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Hampshire County Council
Councillors: 78
Wards: 76
Committees: 50
Meetings (2025): 163
Meetings (2024): 156

Meeting

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee - Hampshire

Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 24th July 2023
2:00 PM
End:
Monday, 24th July 2023
6:00 PM
Actual Time
Started:
Monday, 24th July 2023
12:00 AM
Finished:
Monday, 24th July 2023
12:00 AM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Date:
24 Jul 2023
Location:
Room Z - Fire & Police Shared HQ, Eastleigh
Meeting Attendees
Councillor Derek Mellor photo
Chairman
Councillor Derek Mellor

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Councillor David Harrison photo
Vice-Chairman
Councillor David Harrison

Liberal Democrat

Apologies

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Councillor David Drew photo
Committee Member
Councillor David Drew

Conservative

Present, as expected

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Committee Member
Councillor Karen Lucioni

Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour Group - Isle of Wight Council

Apologies

Councillor Fran Carpenter photo
Deputy
Councillor Fran Carpenter

Conservative

Present, as substitute

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Deputy
Councillor George Madgwick

Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour Group - Portsmouth City Council

Apologies

Agenda
1 Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes Apologies were received from Councillors David Harrison, Karen Lucioni and Hugh Lumby. Councillor Fran Carpenter attended as a deputy for Hugh Lumby.
2 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.
3 Minutes of Previous Meeting
To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting
Attachments:
Minutes The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.
4 Deputations
Pursuant to Standing Order 19, to receive any deputations to this meeting
Minutes There were no deputations for the meeting.
5 Chairman's Announcements
To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.
Minutes The Chairman confirmed that the Principal Officer Pay Review report was due to go to the July Full Authority meeting.
6 Annual Governance Statement 2022/23
To consider a report of the Chief Fire Officer, which presents the Annual Governance Report for approval.
Attachments:
Minutes The Committee considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 6 in the minute book) regarding the Annual Governance Statement for 2022/23.

Following a summary of the report by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer and questions by Members, the subsequent points were clarified:

·         The Director of Operations would provide further information to Members on the strategy with regards to electric and alternative fuel vehicles.

·         Further information would be found on the follow-up process to whistleblowing and the reporting of errors and faults and provided to Members

Members thanked officers for their work on the report.

RESOLVED

a) The Annual Governance Statement (AGS) 2022/23 as set out in Appendix A was approved by the  HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

b) Members acknowledged that the arrangements continue to be regarded as fit for purpose in accordance with the Framework 2016.

c) It was agreed that the approved AGS be included into the Annual Statement of Accounts, to meet the Authority’s statutory requirement.
7 External Audit - Auditor's Annual Report 2021/22 and Audit Planning Report 2022/23
To receive a report from the Chief Financial Officer, which presents the external auditor’s report for 2021/22 and planning report for 2022/23.
Attachments:
Minutes The Committee considered a report from the Chief Financial Officer (item 7 in the minute book) regarding the external auditors annual and audit planning reports.

The report was summarised and it was confirmed that a letter from Minister Rowley regarding the backlog experienced by external auditors had been circulated to Members for information.

The delays were being experienced nationally and it was anticipated that there may be subsequent delays to the 2022/23 audit, but it was positive that the 2021/22 accounts had been signed-off.

RESOLVED

The Auditor’s Annual Report for 2021/22 and the Audit Planning Report for 2022/23 from EY was noted by the  HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee.
8 Internal Audit Progress Report
To receive a report from the Chief Internal Auditor, which provides an overview of internal audit work completed in accordance with the approved audit plans, and an overview of the status of ‘live’ reports.
Attachments:
Minutes The Committee considered a report from the Chief Internal Auditor (item 8 in the minute book) regarding the progress of internal audit.

The report was summarised and it was acknowledged that whilst there had been some delays, all actions were due to be completed imminently.

Page 118 of the pack was highlighted and it was confirmed that actions were logged and monitored closely for improvements.

RESOLVED

The progress in delivering the internal audit plans for 2022/23 and 2023/24 and the outcomes to date was noted by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority Standards and Governance Committee.
9 Internal Audit Annual Report & Opinion
To consider a report from the Chief Internal Auditor, which provides an opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority's framework of risk management, internal control and governance operated for the year ending 31 March 2023.
Attachments:
Minutes The Committee considered a report from the Chief Internal Auditor (item 9 in the minute book), providing the annual report and opinion.

The report was summarised and it was highlighted that a risk-based approach was taken looking at significance and risk to the Authority and as such the Authority’s risk register had been used to inform the planning process and ensure that key risks were reflected in planned work.

Members were happy with the report.

RESOLVED

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority Standards and Governance Committee accepted the Chief Internal Auditor’s annual report & opinion statement for 2022-23.
10 Internal Audit Management Actions Progress Report
To receive a report from the Chief Fire Officer, which provides the latest update on the medium and high management actions that have not been completed within their target date and their status.
Attachments:
Minutes The Committee considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer (item 10 in the minute book) on the management actions progress report.

The report was summarised and Members were taken through the management actions in section 6 of the report. There were no questions.

RESOLVED

The Standards and Governance Committee noted the progress made towards the implementation of the internal audit management actions and the delivery of the audit plan.
11 Fire Pension Board Annual Report
To receive a report from the Chief Financial Officer that summarises the work of the Board for the 2022/23 financial year in the exercise of its functions.
Attachments:
Minutes The Committee received a report from the Chief Financial Officer (item 11 in the minute book), which summarised the work of the Pension Board for the 2022/23 financial year in the exercise of its functions.

Members were given the history of the Board and why it was initially set up and it was confirmed that a briefing session would be provided to Members after the next meeting on the role of Standards and Governance Committees responsibilities as a Pension Scheme Manager.

RESOLVED

The content of the report was noted by the HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee
Previous Meetings
Meeting

26th Sep 2024

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

25th Jul 2024

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

9th Apr 2024

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

18th Mar 2024 Postponed

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

11th Dec 2023

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

27th Sep 2023

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

24th Jul 2023

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

22nd Mar 2023

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

25th Jan 2023 Cancelled

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

28th Nov 2022

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Future Meetings
Meeting

24th Jul 2025

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

25th Sep 2025

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

Meeting

5th Dec 2025

HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee

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