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Durham County Council (1974 - 2009)

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• Durham County Council (1974 - 2009)
  • Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority (Ref: DC/)
  • Minutes (Ref: DC/A58/1/1-17)

Catalogue Description

Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority was created by the Durham Fire Services (Combination Scheme) Order 1996.

Membership comprises 21 elected councillors from Durham County Council and 4 from Darlington Borough Council. The Authority has a statutory duty to enforce fire safety legislation and to reduce the risk of fire causing death, serious injury and property related losses to the community.

The Authority must also make provision for rescuing people in the event of road traffic collisions and for protecting people from serious harm in the event of road traffic collisions.

The broad role and functions of the Authority include:
Determination of policy and strategy relating to the objectives of the authority and its priorities, including approving the strategic plan
Approving the Authority's revenue and capital budget strategy, revenue and capital budgets, agreeing the level of precept and approving the Authority statement of accounts. Reviewing the authority's current financial position compared with approved budgets
Contributing to the Regional Management Board (RMB)
Receiving reports and recommendations from authority committees in addition to regularly reviewing the structure and remit of committees, forums and working groups
Receiving reports from inspectorate bodies
Ensuring that the Authority fulfills its statutory duties including those under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 and the National Framework
Fostering continuous service improvement and progression in the comprehensive performance assessment
Appointing the Chief Executive and Directors of the Fire and Rescue Service and the Treasurer, Clerk and Monitoring Officer of the Authority

Role of Members
To contribute to the role and functions of the Combined Fire Authority.
To ensure the views of the community, partners and constituent Councils are taken into account and that they are kept fully informed of Fire Authority plans. In particular, to act as champions for the Authority in their locality and with other bodies and to contribute to wider shared priorities in the area
To support and promote appropriate partnership arrangements
To take all necessary steps to comply with the statutory duties of the Fire Authority
To perform the roles allocated to Members in Service procedures
To agree Member attendance at external events

For minutes of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority June 2009 onwards see DCC/AJ/F1

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