Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted, but apologies were received from Donna Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner.

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 open 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 confirmed that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) commenced the fieldwork element of the inspection of the Service and the Chief Fire Officer welcomed it as an opportunity to develop and improve.

The Chairman was also pleased to announce that a team from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary won a Best Emergency Services Collaboration award for their work in intensive care units at the Skills for Health, Our Health Heroes Awards on 24 March, which the Chief Fire Officer fully endorsed, thanking the teams for their valued work.
Members also learned about a mission organised and led by charity Fire-Aid and the National Fire Chiefs Council saw more than 5,000 items of donated kit taken to Poland for onward transport into Ukraine.

The Chairman confirmed that he had attended the LGA Fire Conference in Newcastle with Councillor Roger Price and Councillor Gary Hughes, and whilst there took the opportunity to meet with PFCC Roger Hurst to hear about the arrangements in Essex where there is joint police and fire governance. The information was beneficial in forming a response to the Government’s white paper once published.

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

Councillors Price, Hughes and Stephens confirmed their attendance at the LGA Conference and Cllr Stephens welcomed the opportunity for all services to come together again and how warmly received HIWFRA attendance was at the event.

Councillor Jonathan Glen shared that he had attended a ‘Building Leadership’ course to further learn about the Safety Bill and Fire Safety Act and the information provided had been forwarded onto Members of the Authority.

Councillor Ian Stephens had welcomed Stew Adamson to the Isle of Wight and visited Newport Fire Station and Councillor Gary Hughes was planning to attend the Carbon Pathway Board at the end of April.

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which asks that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approve the Pay Policy Statement for publication on Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s website.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 7 in the minute book) on the Pay Policy Statement, which Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRA) are required to produce and publish according to section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 (openness and accountability in local pay).

It was confirmed that due to the difficult circumstances around the pandemic that had resulted in additional work and responsibilities, there had been a few exceptional payments made that did not quantify as a regular pay increase, and therefore pay rises had continued to rise consistently. The 2011 report on fair pay advised that the pay ratio should be no more than 1:20 and the ration at the Fire Service was 1:89, which Members were happy with.

RESOLVED

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approved the Pay Policy Statement at Appendix A for publication on Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s website.

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Office, which seeks approval for a proposed programme of works across the estate to ensure buildings remain fit for purpose and reflect the requirements of a modern public service.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 8 in the minute book), which requested approval for a proposed programme of works across the estate to ensure buildings remain fit for purpose and reflect the requirements of a modern public service.

The officer summarised the report, highlighting that all buildings were legally compliant, but some did not meet the aspirations going forward in terms of health and inclusion, especially in light of recent standard and design principle changes. Details of procurement and funding would return to the Full Authority should the programme be approved as it was anticipated that funding would come from multiple sources and needed further investigation.

Members shared their concerns on the timing for construction projects considering the high inflation, but accepted that this was not something that would necessarily improve in the short term and could risk delaying projects if plans were put on hold until this improved. The Authority agreed that some priorities were more important than others but that it was important to create an appealing work environment, particularly for new recruits into the Service.

Further investigation on funding the proposals was welcomed by the Authority.

(It was noted that the reference in paragraph 49 should be to 48, not 43.)

RESOLVED

a) Subject to provision and approval of funding, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approved the programme of works set out in Option 2 of the report, and the principles and priorities set out at paragraphs 15 to 21 to improve facilities to meet the Healthy and Inclusive Design Principle on fire station sites.

b) Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority noted the work would be undertaken by the Finance and Estates teams to develop proposals for funding the programme of works, and such proposals would be brought back for approval by the Authority as part of an update to the Medium Term Financial Plan later in the year.

To receive a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which updates the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) on the progress of collaboration of which HIWFRS are a key part of in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 9 in the minute book) which summarised the progress Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) has made in collaborating with our Blue Light partners.

The report was summarised and newer Members of the Authority were taken through the history of the collaboration, which was a strong area for the Service.

Section 21 of the report was highlighted regarding fixed period agreements with the NHS and South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and the possible need for contractual changes going forward.

It was agreed that Members would be briefed at a future APAG on co-responding and how it worked, particularly around arrangements with SCAS.

RESOLVED

Progress of HIWFRS working with partners was noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority.

To note the open minutes from the Stakeholder Committee that took place on the 1 February 2022.

The minutes from the 1 February Stakeholder Committee were noted by the Authority.

To note the open minutes from the Standards & Governance Committee meeting that took place on 11 March 2022.

The minutes from the 11 March Standards & Governance Committee were noted by the Authority.

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 note the exempt minutes from the Stakeholder Committee that took place on the 1 February 2022.

The exempt minutes from the 1 February Stakeholder Committee were noted by the Authority.