Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present. Apologies were received from Donna Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Luke Stubbs, attended on her behalf.

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 to disclose at 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.

To receive and approve the minutes from the Full Authority meeting that took place on 14 September 2021.

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 confirmed that the HIWFRS Prince’s Trust Team’s service delivery has been graded as ‘outstanding’ for the third year in a row and that details of upcoming events would be sent out to Members. An update was also provided on Remembrance Day activities as well as the recruitment of new On-Call firefighters. The Authority also learned that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service had signed up to the Dying to Work Charter, a national initiative designed to support employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 

To receive any updates from Members of the Combined Fire Authority.

Councillor Roz Chadd attended the Passing Out parade of the Gosport Cadets and also requested that a progress report on cadets come to a future meeting.

Councillor Roger Price attended a Pensions Committee meeting and also a Fire Service Management committee meeting.

Councillor David Harrison had attended a high rise exercise at a Portsmouth fire station and shared how well the drill had been handled and how beneficial an experience it had been to his role on the Fire Authority.

Councillor Jonathan Glen had visited Cosham Fire Station and had also attended an LGA Workshop on Governance & Leadership. He had also had two meetings in his Champion role on Performance.

Councillor Gary Hughes had also attended meetings in his capacity as the Carbon Reduction Champion and looked forward to improvement projects commencing in 2022-23.

The Chief Fire Officer also confirmed that the Fire Minister had asked for volunteers to assist with delivering vaccination boosters and the Service would continue to work closely with teams and support people however they could. The Authority congratulated and thanked officers for their work on the vaccination programme to date.

To consider a report from the Chief Financial Officer, which provides a first look at the budget setting process for 2022/23, an update on the development of the MTFP and an update on the financial position of the Authority in 2021/22.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Financial Officer (item 7 in the minute book) which set out a budget update setting of the budget for 2022/23, the medium term financial position for the Fire Authority based on the announcements made as part of the Autumn Budget on 27^th October 2021 and pensions matters.

The report was summarised and Members were reminded that the government funding outcome had not yet been received and that the report therefore included many assumptions.

Members queried whether a breakdown of employee costs could be provided and it was confirmed that this would be provided. It was also confirmed that more focus was put on reductions and efficiencies rather than relying on an increase in council tax. Regarding the driver training costs detailed on page 23 of the pack, this was a ne national driving standard issued that increased the length of the course but unfortunately there was no central additional funding provided to cover this expense.

The Authority was reassured that the Fire Service remained in a strong position and proposals going forward were focussed on ensuring that this remained as such. Any substantial changes to projects or financial impacts would go through the Authority and so they would be regularly updated as the budget position became clearer.

RESOLVED

1. The financial principles in Appendix A were approved by the  HIWFRA Full Authority

2. The budget monitoring position was noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority

3. The increase to the cost cap envelope was approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority.

4. The Delivery Pressures set out in Appendix B were approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority for inclusion in the 2022/23 budget subject to affordability

5. The mid-year review of treasury management activities set out in Appendix C were approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority

6. The updated LGPS Discretions Policy set out in Appendix D was approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority

To consider a report from the Monitoring Officer, regarding some minor updates to the Constitution and appointment proposals.

The Authority considered a report from the Monitoring Officer (item 8 in the minute book), which invited the Authority to appoint Substitute Members to its Committees to ensure that political groups were adequately represented at Committee meetings as well as approve minor updates to the Constitution.

It was confirmed that Councillor Liz Fairhurst would continue as the Chairman of Standards & Governance for the remainder of the financial year.

Members fully endorsed having deputies available for meetings to ensure full representation.

RESOLVED

1. The Authority appointed one substitute member from the Conservative Group and one substitute member from the Liberal Democrat group to the Standards and Governance Committee and to the 3SFire Stakeholder Committee as follows:

2. The Authority approved the minor changes to Standing Orders set out at Appendix 1.

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which shares the new HIWFRS equality objectives for 2022 – 2026, as well as the governance and monitoring arrangements for delivery of them.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 9 in the minute book), which included highlights of some of the activity and actions taken within the last 12 months and provided an opportunity to share the new HIWFRS equality objectives for 2022 – 2026, as well as the governance and monitoring arrangements for the delivery.

It was the first publication of the objectives and set a benchmark and Members were pleased to learn that there had been a 50/50 split of males and females during the last round of recruitment and a 10% increase in applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Luke Stubbs felt that it was important for all jobs to be advertised fairly and encouraged Members to support an additional recommendation to reduce the numbers of women in some areas like HR as well as continue to try and increase in other areas of the Service. Mr Stubbs confirmed that his views were his personal opinion and not those of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Officers confirmed that no one was excluded from applying for any role and the Authority agreed the report was a positive step forward for the Service.

RESOLVED

1. The Annual Statement of Equality (Workforce Demographics) was approved by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority.

2. The new equality objectives and positive action statement was approved by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority.

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which explains how the Service has performed over the last six months and highlights current progress in delivering Year 2 improvements of our 2020-25 Safety Plan.

The Committee received a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 10 in the minute book), which explained how the Service had performed over the last six months against the core purpose of making life safer.

Members queried the number of co-responder and calls to road traffic collisions and whether calls could be better categorised, and it was confirmed that this would be further investigated for discussion at a future APAG along with local stress points.

The Authority was pleased to learn that the Service was focussed on putting measures in place to ensure critical cover throughout the winter with many lines of resilience in place.

It was agreed that the information would be beneficial to Councillors across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and would be circulated.

RESOLVED

1. The Mid-Year Performance Report 2021/22 was noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority

2. The progress of the Safety Plan Year 2 Improvements was noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which provides the Fire and Rescue Authority with an extensive update since the previous report brough to the Authority in June 2021.

The Authority received a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 11 in the minute book), which provided assurance on the wide range of activity and positive improvements in public safety that had been made following the Phase 1 Inquiry report findings and recommendations.

Members were reassured that all but one high-rise building had been inspected and completed and the one remaining would be finished by the end of the year.

Officers were thanked for their continuing hard work on the project.

RESOLVED

The report was noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority

To receive the minutes from the Standards & Governance Committee that took place on 29 September 2021.

The minutes were presented to the Full Authority and there were no questions.

To receive the minutes from the Standards & Governance Committee meeting on 16 November 2021 and consider the recommendation in the attached report.

The minutes were presented to the Full Authority and the recommendation was summarised. Members were happy with the proposals and there were no questions.

RESOLVED

The HIWFRA agreed to opt-in to the Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) national scheme for the appointment of external auditors for HIWFRA for the 5-year period from April 2023.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items 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 these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 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 reports.

It was resolved that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items 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 these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 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 reports.

To receive and approve the exempt minutes from Full Authority meeting that took place on 14 September 2021.

The minutes were presented to the Full Authority and there were no questions.

For Members to consider a report from the Director of People and Organisational Development regarding the Principal Officer Local Pay Award.

The Authority considered an exempt report from the Director of People and Organisational  Development (item 16 in the minute book) [SEE SUMMARY OF EXEMPT MINUTE]