Committees
A meeting of The Highland and Islands Fire Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Friday 18 January 2008 at 1.30 p.m. Please note the early start time, as agreed by the Board on 15 June 2007.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Yours faithfully,
R Pieroni
Clerk to the Board
Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.
Business
1. Apologies for Absence
2. New Year Honours List 2008
The Board is asked to note that Mr A Wood, Acting Chief Fire Officer, has been awarded The Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service in the New Year Honours List.
3. Presentation of Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
The Convener will present the Area Manager, Community Risk Management, Mr Trevor Johnston with the Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
4. Minutes of Meeting of 22 November 2007
There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting or 22 November 2007.
5. Revenue Expenditure 2007/08 – Monitoring Statement
There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire 1-08 dated 18 December 2007 by the Chief Fire Officer setting out the current position of the Revenue Monitoring Statement for the period to 30 November 2007, together with a statement by the Treasurer.
6. Policy and Finance Working Group – 8 January 2008
There are circulated for confirmation Minutes of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Working Group held on 8 January 2008. In this context, the following papers are re-circulated for Members’ consideration:
i. Revenue Estimates 2008/09
There is circulated Report No. PFWG3-08 dated 18 December 2007 by the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) Head of Corporate Services summarising the Revenue Budget for 2008/09 and the budget implications for the years 2008 – 2010, previously circulated to the Policy and Finance Working Group (item 4 of the minutes refers) and recommended by that Group for approval. Members are also asked to consider the Working Group’s further recommendation that the Board’s representations to the Scottish Government with regard to pensions be extended to also refer to issues relating to Transitional Funding, as set out in the minutes.
ii. Bid for Additional Capital Grant 2008/09
There is circulated Report No. PFWG4-08 (revised) dated 7 January 2008 by the HIFRS Head of Corporate Services summarising a proposed Capital Top Slice bid, together with a letter dated 19 December 2007 from the Scottish Government, both previously considered by the Policy and Finance Working Group (item 5 of the minutes refers) and recommended by that Group for approval. Members are also asked to consider the Working Group’s further recommendation that a short-life working group be established, comprising 1 Member from each of the Islands Authorities and 2 Members from Highland Council, with a remit to a) consider the condition of the Board’s 42 stations requiring upgrading and b) investigate and make recommendations to the Board on ways in which the works might best be actioned, within a set timescale, this latter to be determined by the Board.
iii. Draft Service Plan for 2008/09
There is circulated Report No. PFWG5-08 dated 18 December 2007 by the HIFRS Head of Corporate Services summarising the content of the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service’s Draft Service Plan for the three year period commencing 2008/09, previously considered by the Policy and Finance Working Group (item 6 of the minutes refers) and recommended by that Group for approval.
7. Capital Expenditure Monitoring Report 2007/08
There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire 2-08 dated 18 December 2007 by the Chief Fire Officer showing the expenditure and income relating to the Board’s capital programme for the period to 30 November 2007, together with statement by the Treasurer.
8. Disability Equality Scheme – Annual Report 2006/07
At its meeting held on 22 November 2006, the Board adopted the Highland and Islands Fire Board/Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service Disability Equality Scheme, as required by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
There is circulated for formal approval Report No. Fire 3-08 comprising the Highland and Islands Fire Board/Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service Disability Equality Scheme Annual Report 2006/07, of which a copy has been submitted, at their request, to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
9. Capital Programme Monitoring Report
There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire4-08 dated 8 January 2008 by the Interim Director of Housing and Property of the Highland Council summarising the status of all current key projects carried out for the Board.
10. Site Acquisitions Progress Report
There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire5-08 dated 8 January 2008 by the Interim Director of Housing and Property of the Highland Council summarising the status of the acquisition of sites for future development.
11. Planned and Capitalised Maintenance – Monitoring Report
There is circulated Report No. Fire6-08 dated 7 January 2008 by the Interim Director of Housing and Property of the Highland Council inviting Members to note the Planned Maintenance Programme and progress being made.
12. Operational Update
The Chief Fire Officer will provide an update on recent operational activities.