• The Chair confirmed that there were no Members of the press or public in attendance and the meeting was not being filmed.

• Condolences were expressed on behalf of the Authority to Councillor Lesley Rennie and for her family, following the recent death of her mother.

• Members were asked, and confirmed receipt of a hard copy of the Authority’s Protocol and Procedure regarding the Reporting at Meetings, to assist in relation to item 3.

Members were advised that a Mr and Mrs Brace were expected to attend in relation to item 3 of the agenda, to present their petition. 

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)  Declarations of Personal Interests of Liverpool City Councillors: Peter Brennan, Dave Hanratty, Barbara Murray, James Roberts and Sharon Sullivan, were noted in relation to item 8 Internal Audit Service Provision 2015/6 which relates to the provision of Internal Audit Services to the Authority, by Liverpool City Council

b)  The Chair requested the Chief Fire Officer provide a verbal update for Members following a debate at the House of Commons the evening before in relation to the Firefighters Pension Regulations, and declared this be included as an additional item of business 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.

(Cllr Mahon arrived during discussion at item b) )

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Authority, held on 2^nd October 2014, 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 2^nd October 2014, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

To consider a petition concerning amendments to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority’s Constitution and its Meeting Reporting Protocol And Procedure.

The Authority were expecting Mr & Mrs Brace to be in attendance to present their petition, concerning amendments to the Authority’s Constitution and reporting of meetings protocol and procedure.

There were no persons present to present the Petition.

Discussion took place around the legal requirement for what is acceptable as a petition, as it was not felt that a petition signed only by two people from one household was sufficient.

Resolved that:

a)    The petition be noted;

b)    The Authority’s awareness of the protocol and procedure developed following the introduction of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, and its publication on the website for anyone wishing to attend or record proceedings be noted; and,

c)    The Clerk be instructed to include any amendments to The Constitution, including revision of what is acceptable to the Authority as a petition, as part of the annual review, and provide with a covering report to the Annual Meeting 11^th June 2015.

To consider a petition concerning the proposed merger of West Kirby and Upton Fire Stations.

Members considered and noted a petition concerning the Proposed Merger of West Kirby and Upton Fire Stations.

There were no persons present to present the Petition.

To consider Report CFO/128/14 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning the outcomes of the recent assurance process conducted by the National Resilience Assurance Team (NRAT) of the Authority’s National Resilience (NR) assets.

Members considered report CFO/128/14 of the Chie Fire Officer regarding the outcomes of the recent assurance process conducted by the National Resilience Assurance Team (NRAT) of the National Resilience (NR) assets hosted by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority.

Resolved that:

a)    The contents of the report be noted; and

b)    Congratulations and appreciation be passed to the Chief and all staff involved in the assessment and the provision of such high standards; and

c)    A media message be sent out before Christmas to share the good news.

To consider Report CFO/125/14 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning the Authority’s draft Statement of Assurance 2014 for publication on the website.

Members considered report CFO/125/14 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer regarding the Authority’s draft Statement of Assurance 2014 for publication on the website.

Resolved that:

The Authority’s draft Statement of Assurance 2014 be approved for publication on the Authority’s website.

To consider Report CFO/127/14 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning arrangements for implementing the Local Government Transparency Code 2014.

Members considered report CFO/127/14 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer regarding the arrangements for implementing the Local Government Transparency Code 2014.

Resolved that:

The action being taken to implement to Local Government Transparency Code 2014 be noted.

To consider Report CFO/114/14 of the Deputy Chief Executive, concerning the granting of delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, to negotiate a rolling annual Service Level Agreement with Liverpool City Council’s Internal Audit Service.

Members considered report CFO/114/14 of the Deputy Chief Executive requesting the Authority to delegate power to the Deputy Chief Executive to negotiate a service level agreement with Liverpool City Council’s Internal Audit Service.

Resolved that:

a)    the Deputy Chief Executive enter into negotiations with Liverpool City Council, for the procurement of Internal Audit services for a three year period; and

b)    the Deputy Chief Executive be delegated authority to enter into a service level agreement with Liverpool City Council for these services; and

c)    the Director of Legal, Procurement and Democratic Services be instructed to enter into a procurement exercise before the three year period expires.

To consider Report CFO/126/14 of the Chief Fire Officer concerning progress and development in relation to the Wirral and Liverpool operational response consultation process.

Members considered report CFO/126/14 of the Chief Fire Officer regarding progress and developments in relation to the Wirral and Liverpool operational response consultation process.

Members were advised that the intention is to bring a final report on the consultation outcomes on the Wirral consultation to be presented to a full Authority meeting on 29^th January should the recommendation to change Audit sub Committee to a Full Authority be approved; and a final report on the consultation outcomes of the Liverpool consultation will be presented to the Authority Budget meeting on 26^th February 2015.

Resolved that:

a)    the land at Frankby Rd, Greasby now withdrawn from consideration, by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council be noted; and

b)    a  potential site on Saughall Massie Road identified by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council be noted; and

c)    progress in relation to the consultation process in Liverpool and Wirral be noted; and

d)    re-designation of the Audit Sub Committee on 29^th January 2015 as a full Authority meeting to consider the outcome of the Wirral consultation, which closes on 5^th January 2015 be approved.

At the request of the Chair, The Chief Fire Officer provided Members with a verbal update in relation to the discussion which had taken place the evening before in the House of Commons, regarding the Firefighters Pension Regulations.

The Chief advised Members that as a result of the debate, the Firefighter Pension Regulations were agreed, and will shortly come into force.

The Chief Fire Officer advised Members that should the Fire Brigades Union decide to take further Industrial Action, seven days advanced notice is required, therefore notice of any possible Industrial Action during Christmas would need to be received by the close of business Wednesday 17^th December.

Resolved that:

a)    The Chief Fire Officers verbal update be noted;

b)    This Authority Meeting be adjourned and reconvened, should notice of further periods of Industrial Action be received, to enable the Authority to consider arrangements for implementation during Industrial Action.