Meeting Details

i) The Chairman welcomed Cllr Thomas back on to the Authority. Cllr Thomas replaces Cllr Peters as a Member of the Independent Group and Audit and Standards Committee. Thanks were also given to Cllr Peters for his contribution during his time on the Authority.

ii) Chief Fire Officer Andy Hickmott and Councillor Les Caborn, Cabinet Member from Warwickshire County Council were welcomed to the meeting.

iii) Toby Shergold, the new Communications Manager was also welcomed and introduced to Members.

iv) An update on the recent Firefighters’ dispute was given and Members were reminded of the correspondence recently sent to the Chairman and forwarded to them.

v) The Chairman had recently attended the Herefordshire Medals and Awards Ceremony held on Friday 21 November at the Town Hall in Hereford.

vi) Congratulations were given to Deputy Chief Fire Officer Richard Lawrence who recently attended Buckingham Palace to collect his Queen’s Fire Service Medal.

vii) The Chairman had recently attended the official opening of Bromsgrove and Malvern Fire Stations.

viii) Several Authority Members joined the Chairman on 27 November in visiting the new facilities at Bromsgrove and Malvern as well as Operational Logistics and Bromyard Fire Station. A visit was also made to the site of the new Worcester Fire Station.

ix) A Merry Christmas was wished to all Members.

The Chief Fire Officer presented the report on the progress made to date and asked Members to consider the recommendations which represented the detailed findings of the Project Arrow Team as supported by the Joint Project Board and the Member Reference Group.

Members were reminded that this report had already been received by the Policy and Resources Committee on 19 November 2014.

The Chief Fire Officer confirmed to Members that the reserve set aside for additional costs during the review had not been used.

 RESOLVED that:

i)    an operational collaboration between the two Fire and Rescue Services be progressed under the direction of the two Chief Fire Officers and the Strategic Director of Resources, Warwickshire County Council;

ii)  Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority and Warwickshire County Council continue exploring greater collaboration between the two Fire and Rescue Services, working towards a strategic alliance light by late 2015 under the direction of the Joint Project Board;

iii) a further report be submitted to the Joint Project Board in the summer of 2015 detailing the progress made;

iv) the Joint Project Board continue to meet biannually;

v) work to date is shared with other key partners, notably Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police with the aim of stimulating interest in wider collaboration; and

vi) no further work on Options 4 (strategic alliance contractual) and 5 (full combination) in the options appraisal attached at Appendix 1 be progressed until the report submitted in the summer of 2015 has been considered.

Members were informed that Members that the Authority had been successful in attracting a total of £4.27 million from the Government’s Fire Transformation Fund that was made available to fire and rescue authorities to help ensure better and more efficient front-line services for the public.  Members were also provided with details of the Transformation Bids to develop a new Wyre Forest blue light hub and to relocate the Fire Authority Headquarters to join West Mercia Police at Hindlip.  Both proposals were subject to Member approval and, in the case of the Wyre Forest Blue Light Hub, public consultation.

 Members were reminded that this report had already been received by the Policy and Resources Committee on 19 November 2014.

 RESOLVED that the Authority notes that:

i)  the Policy and Resources Committee has authorised Officers to carry out the necessary work (including incurring professional fees, where necessary) to prepare detailed schemes and proposals for implementation of the Transformation Bids in relation to:

a)    the development of a new Wyre Forest blue light hub; and

b)    the relocation of Fire Authority Headquarters to join West Mercia Police at Hindlip; and

ii)  a further report will be submitted to the Authority for approval prior to undertaking public consultation or entering into any contractual arrangements for land purchase or building construction.

(Brig Jones left the meeting at 11.26am)

Mr Fry presented the Notice of Motion to Members in Mr Udall’s absence.

The Notice of Motion from Mr Udall asking the Authority to make representations to the Government with regard to the on-going pension dispute with the Government and the FBU was lost.

The Chief Fire Officer presented the report summarising the content of a Full Business Case (FBC) for a Joint Property Vehicle (JPV) and requested Members to analyse the potential benefits for the Fire Authority.

The Chief Fire Officer explained that the concept of the JPV suggested in the Full Business Case should bring increased resilience in estate management for the Service.  Analysis of the FBC by the Treasurer suggested that the JPV was likely to result in savings, although of a lesser amount than indicated in the FBC.  Members were asked to consider all risks and benefits carefully and were advised that a ‘leap of faith’ would be required to enter the JPV as without this approach it would be difficult to make a firm recommendation to be a partner.

RESOLVED that, subject to all other partners participating:

i) the Authority approves the formation of a new JPV company, limited by shares and becomes a shareholder in that company holding an equal share with all other partners;

ii) the Chief Fire Officer appoints officers to represent the Authority as a Shareholder and in establishing the Board for the new company;

iii) the Authority authorises the Chief Fire Officer to agree the Articles of Association of the Company, formal Shareholder Agreement and Service Level Agreement, in conjunction with the Treasurer and Head of Legal Services;

iv) the Authority authorises the Chief Fire Officer to work with the other partners to nominate and appoint a Managing Director of the new company, following company formation; and

v) the Authority authorises the transfer of relevant employees to the new JPV company and authorises the commencement of formal consultation with Trade Unions and staff on the proposals.

The Treasurer presented the report providing Members with an update on the approved Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) following decisions made at the October meeting of the Fire Authority. 

Members’ attention was drawn to the information on the core funding elements, which will not be confirmed until the end of the year and also changes that have been identified and that are now factored into the revised projection.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Head of Legal Services presented the report to agree the appointment of an Authority Member to the Health and Safety Committee.

RESOLVED that Mr Yarranton be appointed as the Authority Member to the Health and Safety Committee.

The Chairman of the Authority presented the report to update Members on issues raised at the recent Local Government Association (LGA) Fire Commission.

RESOLVED that the following issues considered at the recent LGA Fire Commission meeting be noted:

• Fire Commission Priorities for 2014/15;
• the LGA Response to the Independent Review of Terms and Conditions of Service for Operational Staff;
• the Fire and Rescue Services’ Proposition to the Next Government; and
• Fire Commission Industrial Relations.

The Chief Fire Officer presented the report to inform the Authority of recent key developments and activities.

• The recent Annual Service Level Exercise was a great success.
• Mrs Oborski requested that the family’s thanks be passed on to the Crews at Kidderminster Fire Station following the flat fire in Kidderminster on Thursday 27 November 2014.
• Bromsgrove Police and Fire Station was officially opened on Thursday 30 October by Princess Alexandra.
• Malvern Fire Station was officially re-opened by The Hon. Lady Morrison.

 RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Head of Legal presented the report to inform Members of the meeting dates for 2015/16.

RESOLVED that the meeting dates for 2015/16 be noted.

The Chairman of the Committee reported the proceedings of the Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 24 September 2014 and made Members aware that the Chairman of the Authority attended the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Standards Committee meeting held on 24 September 2014 be received and noted.

The Chairman of the Committee reported the proceedings of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 19 November 2014.

Mr Kenyon expressed concerns regarding the lack of a Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) attendance standard.  The Chief Fire Officer assured Mr Kenyon that although attendance time standards are not set at present, this does not affect the attendance at RTCs.  The matter would be considered as part of a planned review of attendance standards in the future.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee meeting held on 19 November 2014 be received and noted.