Hampshire County Council
Councillors:
78
Wards:
76
Committees:
49
Meetings (2026):
57
Meetings (2025):
155
Meeting
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority - Hampshire
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 16th June 2025
10:30 AM
Monday, 16th June 2025
10:30 AM
End:
Monday, 16th June 2025
2:30 PM
Monday, 16th June 2025
2:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
16 Jun 2025
16 Jun 2025
Location:
Room X - Hampshire & IOW Fire & Police HQ, Eastleigh
Room X - Hampshire & IOW Fire & Police HQ, Eastleigh
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Karen Lucioni
Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour Group for HIWFRA (Isle of Wight Council)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor George Madgwick
Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour Group for HIWFRA (Portsmouth City Council)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Vice Chairman of the Council
Committee Member
Councillor Sally Goodfellow
Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour for HIWFRA (Southampton City Council)
Present, as expected
Agenda
1
Election of Chairman
To appoint a Chairman until the Annual Meeting of the Authority in 2026.
Minutes
Councillor Rhydian Vaughan was proposed by Councillor Roger Price and seconded by Councillor David Drew. There were no other nominations and Cllr Vaughan was unanimously voted in as the new Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority for 2025/26.
2
Election of Vice-Chairman
To appoint a Vice-Chairman until the Annual Meeting of the Authority in 2026.
Minutes
Councillor Roger Price was proposed by Councillor Rhydian Vaughan and seconded by Councillor Karen Lucioni. There were no other nominations and Cllr Price was unanimously voted in as the new Vice-Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority for 2025/26.
3
Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes
No apologies had been received.
4
Declarations of Interest
To enable Members to disclose to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest is not already entered in the Authority’s register of interests, and any other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in any such matter that Members may wish to disclose.
Minutes
Members were mindful to disclose to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest they may have in any matter on the agenda for the meeting, where that interest was not already entered in the Authority’s register of interests, along with any other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in any such matter that Members wished to disclose.
5
Minutes of Previous Meeting
To approve the open minutes from the previous Full Authority meeting.
Attachments:
Minutes
The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.
6
Deputations
Pursuant to Standing Order 19, to receive any deputations to this meeting
Minutes
The Authority received a deputation from Dave Hunt, Chair of the Fire Brigades Union for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, expressing concerns relating to options being considered to address the authorities financial situation.
7
Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes
The Chairman congratulated Cllr Huggins, who was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to education in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
The Chairman expressed the authorities sincere condolences regarding the two firefighters in Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who lost their lives in the line of duty while tackling a large fire at a former RAF base. This was followed by one-minute silence.
The Chairman then announced that Sabrina Cohen-Hatton had been appointed as Chief Fire Officer for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, noting that he looked forward to welcoming her into the Service soon.
The Chairman noted that the Service had launched a public consultation until 29 July on Isle of Wight operations as part of a broader change programme across the Service.
The Chairman concluded with the news that the authority’s Urban Search and Rescue Team was awarded the Heavy Rescue of the Year prize at the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards earlier this month in London.
The Chairman expressed the authorities sincere condolences regarding the two firefighters in Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who lost their lives in the line of duty while tackling a large fire at a former RAF base. This was followed by one-minute silence.
The Chairman then announced that Sabrina Cohen-Hatton had been appointed as Chief Fire Officer for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, noting that he looked forward to welcoming her into the Service soon.
The Chairman noted that the Service had launched a public consultation until 29 July on Isle of Wight operations as part of a broader change programme across the Service.
The Chairman concluded with the news that the authority’s Urban Search and Rescue Team was awarded the Heavy Rescue of the Year prize at the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards earlier this month in London.
8
Member Developments
To receive any updates from Members of the Authority.
Minutes
Members provided the following updates:
· Cllr Parker-Jones and Cllr Carpenter had attended the service’s volunteer event on 3 June.
· Cllr Price and Cllr Goodfellow had attended the Local Government Association’s Fire Commission on 4 June.
· Cllr Parker-Jones and Cllr Carpenter had attended the service’s volunteer event on 3 June.
· Cllr Price and Cllr Goodfellow had attended the Local Government Association’s Fire Commission on 4 June.
9
Appointments Report
To consider a report from the Monitoring Officer, which seeks various appointments to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) for 2025-26.
Attachments:
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Appointments Report 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Appointments Report - Appendix 1 Membership 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Appointments Report - Appendix 2 Proportionality 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Appointments Report - Appendix 3 Meetings 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Appointments Report - Appendix 4 Members Allowance Scheme 2022-2026 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Appointments Report - Appendix 5 Review of the Fire Authoritys Position Statement for Sprinklers Working Group 06 Jun 2025
Minutes
The Fire Authority received a report from the Monitoring Officer which summarised the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority appointments required for the municipal year.
