Issue - meetings

That with the inclusion of view of the Committee that the current governance model works and is strong and therefore should not be altered, the responses to the questions in Appendix 2 of the report be endorsed to Council as the formal Flintshire response to the Reform of Fire and Rescue Authorities in Wales White Paper.  The sole change required is in financing, so that Fire and Rescue Authorities become precepting, rather than levying bodies.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report to consider draft responses to the questions set out in the Welsh Government (WG) White Paper titled ‘Reform of Fire and Rescue Authorities in Wales’.  The Committee’s views would be reported to County Council on 29 January to enable a formal response to be submitted by the consultation deadline of 5 February.

The Chief Executive and Chief Officer (Governance) explained that there was no evidence of the need to change within the White Paper and that the Council and Wales Audit Office were satisfied with current governance arrangements.  They provided an overview of the suggested responses on the funding model, membership implications and the need for Fire and Rescue Authorities to become precepting rather than levying bodies.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Jones who said that if something was “not broken it should not be fixed”.  This was seconded by Councillor Woolley.  It was agreed that the comment made by Councillor Jones would be reflected in the response.

RESOLVED:

That with the inclusion of view of the Committee that the current governance model works and is strong and therefore should not be altered, the responses to the questions in Appendix 2 of the report be endorsed to Council as the formal Flintshire response to the Reform of Fire and Rescue Authorities in Wales White Paper.  The sole change required is in financing, so that Fire and Rescue Authorities become precepting, rather than levying bodies.