Members are requested to consider the identification of:

a)  declarations of interest by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda

b)  any additional items of business which the Chair has determined should be considered as matters of urgency; and

c)  items of business which may require the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof because of the possibility of the disclosure of exempt information.

Members considered the identification of declarations of interest, any urgent additional items, and any business that may require the exclusion of the press and public.

Resolved that:

a)    the following declarations of interest were made by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda

Cllr Byrom, Cllr Kenny and Cllr Rennie noted that they had been in attendance at the urgency committee on 31^st May 2022 which also related to Item 3 however that was for the procurement of electricity and gas for the period 1^st July 2022 – 31^st March 2023.

b)  no additional items of business to be considered as matters of urgency were determined by the Chair; and

c)  no items of business required the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof because of the possibility of the disclosure of exempt information.

The Minutes of the Previous Meeting, held on 12 April 2022, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the committee chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting held on 12^th April 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

To consider report CFO/040/022, which aims to inform Members of the current situation regarding the supply of electricity and gas and recommend the best options for the procurement from April 2023.

Nick Searle, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, presented the report on Procurement of Electricity and Gas from 2023. Members considered the report which informed them of the current situations regarding the supply of electricity and gas and regarded the best options for the procurement from April 2023.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The procurement of electricity and gas through Liverpool City Council, and enter into contracts for the supply of electricity and gas via the Crown Commercial Services (‘CCS’) framework by 15^th September 2022, utilising the CSS L6 purchasing window for the period 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2024 and L12 purchasing window for the period 1^st April 2024 to 31^st March 2025 be approved.

b)   The procurement of electricity using Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (‘REGO’) be approved and

c)   Delegated powers to be given to the CFO and Director of Finance and Procurement in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, to accept a revised energy source to (REGO) via LCC / CCS if supply issues or financial implications arise with REGO’s be approved

To consider report CFO/039/022, which provides Members with an update on the progress made against MFRA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion objectives for 2021-2024.

Nick Searle, Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report (2021/2022). Members were provided an update on the progress made against MFRA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion objectives for 2021-2024.

Members queried why 37.2% of staff members have not recorded their sexual orientation and expressed concern why people feel uncomfortable recording this information. Nick Mernock (Director of People and Organisational Development) stated that this has been an issue for about 3/4 years and suggested that it may be a personal preference/generational issue or that some people may have just missed it. Members were assured that while  the Service can’t force people to record this information.  MFRS will  continue to encourage staff to record this.

Members also questioned if there were any barriers in place due to the lack of females in  senior management roles  Nick Searle (DCFO) stated that the organisation currently has three female Station Managers and it will take time to see more female firefighters come through the ranks however, he has no doubt that this will happen shortly particularly as the number of female firefighters in the Service is higher than it’s been before.

Members were advised by the Director of People and Organisational Development, Nick Mernock, in regard to female firefighters and recruitment the department is always looking for ways to engage for example,  the organisation has found female firefighters  main difficulty in the recruitment process is the Firefighter physical test. Due to this, MFRS have organised ‘have a go days’ to allow female candidates to trial the different physical aspects that they will have to complete on the day. Members were informed that in more recent years the organisation has removed the bleep test as this can be discriminatory towards women and this has been replaced with the Chester Treadmill Run test.  Nick Mernock then emphasised the importance of not allowing past candidates to drop if they have failed. He stated that the recruitment department contact past applicants when recruiting again and encourage them to re-apply which has proven to work as  female recruits who have  failed previously to progress further than the application process,  through the above, the Service has been able to welcome them onto a recruit course.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The ED&I annual report be approved for publication on the MFRS website in order to demonstrate MFRA’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how it has met its Public Sector Equality Duty

To consider report CF0/041/022, which provides insight into the performance of Merseyside Fire and Rescue the Service against the objectives and the performance targets/outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2022/23 for the period April to June 2022.

Nick Searle, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, presented the April to June Service Delivery plan update. Members were asked to consider the report which provides insight into the performance of MFRS against the objectives and the performance targets/outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan for the period April to June 2022.

RESOLVED that:

a)    Members approved the Service Delivery Plan (Appendices A-D) for publication on the website.