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)  no declarations of interest were made by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda

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 of the Policy and Resources Committee, held on 27^th November 2014, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee, held on 27^th November 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

To consider Report CFO/019/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning the Service Delivery Plan for 2015/16.

Members considered report CFO/019/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the Service Delivery Plan for 2015/16. Members considered the Performance Indicators shown and the implications of these indicators.

The Committee discussed various issues arising from the report and wider local government issues, and considered the future direction of the fire and rescue service in light of these issues.

The Service Delivery Plan was highly commended by Members for its quality and ease of understanding. Thanks were expressed to all staff involved in its formulation.

Resolved that:

1.    The Service Delivery Plan for 2015/16 be approved; and,

2.    The Service Delivery Plan for 2015/16 be published on the website; and,

3.    The Service Delivery Plan for 2015/16 be emailed to Members to aid distribution among colleagues.

To consider Report CFO/020/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire, concerning the District Community Safety Plans for 2015/16, which reflect an inclusive approach to planning on Districts that has involved a wide range of staff and stakeholders.

Members considered report CFO/020/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the District Community Safety Plans for 2015/16. Attention was drawn in particular to the associated Equality Impact Assessments conducted for each district which tied into the plans, and the committee considered these appropriately.

Members questioned if the district plans are shared with Community Safety Partnerships. It was confirmed that they are shared with all Community Safety Partnerships for the Districts and for Merseyside.

Resolved that:

1. The District Community Safety Plans for 2015/16 be approved; and,

2. The District Community Safety Plans for 2015/16 and associated EIAs be shared electronically with Members to aid distribution among colleagues in Constituent Councils.

To consider report CFO/024/15 of the Deputy Chief Executive concerning the requirement to establish a Local Pension Board for the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme and to set out its proposed structure.

Members considered report CFO/024/15 of the Deputy Chief Executive concerning the requirement to establish a Local Pension Board for the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme and to set out its proposed structure. They also considered to whom responsibility should be delegated, to fulfil the role of Scheme Manager.

Members considered the proposal for the composition of the Pensions Board and whether to delay the nomination of an Authority Member to the Board until after the AGM. Following consideration of the need to train any Member appointed to the Board, the committee decided to nominate a Member at this meeting to ensure training could commence as soon as possible.

Resolved that:

1.         The delegation for fulfilling the role of Scheme Manager for the overall management and administration of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme to the Deputy Chief Executive be approved; and,

2.         The establishment of a Local Pension Board for the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme as outlined in this report be approved, and specifically:-

a.    the Board comprising 6 members consisting of 3 employer representatives and 3 employee members be approved; and,

b.    Councillor Robbie Ayres, with Councillor Ray Halpin acting as an alternate, be nominated from MFRA to act as 1 of the employer representatives. 

To consider Report CFO/025/15 of the Deputy Chief Executive, concerning the Scheme Manager (SM) discretions as contained in “The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014”.

Members considered report CFO/025/15 of the Deputy Chief Executive concerning the Scheme Manager (SM) discretions as contained in ‘The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014’.

Resolved that:

1.         The Draft 2015 Firefighter Pension Scheme Discretions be approved; and specifically:-

a.    the Deputy Chief Executive be approved as the delegated officer to act as the Scheme Manager for Firefighters’ Pension Scheme(s); and,

b.    Continual Professional Payments be approved to be treated as pensionable pay; and,

c.    that it be approved that where a scheme member is absent from employment and not entitled to pay but wished to purchase pension benefits for this period that they must pay the employee and employer contributions unless specific approval to the contrary is given by the Authority.

To consider report CFO/016/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the Authority’s proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2015/16 in accordance with Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011 which requires Local Authorities to publish a Pay Policy Statement each year.

Members considered report CFO/016/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011 which requires Local Authorities to publish a Pay Policy Statement each year. Members discussed the Authority’s proposed Pay Policy Statement for 2015/16 prior to publication. 

Resolved that:

Subject to an amendment to the reference to season ticket loans to clarify that this is in relation to a season ticket for public transport:-

1.         The proposed Pay Policy for 2015/16 be approved for publication.