In relation to matters on the agenda, seek declarations of interest from Members, in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Authority’s Code of Conduct for Members.

Councillor Redstone declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest due to his membership of the East Sussex County Council Pensions Committee.

There were none.

Any Members wishing to raise urgent items are asked, wherever possible to notify the Chairman before the start of the meeting.  In so doing they must state the special circumstances which they consider justify the matter being considered urgently

The Fire Authority recorded their congratulations to the Chief Fire Officer on her being awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal in the New Year’s Honours list.  Members thanked the Chief Fire Officer for her dedicated service to East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service as well as her work nationally on water safety.

The Chairman acknowledged that the Fire Authority would be making difficult decisions at the meeting and urged all Members to try to act in a collegiate manner.

The following questions were received from Members of the Public.  The questioner attended the meeting and asked their question in person, they will also receive a written copy of the response to their question.

The question and response are included in these minutes as a matter of public record.

Public Question from Leo Cacciatore, Fire Brigades Union Rep. of Hastings, Bohemia Road:

“It is understood that the service has to legally deliver a balanced budget.  Therefore, do the proposed changes and re-distribution of resources satisfy our operational, moral and legal obligation in delivering a functioning service that is in accordance with what a public expect and where does it leave us if not?”

Response:

The requirement to deliver a balanced budget falls on the Fire Authority, as the properly constituted body discharging all responsibilities under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, and other relevant legislation.  The current Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) 2020-25 is prepared against the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, and the current Fire and Rescue National Framework.  It sets out clearly our operational model, developed following a comprehensive modelling of risk and vulnerability in 2019.  The IRMP was approved by this Fire Authority in September 2020 following extensive public consultation, which was carried out in accordance with government guidelines, but also with advice from an external consultancy specialising in public consultation.

Our moral obligation is set out clearly in our purpose, commitments, and values.  Our purpose, which drives our Service, is that ‘We make our communities safer.’  This purpose is enabled by our commitments, to:

Deliver high performing services

Engage with our communities

Have a safe and valued workforce, and

Make effective use of our resources.

Fundamental to our purpose and commitments, and underpinned by our adoption of the Fire and Rescue Service Code of Ethics, are our values, against which we are all accountable:

We are PROUD of the service we provide, we are ACCOUNTABLE for our actions, we show INTEGRITY in our work, and we RESPECT our colleagues and members of the community.

We provide assurance to the public through our regular financial and performance reporting.  Independent assurance is also provided through our internal audit service and the work of EY our external auditors in their audit of our financial statements and our arrangements for value for money.  Following an extensive inspection by HMICFRS, during the summer last year, we were judged as ‘good’ for both effectiveness and efficiency.

In summary, the Fire Authority continues to provide a service which keeps our communities safe and we aim to continue to do so.

In response to a supplementary question regarding whether the Fire Authority was concerned with how quickly the financial situation facing all Fire & Rescue Services, especially ESFRS, was changing and developing.  On behalf of the Fire Authority, the Chairman confirmed that it continued to provide a good service, compliance with the Authority’s attendance standards was good and it had not failed the public.  It would, of course, prefer a more secure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

There were none.

To approve the Non-confidential Minutes of the last meeting held on 8 December 2022

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman will call the item numbers of the remaining items on the open agenda.  Each item which is called by any Member shall be reserved for debate.  The Chairman will then ask the Fire Authority to adopt without debate the recommendations and resolutions contained in the relevant reports for these items which have not been called.

Members reserved the following items for debate:

201      Fire Authority Service Planning processes for 2023/24 and beyond – Revenue Budget 2023/24 and Capital Asset Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28

202      Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24

204      Integrated Transport Function – Fort Road site, Newhaven

RESOLVED – The Fire Authority agreed that all other reports on this Agenda be approved in full.

Report of the Chief Fire Officer and Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer

The Fire Authority considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer (ADR/T) presenting the draft Revenue Budget 2023/24, Capital Strategy 2023/24 – 2027/28 and Medium Term Finance Plan for 2023/24 – 2027/28 for approval.  The ADR/T introduced the report to the meeting, outlining the changes since the initial proposals presented to the Policy & Resources Panel at its meeting in January 2023 and since the publication of the agenda for this meeting.  These included minimal changes as a result of the publication of the Final Local Government Finance Settlement and additional one-off funding of £65,000 from the distribution of the Business Rate Levy Account surplus (which was not reflected in the papers).  The reported Collection Fund position had been revised to a zero balance from the £0.4m deficit previously forecast.  Further updates had been made to the Capital Asset Strategy reflecting the latest forecasts for delivery in 2022/23 and inflation impacts on fleet schemes, these together increased the total value of the programme by £1.089m between 2023/24 and 2027/28. 

Final information on funding from business rates had not yet been analysed and these remained as estimates.  Confirmation was still awaited from the Home Office on specific grants, including those relating to Pensions and Protection Uplift.  

The funding settlement was still only for 1 year and there was no certainty on funding for 2024/25 and beyond, but the settlement was better than expected, this increase had been helped by comprehensive lobbying across the sector, locally and nationally, to Central Government.  This improved position was largely due to the Government’s guarantee of a 3% increase in Comprehensive Spending Power (before decisions on increases in council tax) and an increase in the council tax referendum threshold to 3% and, for 2023/24 only, an additional flexibility for all fire authorities of up to £5.  This was welcomed, although the Fire Authority would still need to make challenging decisions to balance the budget.  The Authority had continued to make progress in identifying and agreeing efficiencies and savings proposals over the last 12 months, the latest Medium Term Financial Plan showed that savings of £1.295m had been identified already in 2023/24. 

