Agenda and minutes

The Chairman announced that the meeting was being recorded for broadcast on the Authority’s website and would be available for repeated viewing. The press and members of the public were also permitted to film and broadcast this meeting. Those remaining at the meeting were consenting to being filmed and recorded, and to the possible use of those images and recording for broadcasting purposes.

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted

To enable Members to disclose to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest is not already entered in the Authority’s register of interests, and any other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in any such matter that Members may wish to disclose.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.

With regard to Minute 8, it was noted that former Fire Authority Members, Cllr Hannah Coombs and Cllr Frank Jonas had been respectively appointed by Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils as temporary deputy members of the Authority.

Pursuant to Standing Order 19, to receive any deputations to this meeting

It was confirmed that no requests to make a deputation had been received.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman welcomed all Members to the meeting, in particular Cllr Hockley who had recently been reappointed to the Authority to replace Cllr Thierry, who was thanked for his contribution.

The death and funeral of former Fire Authority member Frank Pearce was reported and tribute was paid to him. Members also recognised the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in London and observed a minute’s silence to respect those who had lost their lives. The positive work of HFRS officers to re-assure local communities in Hampshire in the aftermath of the tragedy was acknowledged.

The Chairman gave a brief update on the situation nationally regarding Fire Authority governance and confirmed that consideration of joint working between HFRA and the PCC was still underway and that any proposals would be presented to the Authority.

It was confirmed that discussions were still ongoing with regards to the pay review. It was also noted that the Home Secretary had announced an extension of the remit and change of name of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to include Fire and Rescue Services. There was an expectation that all Fire and Rescue Services would be inspected within a two year window.

To receive any updates from Members of the Authority

Cllr Carter reported on his recent attendance at the LGA conference, noting that it had a particular focus on health and housing. He also reported on a meeting with the Fire Minister which had covered a variety of topics, including the Grenfell tragedy and the development of the national policy framework to which there was an opportunity to input views.

The opening of the fire heritage exhibition at the Solent Sky museum was noted and tribute was paid to the organisers for the quality of the collection.

It was confirmed that a graduation ceremony for new HFRS recruits was scheduled for 4 August 2017 and all Members were encouraged to attend.

Cllr Price echoed the Chairman’s comments regarding the fire heritage exhibition and agreed that the opportunity to feed in to the new national policy should be taken. He gave feedback on the pay negotiations and on his involvement with the national fire pension board.

Cllr Fairhurst reported feedback from Public Health acknowledging the potential benefit of working with Fire and Rescue Services to reduce mortality rates and it was confirmed that joint working was underway to best understand the benefits of fire as a health asset.

Cllr Mintoff detailed a public sprinkler system demonstration she had attended and thanked officers for their work.  

To receive a report of the Chief Officer regarding the Hampshire Fire and Rescue response to the Grenfell Tower fire.

The Authority received a report of the Chief Officer regarding the Hampshire Fire and Rescue response to the Grenfell Tower fire.

By way of clarification, it was confirmed that there were 526 schools in the Hampshire County Council area and 706 across the wider Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service area (paragraph 15a refers).

The report was presented and the activity of HFRS officers with Hampshire residents was detailed. The definition of “high-rise” was clarified as being a residential property of 18 meters or more and it was confirmed that work was underway to ensure that any changes required to buildings are made consistently.

The powers of the Fire and Rescue Service to insist on the installation of fire rated front doors were questioned and clarified. It was confirmed that it was an important part of the safety message to the public, that fire safe areas must not be compromised as doing so put everyone at risk. The process behind the testing of cladding materials was also questioned and it was confirmed that guidance was in place setting out the requirements and some organisations were submitting material voluntarily. It was asked how many buildings had received a safety inspection and Members heard that 145 had been carried out to date across Hampshire, including all 15 identified as having ACM cladding.

The Authority discussed the role of the local planning process, of building control and of building insurance in ensuring fire safety. It was noted that the Fire and Rescue Service is not currently a statutory consultee for planning applications and often became involved late in the process when it was difficult to make changes. The benefits of early involvement were emphasised and it was confirmed that there was a desire to be supportive. It was agreed that options through which the Fire and Rescue Service could gain greater input to the planning process should be explored.

