To receive apologies for absence.

It was reported that Councillor PGH Cutter had been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Committee but was unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors BA Baker and PGH Cutter.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Councillor JA Hyde substituted for Councillor PGH Cutter and Councillor MT McEvilly for Councillor BA Baker.

To receive any declarations of interest by members.

Agenda item 7: West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Consultation on Fire Governance.

Councillor WLS Bowen declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2017 (to follow).

The Chairman reported that the minutes of the previous meeting had not been finalised and would be submitted to the Committee’s next meeting.

To receive any written questions from members of the public relating to the item on this agenda.

Details of the scheme and related guidance are available here:

 https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200148/your_council/61/get_involved

Please submit questions to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk

The deadline for the receipt of questions is Wednesday 16 August 2017 at 5.00 pm.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

None.

To receive any written questions from members of the council relating to the item on this agenda.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Wednesday 16 August 2017.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

Please submit questions to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk

None.

To seek the committee’s views on recommendations to Cabinet in response to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) consultation on fire governance.

The Committee’s views were invited on recommendations it might wish to make to Cabinet in response to the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) consultation on fire governance.

The Committee had accepted the Leader’s request to submit comment to the executive to inform the executive’s response.

The Chairman invited the PCC and the Chairmen of Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority and Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority to make opening statements.

The PCC made the following principal points:

·        He referenced the legislative change that had permitted PCCs to consider what role they might wish to play in fire governance, his decision to commission an initial business case (IBC) (cost £35k refunded by government) to see if such an initiative was sensible and the launch of his 3 month consultation.

·        If his proposal was adopted this would mean the abolition of the two fire authorities and the PCC becoming responsible for fire governance.

·        The two fire authorities were not failing entities.  However, fire authorities and the police would continue to need to make further financial savings.  The PCC view was that resources should be focused on frontline activity. 

·        Replacing the two fire authorities would save £570k, half saved by the transfer of governance.  However, this was not a huge sum in itself and was not the principal purpose underpinning the decision to consult.  Rather, the emphasis was on ensuring that what bureaucratic activity needed to take place was as joined up and efficient as possible.  He compared the proposal to the merging of local authorities within Herefordshire to create the current unitary authority.  The intention was to create a faster pace of decision making.

·        The proposal did not reduce the frontline service but he considered that it had implications for it. It freed resource to continue to deliver frontline services into the future avoiding difficult contentious choices on service delivery that would otherwise need to be considered, allowing as much money as possible to be spent on frontline services.

·        The two fire services would retain their individual identities and branding.

·        He was proposing an alliance that would deliver savings and a more effective relationship between the fire service and West Mercia Police.

·        The IBC suggested a saving of £4m per year could be achieved.  This made the proposal worthwhile in preference to potential reductions in frontline services.

·        He had invited leaders of the four top tier authorities to suggest to him ways in which, if the proposal proceeded, they thought they could continue to play a role in relation to the fire service through a form of reference group and maintain links to local communities.

·        If accepted by government the aim was for a transfer of governance to come into force on 1 April 2018.

Councillor RJ Phillips, speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority (CHW), made the following principal points:

·        The financial pressure on public services and the need for the efficient use of resources was recognised.  The authority was mindful of the importance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The next scheduled meeting is 11 September (10.00 am (time tbc))

Monday 11 September 2017 at 10.30 am.