Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Rooms A & B, Service Headquarters, Exeter

Contact: Steve Yates 01392 872329  Email: syates@dsfire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

DSFRA/21

Minutes pdf icon PDF 132 KB

of the previous meeting held on 28 June 2019 attached.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2019 be signed as a correct record.

DSFRA/22

Authority Meeting to Consider Service Delivery Operating Model Consultation Results pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/20) attached.

Minutes:

(An urgent item taken in accordance with Sections 100(B)(3)(b) and 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Chair considered that this item should be discussed at the current meeting as a matter of urgency given the potential implications of the forthcoming General Election on 12 December 2019 (announced following publication of the agenda for this meeting) and in light of concerns expressed by representative bodies on the potential impact on staff welfare of decisions on the Safer Together consultation being taken immediately prior to Christmas.

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/20) on the potential implications of the forthcoming snap General Election for the Authority meeting scheduled for 18 December 2019.

RESOLVED

(a).      that the extraordinary meeting of the Authority scheduled for 18 December 2019 be cancelled because of proximity to the snap General Election to be held on 12 December 2019; and

(b).      that it be noted that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Clerk would identify a new date for the extraordinary meeting to be held early in the new year.

 

DSFRA/23

Minutes of Committees

DSFRA/23a

Community Safety & Corporate Planning Committee pdf icon PDF 88 KB

The Committee Chair, Councillor Redman, to MOVE the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2019 (attached).

RECOMMENDATION that the Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

 

Minutes:

The Committee Chair, Councillor Redman, MOVED the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2019 which had considered, amongst other things, proposed options for a public consultation on a new Service Delivery Operating Model.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Minutes be adopted.

(NOTE:  in accordance with Standing Order 25(3), Councillor Bown requested that her vote against this decision be recorded).

DSFRA/23b

Human Resources Management & Development Committee pdf icon PDF 73 KB

The Committee Chair, Councillor Hannaford, to MOVE the Minutes of the meetings held on 10 July 2019 (attached) and 5 November 2019 (to follow).

RECOMMENDATION that the Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

 

Minutes:

In the absence of the Committee Chair, the Committee Vice-Chair, Councillor Vijeh, MOVED the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2019 which had considered, amongst other things:

·        a report on absence management for the organisation;

·        a report on workforce culture, diversity and inclusion;

·        requests for retirement and re-employment in accordance with the Authority’s Pay Policy Statement; and

·        proposed appointments to the Internal Disputes Resolution Panel.

RESOLVED

(i)           that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Minutes be adopted; and

(ii)          that it be noted that the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 5 November 2019 would be submitted for adoption to the next Authority meeting.

DSFRA/23c

Audit & Performance Review Committee pdf icon PDF 88 KB

The Committee Chair, Councillor Healey MBE, to MOVE the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2019 (attached).

RECOMMENDATION that the Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

 

Minutes:

In the absence of the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair, Committee Member Councillor Wheeler MOVED the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2019 which had considered, amongst other things:

·        the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority’s financial statements for 2018-19 (including the Statement of Accounts and the Audit Findings on the statements);

·        the Annual Statement of Assurance for 2018-19;

·        a report on the ability of the Authority to continue as a going concern;

·        a report on progress with the 2019-20 internal audit plan;

·        a comparative analysis of national incident statistics for the calendar year ended 31 December 2018; and

·        the Local Pensions Board annual report 2018-19.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Minutes be adopted.

DSFRA/23d

Appraisals and Disciplinary Committee pdf icon PDF 60 KB

The Committee Chair, Councillor Randall Johnson, to move the non-restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2019 (attached).

RECOMMENDATION that the Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

Minutes:

The Committee Chair, Councillor Randall Johnson, MOVED the non-restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2019 which had considered a complaint against a statutory officer.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Minutes be adopted.

(SEE ALSO MINUTE DSFRA/28(a) BELOW).

DSFRA/23e

Resources Committee pdf icon PDF 141 KB

The Committee Chair, Councillor Drean, to MOVE the non-restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(i)           that the recommendation at Minute RC/3(a) (Financial Performance Report 209-20:  Quarter 1) be approved;

(ii)          that, subject to (i) above, the non-restricted Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

 

Minutes:

The Committee Chair, Councillor Drean, MOVED the non-restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019 which had considered, amongst other things:

·        a report on Treasury Management performance for the first quarter of the 2019-20 financial year;

·        a report on Service financial performance for the first quarter of the 2019-20 financial year; and

·       a report on the financial performance of Red One Ltd. for the first quarter of the 2019-20 financial year.

