Agenda and minutes

Councillor Nigel Turner - personal reasons

None.

Of the meeting held on 16 December 2022 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2022 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

One year commemoration of the Russian /Ukrainian war. Today marks the anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. A national one minute silence will be held at 11 am to show our solidarity with and support for the Ukraine.

Firefighter Barry Martin. Firefighter Barry Martin of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was seriously injured whilst fighting a large-scale fire with colleagues in a building in Edinburgh, sadly passed away on Friday 27 January as a result of his injuries. The Chair, Vice-Chair, and Chief Fire Officer joined Fire Service colleagues at headquarters and across Fire and Rescue Services nationally, in observing a one minute’s silence in his memory on Monday 13^th of February 2023. The thoughts of the Service and Authority are with his family, friends and colleagues.

Pay offer. Central government has presented a revised pay offer for the grey book establishment of a 7% pay increase for 2022/23, and a further 5% increase effective from July of this year. The FBU has recommended acceptance but are now balloting their members. It‘s decision is anticipated by 6 March 2023.

The Chair took part in negotiations and requested it be noted that credit was due to both sides in negotiating and reaching a compromise and a sensible way forward. It is hoped that this example, and the importance of discussion will be a catalyst for similar issues across the country.

The Firefighter’s Charity. In 2022 alone, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service raised over £111,000 for the Firefighter’s Charity, from a range of fundraising events and activities. This included the climb of Mount Toubkal where a team of female firefighters raised over £12,000, and a donation of £1,000 by former Chief Fire Officer John Buckley. The Chair congratulated all fund raising colleagues for their excellent work.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Uche Ihiekwe, the new Service Liaison Lead, visited the Service on 7 February, ahead of the next inspection which is anticipated in the autumn of 2023, and was briefed on current delivery activity, including Futures 2025 and the Fire Cover Review. The Service has made huge progress since the initial inspection and the Chair requested that his thanks to everyone involved in this achievement are recorded.

Recent serious incidents.  Since the last Fire Authority meeting, firefighters have attended serious incidents, including one in Mansfield in which a woman in her 50s died, and another in Sutton in Ashfield, in which a man in his 80s perished. The Service has engaged with affected communities and is supporting the welfare of firefighters who attended the incidents.

The last full Authority meeting before local elections. The Chair thanked all members of the Authority, regardless of political persuasion, for the good work, which has evidently been carried out in good faith and for the benefits of the Service and the citizens they represent. Councillor Dave Trimble and Councillor Nicola Heaton, were specifically thanked for their service to the Authority and their local authority, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Report of the Treasurer to the Fire Authority

Becky Smeathers, Head of Finance and Treasurer to the Authority, presented the report which sets out the proposed Treasury Management Strategy for the new financial year, as is a statutory requirement.

The following points were highlighted and members’ questions responded to:

a)  Overall, there were no major changes applied to the strategy which was updated to reflect the CIPFA Code of Practice which was revised in December 2021;

b)  The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy is newly adopted by the Service with regard to ethical investments, and is attached to the report. It is noted that with some elements of financial activity, such as short-term cash investments, it is difficult to measure the ESG criteria. ESG consideration should only be given once security, liquidity and yield principles are applied;

c)  Members are assured that any level of borrowing is carefully considered, alongside the capital programme and interest rates, and whilst borrowing in advance is possible to benefit from lower interest rates, the criteria and limits are set out in the Prudential Code, which is included as a later item within the agenda.

The Chair commented on the national financial position in that inflation remains higher than 10%, with the cost of food increased by 16%, and neither likely to reduce in the near future. Not only is inflation having a significant impact on the Service, but also impacting on the cost of living, including for those who work for the Service, which is reflected in the pay award. Unless inflation reduces substantially, there will be a longer-term impact on the Service with significant budget pressures again next year.

Resolved to approve

1)  the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 as set out in the report;

2)  the Policy on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) onsiderations as set out in Appendix F to the report;

3)  the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2023/24 as set out in paragraphs 2.53 to 2.57 in the report.

Joint Report of the Treasurer to the Fire Authority and Chief Fire Officer

Becky Smeathers, Head of Finance and Treasurer to the Authority, presented the report which sets out the Authority’s obligations under the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance, and seeks approval of the proposed capital plans, prudential limits, and monitoring processes.

