Issue - meetings

Report by the Chief Fire Officer.

The Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Services Scrutiny Committee will be invited to speak for up to three minutes to provide the views of their Committee on the Fire and Rescue Service Statement of Assurance.  

Each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes each on the Fire and Rescue Service Statement of Assurance.

The Cabinet will then discuss the report prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, the Cabinet resolved to approve the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Annual Statement of Assurance 2021-22.

The call-in deadline is 29 July 2022.

9.1         Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Fire Officer. The report was introduced by Cllr Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue who advised the statement of assurance was a statutory requirement to provide assurance on financial, governance and operational matters. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Chief Fire Officer added that the statement of assurance reflected a time of extraordinary working conditions whilst at the same time delivering ongoing service improvement.

9.2         Cllr Kevin Boram, Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee advised the openness of data is critical for scrutiny. The Statement of Assurance is consistent with information provided to the Committee, which examine various matters for probity and accuracy. The Committee was happy to recommend the approval of the Statement of Assurance 2021/22.

9.3         Cllr Caroline Baxter, Leader of the Labour Group thanked the Chief Fire Officer and Cabinet Member and welcomed the report which reflected hard work, dedication of officers and a transparent commitment to delivering improvement.

9.4         Cllr Crow summarised it had been a challenging year but the service had performed well and the benefits of investment were being seen. There would be difficulties ahead but the service will continue to work hard to meet them.

9.5         Resolved - that Cabinet approves the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Annual Statement of Assurance 2021-22.