It was noted that the authority now had three political groups; a Conservative Group, a Liberal Democrat and Labour Group and an Independent Alliance.
The appointment to the informal working group for the review of principal officer pay was deferred to a future meeting.
RESOLVED:
a) That the Authority approved the schedule of meetings of the Authority and its committees for the coming year at Appendix 3.
b) That, for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Authority agrees that the allocation of seats on the Audit and Governance Committee, and the 3SFire CIC Stakeholder Committee of the Authority be as set out in the updated Appendix 2 to the report tabled at the meeting and set out below.
Conservatives
Liberal Democrat and Labour
Independent Alliance
Seats
Members
5
3
3
11
Audit & Governance Committee
2 (2.27)
2 (1.36)*
1 (1.36)*
5
3SFire Stakeholder Committee
2 (2.27)
1 (1.36)*
2 (1.36)*
5
Total
4
3
3
10
Entitlement
4.54
2.72
2.72
Rounded
5
3
3
Balance
-1
0
0
*Or vice versa
c) That the Authority appointed the below members of the Audit and Governance Committee and the 3SFire CIC Stakeholder Committee and their respective Chairman and Vice-Chairman following the agreed allocation of seats.
Audit and Governance
3SFire CIC Stakeholder
David Harrison (Chairman)
Sally Goodfellow (Chairman)
David Drew (Vice-Chairman)
Fran Carpenter (Vice-Chairman)
Stephen Parker
Zoe Huggins
Sally Goodfellow
George Madgwick
Louise Parker-Jones
Karen Lucioni
d) That, with regards to the Pension Board, the Authority noted the position and appointments as set out in paragraph 20 of the report.
e) That the Authority agreed that APAG included all appointed HIWFRA Members as set out in paragraph 20(a), until the AGM in 2026.
f) That the Liberal Democrat and Labour Minority Group Spokesperson was confirmed as Councillor Roger Price until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.
g) That the Independent Alliance Minority Group Spokesperson was confirmed as Councillor George Madgwick until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.
h) That the Authority appointed Amanda Lewis as the Independent Person for HIWFRA for a 4 year term as set out at paragraph 20(d).
i) That the Authority agreed that the Chairman of the Stakeholder Committee be appointed as the Shareholder Representative for 3SFire CIC pursuant to Article 42 of the Articles of Association of 3SFire CIC as set out in paragraph 20(e) of the report, until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.
j) That members noted the allowances in the Members Allowance Scheme for 2025 as set out at Appendix 4 and appointed the three members below to a working group to undertake a review and make recommendations for a new Scheme to the Full Authority in February 2026, as set out in paragraph 20(g).
· Councillor David Drew
· Councillor David Harrison
· Councillor Karen Lucioni
k) That the Authority granted dispensations under Sections 33(2)(a) and (d) of the Localism Act 2011, expiring on 30 June 2026, in respect of the provisions of Sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act:
a. To all Members to enable them to participate and vote in any business of the Authority relating to the setting of Council Tax or Precepts, when they would otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of a beneficial interest in land within the administrative area of the Authority; and
b. to all Members in receipt of an allowance under the Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme or another Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme, enabling them to participate and vote in any business of the Authority where they may otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Members’ Allowance.
l) That the Authority appointed Rob Sarfas to be the Authority’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, and Catherine Edgecombe the interim Deputy Chief Financial Officer with effect from 17 June 2025 in accordance with paragraphs 25 to 30.
m) That the Authority agreed the Terms of Reference at Appendix 5 and appointed the five members below to a working group to review the Authority’s position statement for sprinklers with a view to making recommendations to the full Authority later in the year.
· Councillor Fran Carpenter
· Councillor David Harrison
· Councillor George Madgwick
· Councillor Stephen Parker
· Councillor Roger Price
It was noted that the authority now had three political groups; a Conservative Group, a Liberal Democrat and Labour Group and an Independent Alliance.
The appointment to the informal working group for the review of principal officer pay was deferred to a future meeting.
RESOLVED:
a) That the Authority approved the schedule of meetings of the Authority and its committees for the coming year at Appendix 3.
b) That, for the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Authority agrees that the allocation of seats on the Audit and Governance Committee, and the 3SFire CIC Stakeholder Committee of the Authority be as set out in the updated Appendix 2 to the report tabled at the meeting and set out below.
