Agenda and minutes

Recording of Meeting

Members noted that the meeting would be audio-recorded.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E Johnson and M Tarr.

Members are reminded that the Members’ Code of Conduct requires the disclosure of Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Non-Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Disclosable Non- Pecuniary Interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28^th March 2018.

RESOLVED: That

The minutes of the meeting of the Brigade Managers’ Pay and Performance Committee, held on 28^th March 2018, be confirmed as a correct record.

The Director of Governance and Commissioning introduced the report which provided information in respect of the vehicles provided for the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Fire Officer (the Principal Officers) and Members were asked to consider the existing arrangements and determine whether they were satisfied with them.

He explained the contractual position. The Principal Officers’ Statements of Particulars contained identical provisions concerning the provision of vehicles for their use.  An extract from the Statement of Particulars containing the key provisions was attached as an appendix to the report and the Director of Governance and Commissioning explained that the Authority was required to provide the Principal Officers with an emergency response vehicle but reserved the right to determine the value, make and model of vehicle to be provided.

The Director of Governance and Commissioning drew Members attention to appendix 2 of the report which provided details of the costs associated with provided cars.  Members were told that the average cost per car per annum was approx. £11.5k. The Fleet Manager had carried out an exercise comparing costs of purchase and lease.  In his view the current approach (purchase) should continue to be significantly cheaper than the leasing of vehicles. The Authority was able to access various framework contracts to obtain worthwhile discounts off the list price and the Fleet Manager also sought the best resale value for the vehicles.

Members considered the information provided and discussed the following issues: the risk that was mitigated by providing 4x4 vehicles; the geographical challenge of operating in such a diverse county; the value for money of the vehicles that were typically provided.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive and the Deputy Chief Fire   Officer continue to be provided with cars;

[2]       the policy of supplying 4x4 vehicles continue; and

[3]       the cost of the provided cars is acceptable.