To consider any apologies for attendance.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Knight and Bell.

To consider declarations of interest in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest in relation to any item on the agenda.

To consider the minutes of the last Authority meeting held on 17^th October 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting held on 17th October 2024 be approved as an accurate record subject to an amendment to Minute Item 25 to state that Councillor Lynne Thompson was to be included in the apologies.

To consider the minutes of the last Appointments Committee held on 6^th February 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last Appointments Committee held on 6th February 2025 be agreed as an accurate record.

To consider the Budget and Financial Plans for 2025/26 – 2029/30 (CFO/85/25)

Chair of the Authority, Councillor Byrom, reported that the Labour budget had been submitted to the Director of Finance in line with the Constitution and then shared with the membership of the Authority prior to publication of the agenda. No amendments had been received during that time and therefore the budget for 2025/26 – 2029/30 was put before Members for consideration.

Director of Finance and Procurement Mike Rea presented the budget, which allowed Members to set a medium-term capital and revenue financial plan in line with the Authority’s strategic aims.

Mike Rea took Members through the report noting that the proposed capital programme was £43.291 million, of which £39.701 million was prudential borrowing. This had increased by £13.336 million and included £11.809 million of new schemes and it was explained that inflation and growth had increased the current 2025/26 programme costs by £1.547million.

Mike Rea took Members through section D of the report, to consider the Minimum Revenue Provision and recommended members adopt a similar strategy to the current Minimum Revenue Provision strategy and continue to use the asset life method for all unsupported borrowing.

Members were advised that the Authority was required to consider the impact of borrowing over its prudential indicators as detailed in Section E of the report.

The Authority’s Treasury Management Strategy could be found in Section F of the report and it was noted that the revenue costs built into the Medium Term Financial Plan had been deemed to be prudent, sustainable and affordable.

It was noted that the Authority had maintained a 2.5% annual pay award assumption for 2025/26 and future years. Members were advised that although CPI had risen in the previous month, it was expected to return to 2.75% by mid-2025. There had been an increase in the precept of £5 and an assumption of an increase of 2% had been applied to future years. Members were made aware that there had also been a decrease in Government funding in 2025 as summarised in the report.

Members were assured that the budget was balanced, subject to the key assumptions remaining consistent throughout the year.

The Chair thanked staff for their hard work in preparing the budget which was well received and put the Authority on firm accountancy footing.

Councillor Thompson referred to page 26 of the agenda which stated that the government funded Services Grant had been removed and she queried whether this would be permanent or if a better deal was being discussed with central government. Mike Rea explained that the grant had been removed completely from Fire and Rescue Authorities and Local Authorities to be repurposed as a Recovery Grant which the Fire and Rescue Authorities had not been in receipt of. Members were advised that it was now a case of waiting to see what the next funding review would provide for Fire and Rescue Authorities.

Councillor Makinson wished to place on record his thanks to the finance team for their hard work on the budget under such challenging  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report of the Authority relating to Asset Management Plans (CFO/86/25).

Chief Fire Officer, Phil Garrigan, presented the report which set out how the Authority aligned its physical assets and systems with its corporate aims and objectives over the next 5 years.

Members were advised that the report considered the Authority’s financial plans and aspirations as captured in the Community Risk Management Plan.

RESOLVED that the 2025/26 – 2029/30 Asset Management Plans provided as appendices to this report be approved

To consider a revision to the Constitution relating to Contract Standing Orders (CFO/87/25).

Members were advised by Monitoring Officer, Ria Groves, that the Constitution was being updated to reflect changes in legislation relating to the Procurement Act 2023. Members were informed that the reason for implementation was due to the UK’s exit from Europe and that the changes also sought to streamline the Contract Standing Orders. The report highlighted that the changes would include greater transparency in public procurement as covered in paragraph 8 of the report.

Members were advised that there would be a transition period for any procurement activities which had taken place prior to the implementation of the Act, and anything undertaken thereafter. Following enactment of this legislation and subject to Member approval, the changes would be accepted within the Constitution and available to staff.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the enactment of the new legislation, the Procurement Act 2023 has come into force be noted; and

b)    the amendments to the Constitution incorporating the proposed Contract Standing Orders in appendix A be approved.

To consider a report of the Authority relating to the Procurement of Non-Domestic Water, Wastewater and Ancillary Services Contract (CFO/88/25).

Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan presented the report which related to the Authority’s procurement of water and had been brought to Members due to the estimated value of the contract.

RESOLVED that:

a)             the contents of the report be noted; and

b)             the award of the non-domestic water, wastewater and ancillary services contract to Water Plus Ltd for a duration of three years with an estimated value of £690,000 and having an option to extend by one further year be approved.

To consider a report of the Authority relating to the procurement of equipment under New Dimensions 2 (CFO/89/25).

Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Nick Searle, presented the report noting that the Authority was purchasing this equipment on behalf of the Home Office as part of the New Dimensions 2 asset refresh.

RESOLVED that:

a)    an exemption under the Contract Standing Orders for the direct award as a sole supplier of the Paratech equipment detailed within the report that must be interoperable with the existing USAR Paratech equipment be approved; and

b)    the award of the contract to Vimpex Limited (the only agent in the UK to supply Paratech equipment) for the procurement of Paratech, rescue systems for a value of £2,108,740 plus freight be approved.

To consider a report of the Authority relating to the procurement of first response vehicles as part of National Resilience (CFO/90/25).

Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Nick Searle presented the report which centred on the procurement exercise for the provision of Urban Search & Rescue First Response Vehicles.

The Authority had undertaken a competitive tender aimed to test the market and the preferred bid from that process was from Angloco Limited.

It was noted that there was a typographical error in the report which incorrectly referenced Angloco as Anglice in the recommendations, and as such the recommendations were agreed subsequent to that name being amended and also reflected in the minutes.

RESOLVED that the award of the contract for procurement of the First Response Vehicle’s to Angloco Limited be approved.

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Date of next meeting Thursday, 15 May 2025