The following points were highlighted and members’ questions responded to:

a)  This report is closely linked to the Treasury Management Strategy and demonstrates the affordability of the capital programme proposed as part of the budget report prior to setting the budget;

b)  The objectives of the Prudential Code are to ensure that:

·capital plans and investment plans are affordable and proportionate;

·all borrowing and other long-term liabilities are within prudent and sustainable levels;

·risks associated with investment are proportionate to financial capacity;

·treasury management decisions are in accordance with good professional practice;

c)  One additional indicator of ‘liability benchmark’, is included, as directed by CIPFA, and references the amount of borrowing compared to the life of assets against which the borrowing is placed. A more detailed explanation is provided in paragraph 2.3 of the report. The Authority is complying with the requirements of this indicator;

d)  All borrowing is within planned limits, although the Authority has approved borrowing funds slightly in advance of planned borrowing, to ensure that the most efficient interest rates could be achieved;

e)  Following several rounds of efficiency consideration, there is very little scope to increase income from the Service’s assets. With the exception of a site at Clifton, for which the Finance and Resources Committee received a report, all other buildings are operational. However, efficiency considerations are ongoing, including if services can be provided differently. As such, the life of some vehicle asset lives had been extended, and then reassessed due to balance against maintenance costs.

Members of the Authority commented that just because there is capacity to borrow, doesn’t mean that the Authority should borrow, and that the best income and return must be achieved from assets.

Resolved to:

1)  approve the Prudential Limits for 2023/24 as follows:

2)  approve the following local indicators for 2023/24:

Report of the Chief Fire Officer and Treasurer to the Fire Authority

The minute’s silence for Ukraine was observed by the Authority and those in attendance during this item.

Becky Smeathers, Head of Finance and Treasurer to the Authority, presented the report, the main purpose of which is to provide the Authority with the broader projected financial information of the Service for the next three years, to enable members to determine the level of council tax precept required by the Authority for the 2023/24 financial year to enable the Service to function effectively and provide a balanced budget, as is legally required under S25 of the Local Government Act 2003.

The following points were highlighted and members’ questions responded to:

a)  The Medium Term Financial Strategy report was presented to the Authority at its December meeting, when it tasked the Finance and Resources Committee with proposing options to ensure that a balanced budget could be achieved;

b)  Since the last report, further financial information has been provided, including anticipated slippage in the budget, the announcement of the Central Government funding provided a small additional increase of £17,000, an agreed grey book pay rise to 7% this year and 5% next year which results in increased costs by nearly £1 million. It is noted that the offer is yet to be accepted by the trades union membership. Council Tax income was as predicted, but business rates income had increased with growth and revaluation of businesses, providing an additional £430,000 of income, which is very welcome, particularly when a deficit was initially predicted. Holding vacant Firefighter posts until recruitment is possible has brought costs down by approximately £0.5 million;

c)  £1.126m budget support is set aside in Earmarked Reserves to support the deficit for this and future years;

d)  Inflation remains a concern but is predicted to start to drop during the next few months;

e)  There is uncertainty with regard to future years grant funding from Central Government which is still only provided on an annual basis;

f)  Three options were presented to the Finance and Resources Committee for Council Tax and are set out in the report and are summarised as follows:

i.  a zero increase/freeze in Council Tax would result in a deficit of £2.064m in 2023/24. This will rise to £3.717m in 2024/25 and increases further to £5.7m by 2026/27. This would put the Service in a severe financial position if chosen;

ii.  a 2.95% increase in Council Tax would still result in a significant deficit of £1.237m in 2023/24 rising to £2.014m in 2024/25 and to £2.4m in 2026/27, with insufficient reserves held in the Budget Pressure Support Reserve to cover even the first year’s deficit;

iii.  if Council Tax is increased by £5 in 2023/24, 2.95% for 2024/25 to 2025/26 and 1.95% for 2026/27, the estimated deficit position for 2023/24 would reduce to £404k, but based on current known information, this would increase to £1.1m in 2024/25 and £1.5m by 2026/27.

g)  Having fully considered the options, Finance and Resources Committee recommend to the Authority, that a £5  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Prior to consideration of this item, representatives of the Fire Brigades Union asked the following 2 questions:

Question 1

In September’s Fire Authority meeting, we asked ‘Will the Authority agree to postpone all recommendations currently proposed until after the financial budgets have been officially announced by the government’. This request was denied. Firefighters, and members of the public have been put into a position that has caused an enormous amount of stress and anxiety, a situation which was completely avoidable.

