member of the Strategic Management Team.

John Buckley, Chief Fire Officer, presented the report, the recommendations of which had previously been considered and supported by both the Policy and Strategy Committee and the Human Resources Committee.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations within the report.

Report of Chief Fire Officer

John Buckley, chief fire officer, presented the report which informs members of the arrangements and plans in place to ensure continuity of service.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations in the report.