The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA) met to discuss and make decisions on a number of key issues, including operational changes to meet financial challenges, pension scheme discretions, and equality objectives. The authority approved the Modern Slavery Statement, and noted a number of property-related matters and the outcomes of public and staff consultations on operational changes. Decisions on some operational changes, including those affecting the Isle of Wight, were deferred pending further consideration by the Chief Fire Officer.

Operational Changes

The HIWFRA considered a report from the Chief Fire Officer outlining proposed operational changes required to meet financial challenges, with estimated savings of around £2.0 million. These changes followed public and staff consultations.

The report detailed the methodology used to identify risk, the public consultation process, and staff engagement. It also outlined the rationale for each proposed change and the anticipated savings.

The authority noted that the Chief Fire Officer had already made decisions in respect of the following operational matters:

• Pilot removal of four on-call second appliances: A pilot programme will remove a fire appliance from each of Waterlooville, Petersfield, Lymington and Romsey fire stations, with the estimated savings from implementing these pilots being £216,000 over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
• Implementation of a new heavy rescue vehicle: The introduction of a new heavy rescue vehicle will allow the service to integrate specialist rescue equipment onto a frontline appliance, enabling a reduction of 16 wholetime firefighter posts and generating a saving of £927,000 over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
• New management structure: A new group structure for fire stations and a middle manager restructure will save £652,000 over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
• Restructured operational officers rota system: A restructured operational officers rota system, known as the Flexible Duty System (FDS), will enable a reduction in the FDS rota of 8 officers, generating a saving of £126,000 over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
• Changes to automatic fire alarm mobilisation: From 1 August 2025, the HIWFRA will no longer automatically send crews to automatic fire alarm notifications in buildings with no sleeping risk between 08:00 and 18:00, unless there are confirmed signs of fire. This is estimated to save £44,000 per annum and free up over 500 hours of firefighter time.

The authority was asked to note and support the following recommendations for operational changes, with decisions being proposed to the Chief Fire Officer for his decision:

• Cease operations out of Bembridge Fire Station: Ceasing operations at Bembridge Fire Station would save the service £135,000 (excluding non-staff cost savings) over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
• Combine Yarmouth and Freshwater Fire Stations: Combining Yarmouth Fire Station and Freshwater Fire Station at the Freshwater site would save the service £99,000 (excluding non-staff cost savings) over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
• Remove an aerial ladder platform from the Isle of Wight: Removing an aerial ladder platform from the Isle of Wight would save the service £1 million in vehicle replacement costs.

The consultation revealed that 66% of respondents supported the cessation of operations at Bembridge, and 77% supported combining Yarmouth and Freshwater Fire Stations. However, 66% of respondents disagreed with the proposal to remove an aerial ladder platform from the Isle of Wight.

The authority delegated authority to the Chief Financial Officer to make any necessary virements¹ and/or other changes to reporting needed to reflect the allocation of savings within the budget for 2025/26 related to the changes set out within this report.

Pension Scheme Discretions Policies

The HIWFRA received a report from the Chief Financial Officer regarding the Firefighters' Pension Schemes and Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Discretion Documents. The Authority is required to have in place discretions policies which set out how the Authority will make decisions where regulations stipulate an employer is able to make discretionary decisions.

The existing policies have been reviewed, and updated versions were included within the appendices to the report. The review of the existing policies has not identified a need for significant changes, rather a number of administrative changes are being proposed including changes to provide clarity, particularly around the decision maker. Additional optional discretions have been included in the LGPS policy for clarity.

The authority approved the Firefighters Pension Scheme Discretionary Policies (1992, 2006, 2015) and the LGPS Discretions Policy.

Annual Statement of Equality 2024-2025

The HIWFRA received a report from the Chief Fire Officer providing an update on progress against equality objectives as set out in the 2022-2026 Inclusive Service Strategy.

The Equality Act 2010 established general and specific duties for public sector bodies to improve their equality performance. In order to meet these duties, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) must publish equality information on an annual basis and set equality objectives every four years. The published information must be accessible to employees and members of the public.

The authority approved the Annual Statement of Equality, which will be published on the HIWFRS website.

Modern Slavery Statement

The HIWFRA received a report from the Chief Fire Officer seeking approval of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority's Modern Slavery statement for subsequent publishing on the Authority's website and the Government's Registry.

It is a requirement of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for organisations to publish a Slavery and Human Trafficking statement on an annual basis. The statement has been reviewed and updated to ensure that it reflects current practices and procedures.

The authority approved the Modern Slavery Statement, which will be published on the HIWFRS website and the Government's Registry.

Appointments Report

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.

The authority approved the schedule of meetings of the Authority and its committees for the coming year.

For the purposes of Part 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Authority agreed 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.

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.

With regards to the Pension Board, the Authority noted the position and appointments as set out in paragraph 20 of the report.

The Authority agreed that APAG included all appointed HIWFRA Members as set out in paragraph 20(a), until the AGM in 2026.

The Liberal Democrat and Labour Minority Group Spokesperson was confirmed as Councillor Roger Price until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.

The Independent Alliance Minority Group Spokesperson was confirmed as Councillor George Madgwick until the annual meeting of the Authority in 2026.

The Authority appointed Amanda Lewis as the Independent Person for HIWFRA for a 4 year term as set out at paragraph 20(d).

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Property Matters

The HIWFRA noted a report summarising property related matters where action has been taken by Officers under delegated authority, including:

• A Licence to Assign and Licence for Alterations was completed on 5 March 2025 with EE Limited and Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd in relation to its telecommunications equipment at Hightown Fire Station.
• A Lease for part of Cosham Fire Station with the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) completed on 2 April 2025, generating £97,500 per annum in rents.
• A Licence for Portsmouth City Council, supporting Solent Transport, has been granted for placing airspace monitoring equipment on the drill towers of Cowes, Ryde and Gosport Fire Stations, generating income of £5,600 per annum.
• A Tenancy at Will was granted to the OPCC for part of Eastleigh Annex, for the provision of their occupational health team, generating an income of £15,500 per annum.
• Licences have been granted to OPCC for the use of washdown facilities across the estate which have interceptors, including Stockbridge, Southsea and St Marys – generating an income of £1,000 per annum per site.
• From 1 April 2025, South Central Ambulance Service no longer require use of welfare facilities at Odiham and Bordon Fire Stations, resulting in a reduction of income by £9,900 per annum.