RESOLVED

(i)          


that, as recommended by the Committee (Minute RC/3(a) refers) and in accordance with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, the budget transfers shown in the table below be approved:

(ii)          that, subject to (i) above and in accordance with Standing Orders, the non-restricted Minutes be adopted.

(SEE ALSO MINUTE DSFRA/28(b) BELOW).

 

DSFRA/24

Budget Virement Request pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Report of the Director of Finance & Resourcing (Treasurer) (DSFRA/19/16) attached.

Minutes:

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Finances and Resourcing (Treasurer) (DSFRA/19/16) on proposed budget transfers, in accordance with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, to align pay budgets to the revised Service delivery managerial structure and the restructure of the Training Academy.  Both transfers were between cost centres and did not involve any change in expenditure.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Financial Regulations, the budget transfers shown in the table below be approved:

DSFRA/25

Appointments to Committees pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/17) attached.

Minutes:

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/17) on a proposal to fill the existing vacancy on the Resources Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor Tuffin be appointed to the Resources Committee, to serve until the Authority’s annual meeting in 2020.

DSFRA/26

Authority Budget Meeting 2020 - Proposed Change of Date pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/18) attached.

 

Minutes:

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/18) on a proposal to amend the date for the Authority’s budget setting meeting in 2020 to assist district councils (as billing authorities) with the timely issue of council tax bills.

RESOLVED that the date of the Authority’s 2020-21 budget setting meeting be changed to 10.00hours on Tuesday 18 February 2020.

DSFRA/27

Exclusion of the Press and Public pdf icon PDF 61 KB

RECOMMENDATION that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraph(s) of  Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act:

For agenda item 12(a):

·        Paragraph 1 (information relating to an individual);

·        Paragraph 2 (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual); and

·       Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information).

For agenda item 12(b):

·       Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information).

For agenda item 13:

·        Paragraph 1 (information relating to an individual).

Minutes:

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act:

For Minute DSFRA/28(a)

·        Paragraph 1 (information relating to an individual);

·        Paragraph 2 (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual); and

·        Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information.

For Minute DSFRA/28(b)

·        Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information.

For Minute DSFRA/29

·        Paragraph 1 (information relating to an individual).

 

DSFRA/28

Restricted Minutes of Committees

DSFRA/28a

Appraisals and Disciplinary Committee

The Committee Chair, Councillor Randall Johnson, to move the restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2019 (attached).

RECOMMENDATION that the restricted Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

 

Minutes:

(An item taken in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during which the press and public were excluded from the meeting).

The Committee Chair, Councillor Randall Johnson, MOVED the restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2019 which had considered a complaint against a statutory officer.  The Minutes identified the issues considered by the Committee (including the complaint and supporting documentation provided by the complainant; and a report of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer referencing factual, contextual information relevant to the complaint).  The Committee, having applied the balance of probability to all the matters before it, had resolved that no prima facie case had been established for referring the case to independent investigation and that in light of this it would be inappropriate to expend the Authority’s resources on so referring the complaint.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the restricted Minutes be adopted.

(SEE ALSO MINUTE DSFRA/23(d) ABOVE).

 

DSFRA/28b

Resources Committee

The Committee Chair, Councillor Drean, to MOVE the restricted Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019.

RECOMMENDATION that the restricted Minutes be adopted in accordance with Standing Orders.

Minutes:

(An item taken in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during which the press and public were excluded from the meeting).

The Committee Chair, Councillor Drean, MOVED the restricted Minutes of the Resources Committee meeting held on 4 September 2019.  The restricted Minutes identified financial information of Red One Ltd. (the Company) disclosed to the Committee during its consideration of the financial performance of the Company for the first quarter of the 2019-20 financial year.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the restricted Minutes be adopted.

(SEE ALSO MINUTE DSFRA/23(e) ABOVE).

 

DSFRA/29

Localism Act 2011 - Appointment of Independent Persons

Report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/19) attached.

 

Minutes:

(An item taken in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during which the press and public were excluded from the meeting).

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Governance & Digital Services (DSFRA/19/19) on the outcome of a process to identify two Independent Persons for the Authority, as required by the Localism Act 2011.  The Act required that appointment of the Independent Persons be approved by a majority of Authority Members.

RESOLVED that Martin Gosford and Michael Harrison be appointed as Independent Persons (as defined by the Localism Act 2011) for the Authority, to serve for an initial two years from the date of appointment, renewable once and subject to a maximum term of office of four years.