Committees

A meeting of The Highland and Islands Fire Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Friday 14 November 2008 at 1.30 p.m.

 

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

M Morris


Clerk

 

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.   

 

1. Apologies for Absence

 

2. Minutes of Meeting of 11 September 2008

 

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting or 11 September 2008.

 

3. Minutes - Audit Working Group

 

There are circulated for approval Minutes of Meeting of the Audit Working Group held on 3 November 2008.

 

4. Minutes - Policy and Finance Working Group

 

There are circulated for approval Minutes of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Working Group held on 3 November 2008, together with copy of Report No. PFWG-10-08 dated 30 October 2008 by the Chief Fire Officer on the draft Revenue Budget for 2009/10, as circulated to that meeting.

 

Item 6 of the Minutes, discussion of which will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act, is dealt with at item 13 below.

 

The Board is asked to approve:

 

i.     the Minutes of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Working Group held on
       3 November 2008; and
ii.     the interim Revenue Budget for 2009/10, pending final details being
       brought to the meeting of the Policy and Finance Working Group and/or
       to the Board in January 2009.

 

5. Revenue Expenditure 2008/09 – Monitoring Statement

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. PFWG-8-08  dated 30 October 2008 by the Chief Fire Officer setting out the current position of the Revenue Monitoring Statement for the period to 30 September 2008, together with a statement by the Treasurer, previously considered by the Policy and Finance Working Group at its meeting held on 3 November 2008.

 

6. Capital Expenditure Monitoring Report 2008/09

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. PFWG-9-08  dated 30 October 2008 by the Chief Fire Officer showing the expenditure and income relating to the Board’s capital programme for the period to 30 September 2008, together with statement by the Treasurer, previously considered by the Policy and Finance Working Group at its meeting held on 3 November 2008. 

 

7. Equalities

 

i. Race Equality Schemes

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire29-08 dated 5 November 2008 by the Assistant Chief Fire Officer presenting, as circulated separately in Booklet A, (a) an updated Race Equality Scheme for the Fire Service, outlining the actions the Service will undertake in 2008-2011 in order to meet legislative requirements, and (b) the Service’s annual report setting out how the Service has fulfilled its action plan for the year 2007-2008.

 

Members are advised that the Board is also required to review and update its Race Equality Scheme by 30 November 2008.  Members are asked to delegate powers to the Clerk to finalise and publish the Board’s report by the due date, in consultation with the Convener, Vice Convener and the Board’s Equality and Diversity Champions, Mr J H Ford and Mrs H Carmichael.

 

ii. Disability Equality Scheme

 

Members are advised that the Board is also required to publish its annual report in relation to the Disability Equality Duty by 4 December 2008.  Members are asked to delegate powers to the Clerk to finalise and publish the Board’s report by the due date, in consultation with the Convener, Vice Convener and the Board’s Equality and Diversity Champions, Mr J H Ford and Mrs H Carmichael.

 

8. Capital Programme Monitoring Report

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire30-08  dated 6 November 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property of the Highland Council summarising the status of all current key projects carried out for the Board.

 

9. Site Acquisitions Progress Report

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. Fire31-08  dated 6 November 2008 by the Director of Housing and Property of the Highland Council summarising the status of the acquisition of sites for future development.

 

10. Operational Update

 

The Chief Fire Officer will provide an update on recent operational activities.

 

11. Schedule of Meetings 2009

 

There is circulated Report No. Fire32-08 dated 5 November 2008 by the Clerk recommending a schedule of meetings for 2009.

 

The Board is asked to agree:

 

i. the schedule of meetings for 2009; and
ii. that the Clerk make the necessary arrangements.

 

12. Exclusion of the Public

 

The Board is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, 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 in of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraph being shown.

 

13. Principal Officers' Pay

 

Paragraph 1

 

Further to the Board decision on 11 September 2008, that this matter be deferred to the November meeting to allow consideration of additional information by the Policy and Finance Working Group (item 4 above refers), there is circulated to Members only Report No. Fire33/08 dated 23 October 2008 by the Clerk.

 

14. Strategic Management of Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue
      Service 

 

Paragraph 1

 

There will follow to Members only Report by the Chief Fire Officer.