Lancashire CFA Constitution

Introduction

Governance of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is through Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, which is comprised of 25 elected members representing the whole of Lancashire. Our constitution sets out how the Authority operates, how decisions are made, and the procedures which are followed to ensure that public money is used well and is properly accounted for to provide efficient and effective services for Lancashire's communities.

More information on Combined Fire Authority is available on our dedicated website.

Overview of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) is a stand-alone fire and rescue service delivering fire, safety, and rescue functions to the whole of Lancashire. This is achieved by raising awareness about fire safety through visiting homes and education, enforcing fire safety laws, and being available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to respond to emergencies. Support services assist operational staff in providing frontline services to residents, businesses and visitors.

Leadership of LFRS is through its Executive Board headed by the Chief Fire Officer and through its wider Service Management Team.

Overview of Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

Oversight and governance of LFRS is through a Combined Fire Authority which is comprised of elected members representing the whole of Lancashire.

The Lancashire Fire Service (Combination Scheme) Order 1997 (the Scheme) established the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (the Authority) to cover the whole of Lancashire, which comes under the control of the two unitary and a county council, namely Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The Scheme restricts the number of members that may sit on the Authority to a maximum of 25. It also requires each of the constituent authorities to appoint representatives to be members of the Authority in proportion to the size of the electorate in their area. There are currently 25 elected members of the Authority, 19 from Lancashire County Council and three each from Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The Authority operates a committee system rather than an executive or cabinet model. The Authority makes all the key decisions but delegates most decision-making to one of its six committees: Audit, Risk and Governance; Appointments; Resources; Planning; Performance; and Appeals.

There are also a number of working groups which are informal and not decision-making but are set up from time to time to consider and advise on specific matters such as the training needed for Authority members.

The day-to-day running of LFRS is delegated through a scheme of delegation to the Chief Fire Officer and the two other statutory officers (the Monitoring Officer and the Treasurer).

Details of meetings of the Authority and its committees are published on the Service’s website and are generally open to the public (unless exempt information is being discussed).

The fundamental role of the Authority is to scrutinise the operation of LFRS and to hold the Chief Fire Officer to account.

Overview of Constitution

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority has agreed a constitution which sets out how the Authority operates, how decisions are made, and the procedures which are followed to ensure that they are efficient, transparent, and accountable to local communities. Some of the processes are required by law, while others are a matter for the Authority to choose.

The constitution is set out below and comprises the scheme of delegation (which sets out which decisions are reserved to the Authority and which are delegated to LFRS); the terms of reference of committees; and detailed standing orders which set out the procedure for meetings and how the business of the Authority is conducted. There are also other documents including the Members’ Code of Conduct.

This constitution will be reviewed annually. Any in-year changes deemed necessary will be dealt with through the structure of meetings of the full Authority, or Audit, Risk and Governance Committee, the urgent business procedure or the Monitoring Officer in accordance with the change needed.

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