Resolved:

1.    That the Fire Authority note post the Grenfell Tower Fire, the valuable work HFRS has completed to date and the work which will continue in reassuring the communities in Hampshire, mitigating any identified risks in buildings by working with Local Authority and landlords, to ensure Fire Safety compliance.

2.    That a cross-Party Working Group consisting of Cllrs Carter, Price, Mintoff and Stubbs be established. The Working Group to review the position and role of the Fire and Rescue Authority in the planning approval process and to consider options to improve this, including short-term, voluntary options and actions involving the insurance industry. Recommendations of the Working Group to be presented to a future meeting of the Authority.

To receive a report of the Chief Financial Officer regarding the budget outturn.

The Authority received a report of the Chief Financial Officer regarding the budget outturn.

The report was introduced and key features were highlighted including an underspend of £2.1 million and a reduction in reserves of £9 million as part of planned spending activity. An overspend on the IT programme was explained as being the result of a delayed implementation.

The recommendations were proposed and it was resolved:

1.    That the accounts for 2016/17, including the use of reserves set out in paragraph 22, and Appendix D of the report be approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

2.    That the changes to the capital payments in 2016/17 and the impact on the capital spend profile going forward as set out in Appendices B & C be approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

3.    That the financing for capital payments as set out in paragraph 16 be approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

4.    That the annual treasury outturn report set out in Appendix E of the report be approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

To receive a performance report of the Chief Officer

The Authority received a report of the Chief Officer regarding performance monitoring.

Details of the report as set out in the appendices were highlighted to Members and it was noted that performance was strong in comparison to both peer Authorities and the national average.

Members welcomed the report and discussed a number of its findings, including those relating to falls, false alarms and the number of female firefighters. The strategy for engagement with stakeholders was outlined.  

The recommendations in the report were proposed and it was resolved:

1.    That the Authority reviews the performance detailed in appendices A and B and notes the strategies for improvement.

To receive a Health and Safety update of the Chief Officer

The Authority received a health and safety annual update report of the Chief Officer.

The report was introduced and the trend of increased safety and reduced injuries over the past two years was noted. Areas of focus were considered and clarified and a number of methods for the wider sharing of learning and best practice were set out.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and it was resolved:

1.    That the Annual Health and Safety Report presented in the report be endorsed by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer regarding Community Safety Partnerships

The Authority received a report of the Chief Officer regarding Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs).

It was confirmed that the Fire and Rescue Authority is a statutory partner on CSPs and meetings were being attended at officer level. Following the changes in the governance structure of the Authority, the report presented options for Members to continue to be engaged. It was clarified that under recommended option B, Group Managers would engage Members where the agenda made it appropriate and Members could continue to attend where they were particularly involved.

It was resolved:

1.    That, taking into account the above clarification, Option B for the deployment of HFRA members and HFRS officers into the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Reduction Alliance and Community Safety Partnerships be approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

To receive a report of the Chairman of the Member Working Group regarding Chief Officer recruitment

The Authority received a report of the Chairman of the Chief Officer Recruitment Working Group.

With regard to the report, the recommendation for the establishment of and appointment to a joint committee with delegated power to recruit a new Chief Officer was set out. The timescales in which the process needed to be completed were clarified and it was also confirmed that those Members not appointed to the joint committee would likely have an opportunity to be involved in other stages of the recruitment process, such as the stakeholder panels.

Resolved:

1.    That the Authority notes the outcomes of the Member Working Group’s consideration of the report of the Head of HR and agrees the recommendations of the Member Working Group set out at Appendix 2; and

2.    That, subject to IWC’s decision at its meeting on 19 July 2017:

-       the Authority agrees to option (a) as set out in paragraph 17 above – namely to establish and appoint to a joint Committee to be known as the Joint Appointments Committee, in accordance with the Terms of Reference at Appendix 3;

-       the Authority delegates responsibility for devising and implementing a recruitment process in accordance with the recommendations agreed at Appendix 2, and appointing a new Chief Officer, to the Joint Appointments Committee;

-       the Authority agrees to adopt the Terms of Reference of the Joint Appointments Committee as set out at Appendix 3 and appoints five members of HFRA to the joint Committee, comprising Cllrs Carter, Fairhurst, Stubbs, Price and Mintoff.