The Role of the Authority, Legal Structure and
Delegations
Legal Structure/Delegations
The Authority is a corporate body with the legal
responsibility for making decisions about all matters concerning
the functions, powers, duties and responsibilities of the
Authority, which are invested in it by statute and/or the common
law. The Authority has delegated a range of decision making about
various matters to committees and officers as set out in this
constitution but has otherwise reserved powers to itself. The
exercise of any delegated powers and decision making by committees
and sub-committees appointed by the Authority and described in this
constitution shall be subject to:
(i) statutory or legal
requirements
(ii) standing orders and financial regulations of the
Authority
(iii) strategic and corporate policies adopted by the
Authority
and/or any directions given by the Authority in
relation to the exercise of delegated functions.
No delegation which may be given by the Authority
shall preclude the reference of matters by a committee or
sub-committee to the Authority nor preclude the Authority from
exercising any powers so delegated except where action has already
been taken pursuant to a resolution of a committee or sub-committee
under its approved terms of reference and delegated
authority.
Functions Reserved to the Authority
Only the Authority will exercise the following
functions:
(1) Variations to standing orders and financial
regulations and procedures.
(2) The revenue budget, medium term financial
strategy, capital plan and affordable borrowing limit, and levying
or issuing of a precept.
(3) Approval of the Corporate Plan including the
Integrated Risk Management Plan.
(4) Major policy issues including:
(i) the number and
location of fire stations
(ii) major organisational variations to the
management structure of the Authority and the command structure of
the Brigade
(iii) major variations to the establishment
scheme
(5) Approvals reserved to the Authority under
Procedural and Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
and Procedures.
(6) Adopting a members' allowances scheme.
(7) Appointing the Chair and Vice Chair of the
Authority and the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the committees of the
Authority (save for the Standards Committee which self appoints its Chair).
(8)
Any other matters which by law must be reserved to the Authority
itself.