Decision making structure

The Authority's members are the main decision making body. They focus on the organisation's strategy and policy.

The Authority

The chair of the Authority (to be appointed), is in charge of the debate at the meeting.

Five small specialist executive committees support this structure. They are the Appointments Committee, the Special Appointments Committee, the Urgency Committee, the Finance, Procurement and Property Committee,the Audit Committee;and the Standards Committee. The Finance, Procurement and Property Committee meet on a regular basis and the Audit Committee meets on a quarterly basis . The remaining  committees meet when required. For the membership of these committees see committee membership.

The Appointments Committee

The Appointments Committee are responsible for appointing the following staff: the Deputy Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning, the Director of Resources, the Director of Corporate Services, Director of Operational Policy & Training, all Assistant Commissioners, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the Head of Finance, the Head of Human Resources, the Head of Communications, the Head of Strategy, Planning and Performance, the Head of Equalities and the Head of Health and Safety Services. The Directors are reponsible for appointing to other heads of service posts, but they must consult with members of the Appointments Committee on shortlists and proposed appointments.

• View members of the Appointments Committee

The Special Appointments Committee    

The Special Appointments Committee are responsible for all matters relating to the filing of the post of Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Planning  

• View members of the Special Appointments Committee

The Finance, Procurement and Property Committee

(formerly the Finance, Procurement and Property Panel)

As an Executive body, the Committee makes decision in relation to procurement and property matters, including energy efficiency schemes, within approved budgets and existing policies.

In it's advsiory role the Committee also considers matters relating to the capital and revenue budgets and budget development and budget monitoring.

• View members of the Finance, Procurement and Property Committee

The Standards Committee

The LFEPA is statutorily required to have a Standards Committee. They deal with the promotion and maintenance of high standards of conduct by members, investigate complaints referred by an Ethical Standards Officer and advise on the adoption, revision and monitoring of the Code of Conduct for Members. They also deal with requests from members for dispensations.  

• View members of the Standards Committee
• Recruitment for Standards Committees

The Audit Committee

(formerly the Audit Panel)

The Audit Committee deals with internal and external audit functions and monitors the corporate risk management framework and the systems in place

• View members of the Audit Committee

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The Urgency Committee

The Urgency Committee considers any issues which can't wait till the next full Authority meeting. They also deal with issues which can't be dealt with by our top managers because they are outside their delegated authorities or are too controversial for their decision.

• View members of the Urgency Committee

Non Executive Member Structure

The Chair's Coordinating Group

The Chair's Coordinating Group supports LFEPA in its role as the main decision making body. It drives forward the Authority's initiatives, scrutinises and monitors progress and liaises with top managers. The group meets regularly to coordinate and manage LFEPA agendas. It is kept informed on action taken by top managers.

Vice chair

Brian Coleman (Conservative) is the Vice-Chair of the Authority.

Liaison Members

The Authority has also appointed the following Liaison Members who take a special interest in their subject area:

• Maurice Heaster (Conservative)- Finance and procurement
• Valerie Shawcross (Labour) - Property and Energy Efficiency
• Liaquat Ali (Labour) - Human Resources and Equalities 
• Ed Butcher (Liberal Democrat) - Performance Management and Community Safety

Panels

Human Resources, Equalities and Health and Safety (Chaired by Liaquat Ali) deals with human resources issues; equalities policy, initiatives and activities; and health and safety activities including assisting in promoting best practice and liaison with the Health and Safety Executive.

Performance Management and Community Safety (Chaired by Ed Butcher) deals with continuous improvement of services, including the promotion of prevetion rather than intervention; management of performance against local and best value indicators; external assessment (except audits) and local partnership to provide community fire safety.

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Officer Level Decision Making

The decisions top managers can make
All heads of departments can agree any proposals involving expenditure of up to £20,000 in any one year so long as they follow the Authority's approved policies and budgets.

In accordance with approved policies and budgets, heads of departments:

• Are responsible for appointing and managing staff and managing the Authority's assets.
• Implement work programmes designed to achieve the Authority's objectives and plans.
• Can spend up to £20,000 on a proposal in any one year provided they have money within their budgets.
• Can spend more than £20,000 on stock and other regular recurring items of expenditure, again provided they have money within their budgets.
• May transfer up to £50,000 between departments and directorates budget heads as long as the Head of Finance and the appropriate Director, if between directorates, agree.
• May do other specific functions , if the Authority (or a committee) has specifically authorised them to do so.
• Where income generated is not reflected in any budget, the Head of Finance is authorised to supplement the appropriate department's budget accordingly.
• The Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner and the two directors (together with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services) can authorise any proposal involving expenditure of up to £100,000 on capital account or £50,000 on revenue account in any one year in accordance with approved policies and budgets. This delegation is subject to the agreement of the Head of Finance, consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and other appropriate officers and the maintenance of appropriate records of the decision and the reasons for it. A report of action taken under this delegation is reported regularly to the Finance, Procurement and Property Committee.

Head of Department's Action
Head of Department's Action (HDA) enables top managers to decide matters which are minor or urgent and otherwise beyond what they are authorised to do. Top managers must consult with the chair of the Authority and the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups; and any of these members can ask for an HDA to be dealt with by the Urgency Committee.

Heads of departments can permit a member of their staff to exercise either the general delegated authority or a specific delegated authority given by the Authority or a committee. Such authorisations must be in writing.

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