The Authority is 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.

The Authority considered the identification of any declarations of interest, matters of urgency or items that would require the exclusion of the press and public due to the disclosure of exempt information.

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 were determined by the Chair to be considered as matters of urgency; 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, as no Member wished to speak to part two of the minutes of the previous meeting which were exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Authority, held on 3^rd September 2013, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Authority, held on 3^rd September 2013, both Part 1 Open Minutes and Part 2 Exempt Minutes (exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972), were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

To consider Report CFO/122/13 and associated Equality Impact Assessment of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning amendments to the revised Community Fire Protection Policy and the introduction of the new Community Fire Protection Risk Based Strategy.

Members considered  report CFO/122/13 of the Chief Fire Officer regarding  amendments to the revised Community Fire Protection Policy (Appendix A) and the introduction of the new Community Fire Protection Risk Based Strategy (Appendix B).

The Chair requested that Members who sit on other Board and Panel meetings such as planning committees, consider water provision and suppression systems included in proposed plans.

Resolved that:

The amended Fire Protection Policy and Service

Instruction for the Protection Risk Based Strategy be approved.

To consider Report CFO/123/13 and associated Equality Impact Assessment of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning progress of the phased implementation of the new Unwanted Fire Signals Protocol, the outcomes of the stakeholder consultation regarding the go-live of Phase 2; and the outcomes of the revised risk assessment and the resultant implementation of Phase 2.

Members considered report CFO123/13 of the Chief Fire Officer concerning

progress of the phased implementation of the new Unwanted Fire Signals (UwFS) protocol, the outcome of the stakeholder consultations regarding go-live of Phase 2, and the outcomes of the revised risk assessment for the implementation of Phase 2.

It was noted that appropriate arrangements for Schools in the St Helens district be taken up with the appropriate officers for that area, and appropriate arrangements put in place.

Resolved that:

a.    The implementation of Phase 2 of the UwFS protocol for November 1st 2013 as advanced in this report, be approved;

b.    The current protocol be extended to cover the 24 hour period and exempt sleeping risk, such as hospitals, hotels and hostels, due to the risk to the safety of the Community and to responding Firefighters in the event of any delay in response arising from the failure to develop a timely back-up call to the Authority;

c.    Significant sleeping risk premises (e.g. Hospitals, Care Homes, Hotels and Hostels ) are automatically exempted during night-time hours;

d.    The decision to charge for Unwanted Fire Signals be reviewed at a later meeting, and further work be completed to identify a suitable methodology.

To consider report CFO/111/13 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the Living Wage.

Members considered report CFO/111/13 of the Chief Fire Officer, which the Authority requested, at the meeting on 7th May 2013, regarding the Living Wage. Detail outlined the Living Wage and its comparator, the National

Minimum Wage (NMW), Identification of the number of the Authority’s employees who are currently employed below the Living wage and a costing of how much it would be to raise these employees to this level of payment.

Resolved that:

a.    The content of the report be noted;

b.    The adoption of the Living Wage at the time of the 2014/15 Budget

Setting process at which point the Living Wage increase in November

could be factored into the overall budget, as changes could see an

increase in wage costs to the Authority and potentially the number of

employees who would be eligible for the enhanced payment be agreed, and;

c.   Payment to all eligible employees be implemented from 1^st April 2014