The report outlined proposals for setting a balanced revenue budget for 2023/24, in line with the Fire Authority’s statutory duty, and included commitments, growth bids and new savings.  Additional savings proposals, which would, based on current forecasts, be necessary to balance the budget in 2024/25 were also set out as the Fire Authority had requested in order to determine which tranches should be developed further and implemented, subject to appropriate public consultation. 

As recommended by the Policy & Resources Panel, the budget proposals had been modelled on a £5 council tax increase.  The budget gap for 2023/24 was £0.636m.  It was proposed that this be funded using reserves in 2023/24, the amount required to balance the budget for 2024/25 was £0.721m.  The use of one-off measures in 2023/24 would allow time for the additional savings proposals, set out in section 7 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.

Report of the Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer

The Fire Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer (ADR/T) presenting for approval the Treasury Management Strategy, policy statement and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement 2023/24.  The report contained recommendations regarding the borrowing limits, prudential indicators and limits, the investment strategy and policy as required by Section 3 (1) of the Local Government Act 2003 and the Prudential Code for Capital Finance 2017. 

The ADR/T explained that the emphasis continued to be on security (protection of the capital sum invested) and liquidity (keeping money readily available for expenditure when needed).  The Strategy and limits were consistent with the proposed capital programme and revenue budget previously approved at this meeting. 

The Fire Authority were recommended to approve borrowing limits to give flexibility for any future consideration in undertaking new external long-term/replacement borrowing should the need arise, or market conditions prove favourable.  The Fire Authority had always adopted a prudent approach on its investment strategy and no changes were proposed for 2023/24. 

The Fire Authority was recommended to approve the 2023/24 investment strategy, it should be noted that any introduction of longer term investments would result in an increased, but appropriate, level of risk to the investment portfolio.  The Authority to the 31 December 2022 had earned £276,000 in investment interest at an average rate of 1.79%.  This level of return was broadly consistent with recent available Investment benchmarking. 

The Authority were informed that CIPFA had published revised Treasury and Prudential codes in December 2021, full adoption of the new codes was incorporated into this Strategy and were set out in the report. 

Members were grateful for the timetabling of Treasury Management Training to be held in Spring 2023.  There was a query as to whether the projected borrowing for 2027/28 took into account the potential increase in need for specialist vehicles.  The ADR/T confirmed that the Revenue Budget and Capital programme reflected the Fire Authority’s decisions regarding the current IRMP and Fleet assets, the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) would revisit issues including the impact of climate change.  The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) added that the Statute had been changed in Wales and Scotland and now included Water Rescue and therefore attracted additional and specific funding.  It was hoped that lobbying by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) on this matter would be successful and that the statute in England would be changed accordingly.

RESOLVED – The Fire Authority agreed to:

1.    approve the Treasury Management Strategy and policy statement for 2023/24 (and adopt for the remainder of (2022/23);

2.    determine that for 2023/24 the Authorised Limit for borrowing shall be £15.0m;

3.    adopt the prudential indicators as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

4.    approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 3 to the report; and

5.    approve the Annual Investment strategy for 2023/24 as set out in Section 5 of the report.

Report of the Assistant Director People Services

The Fire Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director People Services (ADPS) which presented the Fire Authority’s Pay Policy Statement for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011. 

The Localism Act 2011 imposed a duty on relevant local authorities to prepare pay policy statements for each financial year, this years must be approved by 31 March 2023.  The report did not propose any changes to the Authority’s existing policies on pay or its pay scales.  It reflected the previous Pay Policy updated with the outcomes of national pay settlements, decisions of the Principal Officer Appointments Panel in relation to Principal Officer pay and changes to the Firefighters and Local Government Pension Schemes.

RESOLVED – The Fire Authority agreed to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24.

Report of the Assistant Director Operational Support & Resilience

The Fire Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director Operational Support & Resilience (ADOSR) which provided an updated timeline for a full business case regarding Fort Road, Newhaven to be returned to the Authority and sought delegated authority to cease the sale of the property. 

In December 2022, the Fire Authority’s Urgency Panel approved a pause in the sale of the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) owned site in Fort Road, Newhaven to Lewes District Council (LDC) in order to build a business case to develop the South East Engineering spoke of the broader Integrated Transport Function, involving ESFRS, West and Surrey Fire & Rescue Services, Surrey Police and Sussex Police. 

It was anticipated that the full business case would be presented to the Senior Leadership Team’s February meeting and progressed to the Policy & Resources Panel at its meeting in April 2023 to seek approval for adjustments to be made to the capital programme.  In view of this timeline, it was necessary for the Fire Authority to give its approval to delegate authority to the Chief Fire Officer, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Treasurer, to formally stop the sale of the Fort Road, Newhaven site and to formally notify LDC of this.  Members queried when this would take place.  The ADOSR confirmed that an initial conversation had been held with LDC, they were aware of the proposal, the timeline and that it was being explored.  The Chairman confirmed that he would be speaking directly with the Leader of LDC to explain the position and the process that would be taken.

RESOLVED – The Fire Authority agreed to:

1.     the timeline of the full business case for the redevelopment of the Fort Road site, Newhaven as articulated in paragraph 2.5 of the report;

2.     note that no changes would be made to the Capital Programme until the business case, including the revenue and capital budget impacts was approved by the Fire Authority; and

3.     approve the delegation of the decision to cease the sale of Fort Road, Newhaven to the Chief Fire Officer in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Treasurer.

To consider whether, in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

Note: Any item appearing in the confidential part of the Agenda will state the category under which the information disclosed in the report is confidential and therefore not available to the public.

RESOLVED – That agenda item no. 206 be exempt under paragraph 3 of Part 11 Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006 and accordingly are not open for public inspection on the following grounds: they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To approve the Confidential Minutes of the last meeting held on 8 December 2022

RESOLVED – That the confidential minutes of the meeting on 8 December 2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman.