Meeting Details

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion of, or voting on any matter, in which they have a Disclosaable Pecuniary Interest, and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

Members are asked to receive any questions, statements or petitions, of which notice has been received, from members of the public.

Members are asked to agree the non-exempt minutes of the Fire Authority meeting, held on 4 October 2017, attached marked 4, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

A schedule of proposed dates for 2018 meetings of the Fire Authority and its committees is attached, marked 5, for approval.  It is intended that this is revisited at the Annual Meeting of the Fire Authority in June 2018, as new Members may have been appointed, following the Annual Meetings of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Councils.  At this time, officers will present a schedule from June 2018 to May 2019, which will tie in with the planning of meetings by the two Councils.

Members are asked to receive the non-exempt minutes of the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting, held on 9 November 2017, attached marked 6, and consider and decide upon the recommendations at item 5.  The report relating to these recommendations is attached marked 6a.

Please note that the reports considered by the Committee at item 6 - 2018/19 and Later Years Revenue and Capital Budgets and Item 7 - Provisions, Reserves and Funds are attached as the appendix to 8 - 2018/19 and Later Years Budget Summary on this agenda and will form the basis of discussion at item 8.

Members are asked to receive the minutes of the Standards and Human Resources Committee meeting, held on 16 November 2017, attached marked 7, and agree the recommendations at items 6 and 14.  The reports relating to these recommendations are attached, marked 7a and 7b respectively.

This report, attached marked 8, summarises the budgets that are proposed by the Strategy and Resources Committee.  The results are put forward to the Fire Authority for approval as the basis for consultation, leading to a final decision at the Fire Authority meeting in February 2018.

At its October meeting, the Fire Authority gave outline approval for a 12 month trial of a Flexible Rostering System, in Fire Control.  This was given on the condition that sufficient progress could be made, by officers and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) on the negotiated agreement required for the trial, so that full approval could be considered by the Fire Authority at this meeting.

Officers can report that agreement has been reached with the FBU on the details of a Flexible Rostering System for Fire Control and therefore officers seek approval from the Fire Authority for the 12 month trial to go ahead, from 1 January 2018.

If approved, at the end of the trial, officers will provide a report to the Fire Authority that will compare the results achieved from this system, the current Self Rostering system and the previous 2-2-4 system.  This will enable the Service to make an informed decision on the most suitable shift system for Fire Control into the future.

The Service will continue to actively explore collaborative opportunities to improve resilience, efficiency and effectiveness in its control and mobilisation function, as directed by the Fire Authority at its October meeting.

This report, attached marked 11, updates Members on the status of risks on the Corporate Risk Register.

Members have a discretion to exclude the press and public from meetings of the Fire Authority in defined circumstances.  In view of the nature of business to be transacted, it is recommended that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, having been satisfied in all the circumstances of the case that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing this information, that Members formally resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Members are asked to agree the exempt minutes of the Fire Authority meeting, held on 4 October 2017, attached marked 13, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Members are asked to receive the exempt minutes of the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting, held on 9 November 2017, attached marked 14, and consider and decide upon the recommendation at item 10.  The report relating to these recommendations is attached, marked 14a.

Members are asked to receive Appendix C to Report 11 - Corporate Risk Management Summary, attached marked 15, which contains exempt information.

Members are asked to receive this report, attached marked 16, which sets out further information as requested by the Fire Authority at its October 2017 meeting.