The proposals contained within Futures 2025 paper were based on estimates and assumptions and not fact. There was another way, a way that has now been proven to be correct.

We thank the members of this Authority that stood with the FBU to campaign and lobby for funding and an increase the Council Tax precept. The FBU will continue to lobby.

This should be a lesson to all that giving up and accepting what seems inevitable is never the right approach. We deserve more and so do the public that we strive to protect.

The increase in the allowable precept rise buys us time, time to consider future options and continue to work together to secure the funding we require for the future.

We commend the Fire Authority for accepting the recommendations of a precept rise to the £5 limit. We ask that this Fire Authority commit to working together in the future to secure funding to protect our Service and give assurances that before announcing proposals with such wide reaching implications in the future, that real consideration will be given to the impact on firefighters and the public.

The Chair responded:

The last year has been a challenge for all involved. The Chair is very much aware of and also the stress and anxiety caused, and has strived for an outcome which prevented the need to make Service cuts. This position is a reflection of the last decade, not one that anybody wished to experience, however, the futures 2025 strategy and pre-planning approach has ensured that the Fire Authority has been able to balance its budget, as is legally required, and have a plan as to how it can operate in a sustainable way. On behalf of the Fire Authority, I would thank all stakeholders, including the Fire Brigades Union, for the unified lobbying that you undertook and pressure that has been applied both locally and nationally to highlight the issues facing Nottinghamshire, particularly the joint lobbying of Parliament and campaigning reasonably and in good faith.

I said at the time that we would wait until the outcome of the consultation before making a decision and listen to what is said. It would have been remiss of me as Chair to delay the consultations until this meeting. At that point, despite of consistent personal and joint lobbying, there was no additional flexibility on Council Tax. If that hadn’t been provided, this budget would have been close to providing a deficit in excess of £2.3 million. The ability to provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Report of the Chair of the Appointments Committee

The Chair, also being the Chair of the Appointments Committee, presented the report which recommends that the Authority approve the recommendation of the Appointments Committee following a thorough selection and interview process, overseen by independent professional HR consultants.

The Appointments Committee met on 18 January 2023 and following very thorough and extensive screening, assessments and interviews, have recommended to the Authority, the appointment of Damien West as Assistant Chief Fire Officer, with effect from 16 April 2023.

Members of the Authority congratulated Damien West on his achievement and also extended their heartfelt thanks to temporary Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mick Sharman, who has done a fantastic job during his time in post, with the Chair extending his personal thanks to Mick for the personal support and advice he had provided as a first class public servant, with other members echoing this sentiment and stating that Mick had been an exceptionally communicative and supportive officer.

Resolvedto approve the appointment of Mr Damien West to the position of Assistant Chief Fire Officer, with effect from 16 April 2023, as recommended by the Appointments Committee.

Report of the Clerk and Monitoring Officer to the Authority

Malcolm Townroe, Clerk and monitoring Officer to the Authority, presented the report which provides the final recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel regarding the application of the inflator to be applied to Members Allowances following settlement of the national Local Government pay award 2022/23.

It is noted any increase in members’ allowances is usually linked to the percentage increase of white collar staff. However, as a flat rate amount was last awarded, and this would not be appropriate to apply to members allowances, the members of the Independent Remuneration Panel have proposed a 4.04% increase, which follows the remuneration model also applied by the County Council.

Resolved for Members’ Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances be increased by 4.04%, backdated to 1 April 2022, in line with the proposal put forward by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Resolved to note the following minutes:

Community Safety Committee 06 January 2023

Human Resources Committee 13 January 2023

Finance and Resources Committee 20 January 2023

Policy and Strategy Committee 27 January 2023

To consider excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of the following item in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (under Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3) 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.

Resolved to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the remaining item in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, under Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraphs 1,2 & 3, on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining an exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2022 (for confirmation)

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2022 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Candida Brudenell, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, presented the report.

Resolved to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.