Agenda item

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.     Increasing the Authority’s council tax by £5 (7.10%) for the year beginning 1^st April 2022 and for the properties in each band to be increased by 7.10%, as set out in para 18 of the main report on the agenda:

Band A:            £50.29                                    Band E:          £92.20

Band B:            £58.67                                    Band F:          £108.96

Band C:            £67.05                                    Band G:          £125.72

Band D:            £75.43                                    Band H:          £150.86

o) Issuing the precepts set out in para 24 of the main report on the agenda, totalling £53,396,488 on the billing authorities in Hampshire, requiring the payment in such instalments and on such dates set by them and previously notified to the Authority, in proportion to the tax base of each billing authority’s area as determined by them.