Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councilor Jason Fazackarley and Councillor Ian Stephens.

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 confirm the 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 his attendance at various recent events, including Fire Cadets in Rushmoor on the 7 July and Local Government Association (LGA) White Paper discussions on the 20 July. A visit was planned to Isle of Wight Fire Stations on the 9 August. The Chairman and Chief Fire Officer also thanked staff for their ongoing efforts with Covid vaccinations.

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

Councillor Roz Chadd thanked volunteers at Rushmoor for accommodating her visit and Councillor Jonathan Glen spoke highly of the Prince’s Trust presentations and encouraged Members to attend if given the opportunity.

Councillor Roger Price had attended the Fire Service Management Committee and was due to attend a Fire Spending Review meeting with the Home Office in due course.

To consider a report from the Chief Financial Officer, which sets out the financial position for the financial year 2020/21 as per the draft Statement of Accounts.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Finance Officer (item 7 in the minute book), which covered the final year end position for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service for the 2020/21 financial year. 

It was highlighted that there had been nearly £2.2mil of underspend and proposals for £551,000 of carry forward. The government grant was highlighted in paragraph 6 of the report, along with provisions in paragraph 19 and reserves in paragraph 22.

During questions, it was confirmed that following the adjustments to provisions in paragraph 19 of the report, the total was £136,000.

Members questioned the £12,000 borrowed as part of the Station Investment Programme, and it was confirmed that reserves were only used temporarily, depending on the phasing of a project. There was also an underspend listed for Firefighters, but it was confirmed that a recent recruitment and training programme was yet to be captured.

RESOLVED

a) The outturn position for 2020/21 (including Appendix A) and the use of reserves set out in paragraph 22 and appendix C of the report were approved by the  HIWFRA Full Authority

b) The carry forward requests totalling £551,000 as set out in paragraph 9 of this report were approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority;

c) The capital outturn position in 2020/21 and the capital spend profile going forwards set out in appendix B were approved by HIWFRA Full Authority

d) The financing for capital payments set out in paragraph 14 was approved by HIWFRA Full Authority

e) The annual Treasury outturn report set out in appendix D of the report was approved by HIWFRA Full Authority

To consider a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which asks the Authority to approve the Pay Policy Statement at Appendix A 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 8 in the minute book), which asked Members to approve the Pay Policy Statement, which was required to be published under section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 (openness and accountability in local pay).

The report was relatively standard across all Authorities although naturally contained different data. Previous reports remained on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority website for each year so comparisons could be drawn across the various statements if required.

RESOLVED

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 Officer, which seeks approval to establish a bold carbon reduction programme and funding of £1.1m for the identification and delivery of carbon reduction works during 2022/23.

The Authority considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 9 in the minute book) regarding a prosed carbon reduction programme and funding of £1.1m for the identification and delivery of carbon reduction works during 2022/23.

Following a summary of the report, the Authority discussed the amount of investment and whether it was going in the right direction and there were concerns that £900k was too much to invest in electric vehicle charging points for them to potentially become redundant. It was confirmed that the investment was more about getting the infrastructure in place and more standardisation could be introduced at a later stage. Establishing an entirely electric fleet was at infancy stage due to the technology not being developed enough for the larger vehicles, but this was something that would be monitored going forward.

Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner supported the initiative and shared that the Police were also looking to install more electric vehicle charging points and was monitoring the technology in terms of increasing the number of electric vehicles in the fleet.

It was agreed that a Member Champion role could be appropriate going forward and this would be discussed further at an Authority Police Advisory Group (APAG) meeting.

RESOLVED

a) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approved Option 3 to set a clear Carbon Reduction Pathway to 2030, with aspirations to achieve the principles of Option 4.

b) Overall, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approved funding of £940,000 for the installation of electric vehicle charging points, subject to the reprofiling of the current capital programme, apart from Cllr Gary Hughes who voted against this recommendation.

c) Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer to approve the re-profiling of the current capital programme.

d) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approved £150,000 from the Transformation Reserve for estate wide surveys for the creation of carbon reduction programmes which will later come to the Authority for capital investment.

e) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority approved in principle the creation of a new establishment post from financial year 2022/23 to lead the programme delivery, subject to the annual budget setting process.

To receive a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which summarises property related matters where action has already been taken under delegated authority.

The Authority received a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 10 in the minute book), which summarised property related matters where action had already been taken under delegated authority for Members awareness.

Donna Jones thanked officers for their support with urgent issues around accommodation and felt it was a great example of collaborative working.

RESOLVED

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority noted all items outlined within section 5 of the report.