Agenda item

To consider a report from the Monitoring Officer, which seeks various appointments to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) for 2024-25.

The Fire Authority received a report from the Monitoring Officer (item 9 in the minute book), which summarised the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) appointments required for the municipal year.

It was noted that there would again be one ‘Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent’ Opposition group and the political balance remained the same.

RESOLVED

a)    The Authority approved the current schedule of meetings of the Authority and its committees for the coming year at Appendix 3.

b)    For the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Authority agreed that the allocation of seats on the Standards and Governance Committee, and the Stakeholder Committee of the Authority be as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

c)    That the Authority appoint members of the Standards and Governance Committee, and the Stakeholder Committee and their respective Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen following the agreed allocation of seats at paragraphs 5.

d)     With regards to the Pension Board, the Authority considered the position as set out in paragraph 19of the report and approved the appointments as set out.

e)     The Authority agreed that APAG include all appointed HIWFRA Members as set out in paragraph 20a of the report, until the AGM in 2025.

f)      The Authority appointed Councillor Derek Mellor (Chairman), Zoe Huggins and Roger Price to the informal working group, the Principal Officer Pay Review Group, as detailed in paragraph 20b of the report, until the AGM in 2025.

g)     The Minority Group Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Group was confirmed as Councillor Roger Price until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2025, as set out in paragraph 20c of the report.

h)     The Authority noted the current appointment of the Independent Person for HIWFRA as referred to in paragraph 20d.

i)       The Authority agreed that the Chairman of the Stakeholder Committee be appointed as the Shareholder Representative for 3SFire CIC pursuant to Article 42 of the Articles of Association of 3SFire CIC as set out in paragraph 20e of the report, until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2025.

j)       The Authority agreed to grant dispensations under Sections 33(2)(a) and (d) of the Localism Act 2011, expiring on 30 June 2025, in respect of the provisions of Sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act:

a) To all Members to enable them to participate and vote in any business of the Authority relating to the setting of Council Tax or Precepts, when they would otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of a beneficial interest in land within the administrative area of the Authority; and

b) to all Members in receipt of an allowance under the Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme or another Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme, enabling them to participate and vote in any business of the Authority where they may otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Members’ Allowance.

k)     The Authority noted the updated Members’ Allowance Scheme as set out at Appendix 4.

l)       The Authority approved the proposed changes to the Pension Board’s Terms of Reference, as set out at Appendix 5.