Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Gary Hughes.

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 December 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 updated the Authority on work with health partners as well as confirming the recent Wholetime firefighter graduation ceremony that took place on 21 January.

It was also confirmed that Basingstoke and Southampton had successfully complete the HIWFRS 12-week Prince’s Trust Team Programme. Virtual presentations were held in December where the young people were congratulated on their hard work, dedication and all the achievements they have made since joining the programme.

To receive any updates from Members of the Authority.

The Chairman had visited Redbridge Fire Station and confirmed that positive progress was being made. Councillors Glen, Harrison and Chadd also spoke in support of the Redbridge Fire Station event and the benefits of the design and improved facilities planned for the station. Officers were thanked for their work in putting the event together.

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, also welcomed it as the first purpose built Police and Fire Station in Hampshire.

To consider a report from the Chief Financial Officer, which presents the 2022/23 forward budget to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) for approval as well as details on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Financial Officer (item 7 in the minute book), regarding the 2022/23 forward budget and the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) covering the period 2022/23 – 2024/25.

It was highlighted that an addendum to the report had been circulated and published, which updated financial position and business rates since the publication of the report, following further announcements.

It had been proposed that council tax be increased by the maximum level of £5 (7.10%) for 2022/23 due it helping with the medium term position and the Service having one of the lowest council tax rates in England, but this would only be for one year.

During questions, it was confirmed that the final payment from the Isle Of Wight was yet to be confirmed, as was the general pay increase, which had both been accounted for within the budget.

Councillor Stephens welcomed the plans to improve the infrastructure on the Isle of Wight and help them be more resilient going forward.

The vehicle replacement programme covered a three-year period and whilst officers were confident around the delivery times, there was flexibility if needed and there were going to be set-backs. It was noted that all delivery pressures were scrutinised annually by the Executive Group and would always be brought to the Fire Authority for approval.

RESOLVED

The Authority approved:

a.     The additional delivery pressure of £0.218m per annum for contributions to ICT reserves.

b.     The one-off Transformation Reserve draw of £0.250m to support the delivery of the Safety Plan year 3 objectives;

c.      Contiuing the suspension of the Immediate Detriment Framework until the Standards and Governance Committee meeting currently scheduled for May 2022.

d.     Delegating authority to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the Authority, the Chairman of Standards and Governance and the Chief Fire Officer to make necessary decisions about Immediate Detriment in the interim, including decisions to apply immediate detriment in very exceptional circumstances where significant hardship could be caused by not applying it.

e.     The Revenue Budget, as set out in Appendix A in the Addendum.

f.       The Medium Term Financial Plan, as set out in Appendix B.

g.     The Capital Programme and funding as set out in Appendix C.

h.     The Reserves Strategy as set out in Appendix D.

i.       The Treasury Management Strategy as set out in Appendix E, including the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23, (and the remainder of 2021/22).

j.       Delegating authority to the Chief Finance Officer to manage the Fire and Rescue Authority’s investments and borrowing according to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as appropriate.

k.      The Capital and Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix F for 2022/23, (and the remainder of 2021/22).

l.       The Section 25 Report as set out in Appendix G which should be taken into account by the Authority in agreeing the budget and council tax.

m.    The council tax requirement for the Authority for the year beginning 1^st April 2022 of £53,396,488.

n.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

To consider a report of the Chief Fire Officer, which seeks further funding of £1.7 million to deliver the second year of priority estate improvement works in the 2022/23 financial year.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 8 in the minute book) regarding further funding of £1.7 million to deliver the second year of priority estate improvement works in the 2022/23 financial year.

The report was summarised with paragraph 18 highlighted, which detailed works to date on the Isle of Wight estate. It was confirmed that local jobs were important and local firms were used alongside existing national framework contracts as much as possible.

Councillor Stephens welcomed the proposals and the community use opportunities, which would generate income as well as introduce people to the Service.

RESOLVED

Option 1 was approved by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority and £1.7 million funding to deliver works across the island estate in 2022/23 financial year is allocated from one-off revenue resources in 2022/23 as set out in the Budget Report.

To consider a report of the Chief Fire Officer, which seeks approval for the revised Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) Statement of Intent for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) on the 1^st April 2022.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 9 in the minute book), regarding the revised Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) Statement of Intent for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) on the 1^st April 2022 and for approval ahead of publication.

Some Members were concerned that the statement was too focussed on frontline staff, but were reassured that it was aimed at and addressed all staff within the document.

Indicators were regularly brought to the Authority for monitoring.

RESOLVED

The HSW Statement of Intent was approved by HIWFRA for display from the 1^st April 2022.

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which seeks approval for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) Safety Plan Year 3 activities.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 10 in the minute book), which presented the third HIWFRA update of the Service annual cycle of continual strategic activities to improve the organisation and services delivered to the public.

Seventeen activities were highlighted within the attached appendix and Members agreed that more lobbying should be done to central government regarding which should be legislative requirements. It was confirmed that National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) continued to have an ongoing dialogue on the plan and the expectations within.

RESOLVED

The HIWFRA approved the Year 3 Safety Plan improvements.

To consider a report from the Monitoring Officer, which summarises discussions and proposals of the Member Allowances Working Group with regard to the agreement of a new Scheme from April 2022.

The Authority considered a report of the Monitoring Officer (item 11 in the minute book), which summarised discussions and proposals of the Member Allowances Working Group with regard to the agreement of a new Scheme from April 2022.

It was confirmed that a one year scheme had been set in 2021 ahead of a new scheme being considered and proposed by a Member Allowances Working Group, which had met in December 2021.

Members were happy with the proposals.

RESOLVED

The HIWFRA:

a) Noted the outcomes of the review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme carried out by the Working Group and agree to implement a new Members’ Allowances Scheme for the years 2022/23 – 2025/26 as attached at Appendix 1.

b) Agreed that the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to incorporate the new scheme at Appendix 1 into the HIWFRA Constitution.

c) Agreed that any local government pay award made in this period be applied as an index for the adjustment of Member allowances. In doing so retaining the ratio between basic allowance and SRA as set out above. For clarity, the applicable pay award shall be that received by the majority of staff and exclude any additional pay award given to officers on low pay grades.   

d) Agreed that any further expenses in relation to being a Member of the Fire Authority (e.g travel or subsistence) continue to be reclaimed from respective appointing Members’ local authorities in accordance with their Members’ Allowances Schemes. 

e) Noted that the appointed Independent Persons receive an annual allowance of £100 which is awarded under separate legislation and therefore not formally part of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

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.

The Authority did not go into exempt session.

To approve the exempt minute from the 14 December 2021 Full Authority meeting.

The exempt minute from the 14 December was approved.