Conservatives
Liberal Democrat and Labour
Independent Alliance
Seats
Members
5
3
3
11
Audit & Governance Committee
2 (2.27)
2 (1.36)*
1 (1.36)*
5
3SFire Stakeholder Committee
2 (2.27)
1 (1.36)*
2 (1.36)*
5
Total
4
3
3
10
Entitlement
4.54
2.72
2.72
Rounded
5
3
3
Balance
-1
0
0
*Or vice versa
c) That the Authority appointed the below members of the Audit and Governance Committee and the 3SFire CIC Stakeholder Committee and their respective Chairman and Vice-Chairman following the agreed allocation of seats.
Audit and Governance
3SFire CIC Stakeholder
David Harrison (Chairman)
Sally Goodfellow (Chairman)
David Drew (Vice-Chairman)
Fran Carpenter (Vice-Chairman)
Stephen Parker
Zoe Huggins
Sally Goodfellow
George Madgwick
Louise Parker-Jones
Karen Lucioni
d) That, with regards to the Pension Board, the Authority noted the position and appointments as set out in paragraph 20 of the report.
e) That the Authority agreed that APAG included all appointed HIWFRA Members as set out in paragraph 20(a), until the AGM in 2026.
f) That the Liberal Democrat and Labour Minority Group Spokesperson was confirmed as Councillor Roger Price until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.
g) That the Independent Alliance Minority Group Spokesperson was confirmed as Councillor George Madgwick until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.
h) That the Authority appointed Amanda Lewis as the Independent Person for HIWFRA for a 4 year term as set out at paragraph 20(d).
i) That the Authority agreed that the Chairman of the Stakeholder Committee be appointed as the Shareholder Representative for 3SFire CIC pursuant to Article 42 of the Articles of Association of 3SFire CIC as set out in paragraph 20(e) of the report, until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.
j) That members noted the allowances in the Members Allowance Scheme for 2025 as set out at Appendix 4 and appointed the three members below to a working group to undertake a review and make recommendations for a new Scheme to the Full Authority in February 2026, as set out in paragraph 20(g).
· Councillor David Drew
· Councillor David Harrison
· Councillor Karen Lucioni
k) That the Authority granted dispensations under Sections 33(2)(a) and (d) of the Localism Act 2011, expiring on 30 June 2026, in respect of the provisions of Sections 31(4)(a) and (b) of the Localism Act:
a. To all Members to enable them to participate and vote in any business of the Authority relating to the setting of Council Tax or Precepts, when they would otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of a beneficial interest in land within the administrative area of the Authority; and
b. to all Members in receipt of an allowance under the Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme or another Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme, enabling them to participate and vote in any business of the Authority where they may otherwise be prevented from doing so in consequence of being in receipt of a Members’ Allowance.
l) That the Authority appointed Rob Sarfas to be the Authority’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, and Catherine Edgecombe the interim Deputy Chief Financial Officer with effect from 17 June 2025 in accordance with paragraphs 25 to 30.
m) That the Authority agreed the Terms of Reference at Appendix 5 and appointed the five members below to a working group to review the Authority’s position statement for sprinklers with a view to making recommendations to the full Authority later in the year.
· Councillor Fran Carpenter
· Councillor David Harrison
· Councillor George Madgwick
· Councillor Stephen Parker
· Councillor Roger Price
10
Outturn Report
To receive a report from the Chief Financial Officer providing a summary of the revenue outturn position for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service for the 2024/25 financial year.
Attachments:
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Outturn Report 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Outturn - Appendix A 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Outturn - Appendix B1 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Outturn- Appendix C 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Outturn- Appendix D 06 Jun 2025
Minutes
The Fire Authority received a report from the Chief Financial Officer providing a summary of the revenue outrun position for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority for the 2024/25 financial year.
Members noted that an underspend of £1.112m has been achieved against the budget, after taking account of proposed requests to carry forward budgeted allocations of £0.996m into 2025/26. In addition capital expenditure and financing for 2024/25, quarterly reporting of prudential indicators, revisions to the forward-looking capital programme and the Treasury Management outrun for 2024/25 were set out by Officers.
RESOLVED:
That the items listed below were noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority:
a) The 2024/25 Outrun position.
b) Treasury outrun report and prudential indicators.
That the items listed below were approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority:
a) Contribution of the underspend of £1.112m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve.
b) Transfer of £0.661m supplier historic credit to the Transformation Reserve and reingfencing of this amount for the costs of Mutally Agreed Resignation Scheme and future redundancies.
c) Carry forwards as set out in paragraphs 11 to 13 of the associated report.
d) The updated capital programme as shown in Appendix B1 and Exempt Appendix B2 of the associated report.
