Fire Authority

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority

The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority (the Authority) is an independent body which has responsibility for ensuring proper governance arrangements and controls are in place to enable the effective exercise of the Authority’s functions and the management of risk. The Authority has functions which are set down in the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, with the four core functions being: - Fire Safety - Fire fighting - Road traffic accidents - Emergencies.

The Authority is a precepting authority; this means that its net cost, after receiving a Government Grant and a proportions of local business rates, is met by all council tax payers in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Borough.

Members

The Authority is made up of councillors (“Members”) appointed to it for the municipal year by its three constituent authorities. Their numbers are proportional to the populations they represent:

Once appointed to the Authority, Members represent the community as a whole, not just the area they serve as a local councillor. They serve as a valuable link between communities and the Service. Members are collectively responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of the organisation, including the setting of its budget, promoting its core values and ensuring that the Service is effective, efficient and provides Value for Money.

Committees

The full Authority usually meets six times a year and has two committees:

Apart from attending the Authority meetings, Members usually sit on one or other of the committees. They can also be asked to represent the Authority at a local and regional level.

Portfolio Leads

The Fire Authority appoints Lead Members in relation to the following portfolios: