4.—(1) Section 115 (authority’s duties as regards reports)(1) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1B) insert—
“(1BA) In the case of a report made by the chief finance officer of a section 4A fire and rescue authority, that authority must consider the report and decide whether the authority agrees or disagrees with the views contained in the report and what action (if any) the authority proposes to take in consequence of it.”.
(3) In subsection (1E)—
(a)for “or the chief officer of police, has” substitute “the section 4A fire and rescue authority or the chief officer of police has”; and
(b)after “that body” in each place those words appear insert “, authority”.
(4) After subsection (1F) insert—
“(1FA) As soon as practicable after the section 4A fire and rescue authority has prepared a report under subsection (1E), the authority must arrange for a copy of the report to be sent to—
(a)the chief finance officer;
(b)the person who at the time the report is made has the duty to audit the authority’s accounts; and
(c)each member of the relevant police and crime panel.”.
(5) In subsection (1G) after “subsection (1E)” insert “in relation to the exercise of policing functions of the chief officer”.
(6) After subsection (1G) insert—
“(1H) As soon as practicable after the chief officer of police has prepared a report under subsection (1E) in relation to the exercise of fire and rescue functions of the chief officer, the chief officer of police must arrange for a copy of the report to be sent to—
(a)the chief finance officer;
(b)the person who at the time the report is made has the duty to audit the chief officer’s accounts; and
(c)the relevant section 4A fire and rescue authority.
(1I) As soon as practicable after the chief officer of police has prepared a report under subsection (1E) in relation to the exercise of policing and fire and rescue functions of the chief officer, the chief officer of police must arrange for a copy of the report to be sent to—
(a)the chief finance officer;
(b)the person who at the time the report is made has the duty to audit the chief officer’s accounts;
(c)the elected local policing body which maintains the police force in which the chief officer serves; and
(d)the relevant fire and rescue authority.”.
(7) In subsection (2) after “elected local policing body” insert “, a section 4A fire and rescue authority”.
Section 115 was amended by paragraphs 180 and 189(1), (2) and (3) of Schedule 16 to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. There are other amendments but none is relevant.