Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Roger Price and Councillor David Simpson.

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 of their duty to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they had in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest was not already entered in the Authority's register of interests, and their ability to disclose any other personal interests in any such matter that they might have wished to disclose.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

It was noted that despite not appearing the merged online version of the minutes, Councillor Sharon Mintoff and Councillor Jason Fazackarley had been present at the meeting.

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

There were no deputations for the meeting.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman welcomed Keith Carruthers (Service Liaison Lead for HMICFRS), who was observing the meeting.

The Chairman updated Members on Broadening the Role discussions and the Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the LGA have presented a pay proposal  of 13%. A status quo remained and conversations would continue and the Full Authority would be updated in due course.

The Chairman also informed the Full Authority of an article featured in The Times regarding female firefighters being put at risk by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) designed for men. At HFRS,firefighter PPE was procured through a nationally awarded contract and had been designed for male and female firefighters individually; with a range of sizes for all operational staff.  This new kit was currently being rolled out, with 40% of staff already wearing the new PPE.  The aim was to complete the process by the end of the calendar year. 

Following an incorrect statement by Victoria Atkins MP in the House of Commons regarding lack of facilities for women staff and visitors, the Chief Fire Officer had invited Ms Atkins to visit HFRS to see the facilities available and learn about the estate strategy.

To receive any updates from Members of the Authority.

The Vaisakhi festival was due to take place on the 14 April and all Fire Members were welcome to attend. An invitation would be circulated to Members of the Fire Authority. (http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/events/vaisakhi-celebrations-3996 )

Hampshire was due to host the Asian Fire Service Association (ASFA) Conference between the 13-14 June, which was taking place at the Botley Park hotel (http://afsa.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/AFSA-SPRING-CONFERENCE-2019-FLYER-V4-MJ-6.pdf )

To receive a report of The Clerk seeking approval for the appointment to a vacancy on the Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board.

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk, which asked Members to approve Dan Tasker as the new employer representative on the HFRA Pension Board.

Members were happy with the proposals.

RESOLVED:

The Authority appointed Dan Tasker to the vacant “employer representative” position on the Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board.

To receive a report of the Chief Fire Officer regarding the Terms of Reference for the Combined Fire Authority Members Working Group – (Report to Follow)

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (Item 8 in the minute book) regarding the terms of reference (TOR) for the new Combined Fire Authority (CFA) Members working group.

In January 2019, it was approved at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority (HFRA) meeting, that the Isle of Wight Council and HFRA should jointly approach the Secretary of State and seek their permission to create a CFA across the local authority areas of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. Following this, it was agreed that an informal combined members working group be established with the Isle of Wight.

Members were happy with the proposals.

RESOLVED:

The CFA Members Working Group Terms of Reference was approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

To receive a report of the Chief Fire Officer, seeking approval for the Pay Policy Statement.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (Item 9 in the minute book), which sought approval for the Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20. This was a requirement of Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 (openness and accountability in local pay).

Members were happy with the Pay Policy Statement.

RESOLVED:

The Pay Policy Statement (Appendix A to the report) was approved by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

To receive the minutes of the Extraordinary Standard and Governance Committee meeting, which took place on the 27 February.

The Chairman of the Standards and Governance Committee presented the minutes from the meeting on the 27 February 2019. Officers were thanked for their hard work in preparing the HMICFRS Action Plan report for consideration at the Standards and Governance meeting with the time restraints imposed.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the Standards and Governance meeting were noted by the Authority.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is 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 disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to 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.

It was resolved that the public be excluded from the meeting during 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

disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 5 of Part 1 of

Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all

the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the

exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, for

the reasons set out in the report.

To receive an exempt report of the Chief Fire Officer regarding Grant Thornton Guidance.

The Authority considered an exempt report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 12 in the minute book) regarding guidance in respect of creating and operating a successful Fire trading company [SEE EXEMPT MINUTE].