Meeting Details

Members are reminded that they should declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests at this point and that they should leave the meeting room before any item, in which they have a prejudicial interest, is discussed.

Members are asked to agree the non-exempt minutes of the Fire Authority meeting, held on 11 February 2009, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To receive any questions, statements or petitions, of which notice has been received, from members of the public.

Members are asked to receive the non-exempt minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting, held on 26 February 2009, and agree the recommendations at items 4 and 7 (full financial details of the latter are provided in the Treasurer's Report 14).

Members are asked to receive the minutes of the Standards Committee meeting, held on 2 March 2009, and agree the recommendation at item 12b.

Members are asked to receive the minutes of the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting, held on 5 March 2009.

Members are asked to receive the minutes of the Audit and Performance Management Committee meeting held on 12 March 2009, attached marked 8, and agree the recommendations at items 6 and 9. A copy of the proposed terms of reference, which require agreement are attached marked 8a (the current terms of reference are attached marked 8b). For decision 2 CFA - 29/4/09

Members are asked to receive the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter as attached, marked 8c.

Members are asked to receive the minutes of the West Midlands Regional Management Board (WMRMB) meeting, held on 30 January 2009, attached marked 9 and agree the recommendations at items 4/09, 11/09 and 12/09. Individual reports relating to the above recommendations can be found on the WMRMB website at: http://www.wmrmb.co.uk/about-wmrmb/meetings/public/2009-01-30-wmrmb.htm If you require a hard copy of any of these documents, please contact: Lynn Ince, Management Support Officer, at Headquarters, on 01743 260225.

This report seeks to establish a Work Plan for the Fire Authority for the year May 2009 to April 2010.

At its meeting on 11 February 2009 the Fire Authority asked officers to bring a revised timetable for Member Champion presentations to the April meeting of the Authority to reflect the changes made to 2009 meeting dates. Attached, marked 12, is a proposed presentation timetable.

This report updates the Authority on prospects for closing the 2008/09 Accounts and on other events that are likely to impact on the 2009/10 Budget. It also seeks approval to virements recommended by its Committees.

This report updates the Authority on Treasury Management issues as at 31 March 2009, and in the light of responses to the Icelandic banks crisis.

Following the achievement of Level 3 of the Equality Standard for Local Government in August 2008, the Service commenced work on a self-assessment against Level 4. An external consultant supported the self-assessment process and on 12 March 2009 confirmed that the Service satisfies the requirements of Level 4. The Steering Group has since tasked the Equality and Diversity Officer with collating the evidence used within the self-assessment into a single document, which will be endorsed by the consultant and presented to Policy Group. Officers are extremely pleased to have made such rapid progress and to have achieved Level 4 just six months after completing Level 3. For information.

Councillor Phil Box, Information, Communications and Technology Champion, will give a presentation to the meeting. For information.

The FiReControl project is moving forward and Communities and Local Government (CLG) will complete the next financial analysis of the business case within a few months. The West Midlands Regional Control Centre is due to begin fit out of information and communications technology equipment in May. The Fire Authority's Officers are fully engaged with discussions around the recruitment of our current staff into the Regional Control Centre along with all relevant human resource management issues. The Local Authority Controlled Company Board has been presented with a new enlarged staffing model that will increase the costs set out in the CLG business case significantly. The proposals will come to the Fire Authority before any agreement is made to increase costs. The FiReLink project locally is not running to schedule with further delays in switching over from the existing digital radio system to the new Government provided one. We do, however, maintain the full functionality of our current excellent system. For information.

This report enables the Authority to consider proposals for the redevelopment of Telford and Wellington Fire Stations, and to consider future funding requirements.

Members are asked to consider a resolution under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined by the provisions of Part I of Schedule 12(A) to the Act, by virtue of Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Members are asked to agree the exempt minutes of the Fire Authority meeting, held on 11 February 2009, and that they be signed by the Chair as a correct record. Attached marked 24. For decision.

Members are asked to receive the exempt minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting, held on 26 February 2009. Attached marked 25. For information.