Agenda and minutes

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 receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted.

The Chairman welcomed Stuart Harwood to the meeting, who attended on behalf of the Home Office.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.

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 thanked all Firefighters for their work during the Covid-19 outbreak across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

To receive any updates from Members of the Authority

There were no updates regarding Member developments.

To consider a report from the Chief Financial Officer, which sets out the proposed Alternative Notional Amount (ANA) for the new Combined Fire Authority (CFA), the basis of its calculation and the implications for both the Isle of Wight Council and new CFA in setting it at this level and re-visits the option appraisal that was submitted as part of the business case.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Finance Officer (item 7 in the minute book) regarding the Council Tax setting for the new Combined Fire Authority.

The officer explained how the Council Tax setting was part of setting up new Cobined Fire Authority (CFA) and an Alternative Notional Amount (ANA) was required. What the council tax would have been in 2020-21 was used a base position; firstly as something to apply for setting the 2021-22 and also for Council Tax harmonisation.

Isle of Wight (IOW) Council Tax was compared to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s (HFRA) Council tax based on the 2019-20 budget and there was an 80p difference between the notional IOW and actual HFRA.

Following recalculation based on 2020-21 budget, there had been an increase to £6.88. This has been primarily down the IOW assuming a 5% and only 2% being subsequently agreed.

Paragraph 17 in the report was highlighted as a summary of the option appraisal. Options 2 and 3 would result in the loss £4.4m and £3m income respectively, whereas Option 1 would harmonise at the current HFRA level and was therefore the recommended option.

There would be an increase on what residents were currently playing, averaging at a £6.88 increase for band D. 65% households were in bands A-C and 40% in A-B. Residents could apply under Council Tax Support Scheme and there were other mitigations in place so it was anticipated that this would not significantly effect many people.

Councillor Dave Stewart, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council confirmed that the IOW had also supported Option 1 in harmonising with Hampshire and everyone being treated the same. It equated to a 10p a week increase. 

Members fully supported Option 1 but acknowledged that the Secretary of State could choose another option if it felt it was more appropriate. However, this was very unlikely due to the harmonisation being part of the originally approved business plan for the CFA.

RESOLVED

a) The Shadow Authority agreed to calculate its proposal to the Secretary of State in respect of the ANA in accordance with Option 1, which assumed harmonisation of Council Tax at the existing HFRA Level, as per the business case approved by government.

b) The Shadow Authority approved recommending to the Secretary of State that the Alternative Notional Amount be set at £69.06.