Members noted that an underspend of £1.112m has been achieved against the budget, after taking account of proposed requests to carry forward budgeted allocations of £0.996m into 2025/26. In addition capital expenditure and financing for 2024/25, quarterly reporting of prudential indicators, revisions to the forward-looking capital programme and the Treasury Management outrun for 2024/25 were set out by Officers.
RESOLVED:
That the items listed below were noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority:
a) The 2024/25 Outrun position.
b) Treasury outrun report and prudential indicators.
That the items listed below were approved by the HIWFRA Full Authority:
a) Contribution of the underspend of £1.112m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve.
b) Transfer of £0.661m supplier historic credit to the Transformation Reserve and reingfencing of this amount for the costs of Mutally Agreed Resignation Scheme and future redundancies.
c) Carry forwards as set out in paragraphs 11 to 13 of the associated report.
d) The updated capital programme as shown in Appendix B1 and Exempt Appendix B2 of the associated report.
11
Annual Performance Report
To receive a report from the Chief Fire Officer providing the 2024/25 Annual Performance Report and 2024/25 Annual Statement of Assurance.
Attachments:
- Document 2025-06-16 - Annual Performance Report 06 Jun 2025
- Document 2025-06-16 - Annual Performance Report - App A 06 Jun 2025
Minutes
The Fire Authority received a report from the Chief Fire Officer providing the Annual Performance report for the Hampshire and Isle of Weight Fire and Rescue Authority. This report covered the period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 and focussed on performance across key areas aligned with stated Safety Plan priorities.
Members noted that the service had a similar number of incidents to the previous year and that response times had increased slightly, driven by an increase in the proportion of incidents in more rural areas, which take longer to reach. However the service continues to have faster response times to areas of highest risk. Officers set out that on-call availability has improved slightly and that latest benchmark data shows the services has the highest on-call availability across the South-East of England.
In response to questions members found that:
· The increase in vehicle related fires is being investigated, but it is thought there is a number of reasons behind it.
· Call handlers can triangulate a mobile phone between masts but other methods are used to more presicly locate incidents.
· The service has predetermined equipment sets for different incidents and additional, specilist equipment can be sent if needed. Arrival time is not the only metric tracked as the affectiveness of the first response is also important to monitor.
· Action is being undertaken to continue to increase recruitment of woman.
· The majority of staff sickness is related to mental health. The Service has a comprehensive welfare offer and is working proactively with managers to address this.
· The service takes a multiagency approach to prevention alongside a media plan to educate and riase awareness of risks.
RESOLVED:
That the 2024/25 Annual Perfromance Report be noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority.
Members noted that the service had a similar number of incidents to the previous year and that response times had increased slightly, driven by an increase in the proportion of incidents in more rural areas, which take longer to reach. However the service continues to have faster response times to areas of highest risk. Officers set out that on-call availability has improved slightly and that latest benchmark data shows the services has the highest on-call availability across the South-East of England.
In response to questions members found that:
· The increase in vehicle related fires is being investigated, but it is thought there is a number of reasons behind it.
· Call handlers can triangulate a mobile phone between masts but other methods are used to more presicly locate incidents.
· The service has predetermined equipment sets for different incidents and additional, specilist equipment can be sent if needed. Arrival time is not the only metric tracked as the affectiveness of the first response is also important to monitor.
· Action is being undertaken to continue to increase recruitment of woman.
· The majority of staff sickness is related to mental health. The Service has a comprehensive welfare offer and is working proactively with managers to address this.
· The service takes a multiagency approach to prevention alongside a media plan to educate and riase awareness of risks.
RESOLVED:
That the 2024/25 Annual Perfromance Report be noted by the HIWFRA Full Authority.
12
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the reports.
Minutes
It was agreed that the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items of business, as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the reports.
13
Exempt Minutes of Previous Meeting
To approve the exempt minutes from the previous Full Authority meeting.
Attachments:
- Document HIWFRA Minutes - 15 April 2025 - Item 322 Minute - Exempt 06 Jun 2025
Minutes
The exempt minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.
14
Outrun Report - Exempt Appendix
To receive an exempt appendix in relation to Item 10.
Attachments:
- Document 2025-06-16 HIWFRA Outturn - Appendix B2 (Confidential) 06 Jun 2025
Minutes
The exempt appendix was noted as part of agenda item 10.
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