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)  Agenda item 3 be determined by the Chair as a matters of urgency, and reason for calling this additional meeting, to consider Industrial Action Cover Arrangements following the release of additional dates of action by the Fire Brigades Union received 31^st July 2014.

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 Authority, held on 24^th July 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 24^th July 2014, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

To consider Report CFO/086/14 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning the estimated financial and health, safety and welfare impact of the forthcoming episodes of industrial action announced by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in the ongoing national dispute over pensions and of the options open to the Authority in relation to operational cover arrangements. 

Members considered report CFO/086/14 of the Chief Fire Officer regarding industrial action cover arrangements, and the estimated financial and health, safety and welfare impact of the announced episodes of industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union in the ongoing national dispute over pensions, and considered the three options open to the Authority in relation to operational cover arrangements:

                       i.        Continue to deploy the maximum number of appliances possible based on the availability of resilience staff.

                      ii.        Reduce the numbers of appliances available during each of period of industrial action.

                     iii.        Refuse to accept partial performance of a shift

The Chief Fire Officer advised Members of his professional opinion and preference for option i.

Members stated that the Authority is doing everything in its power to maintain the safety of their staff and the community of Merseyside, during the ongoing national industrial dispute over pensions, which is having financial burden upon this Authority.

It was questioned why the Authority had been urgently called to meet, if continuing with the same procedures for cover as the previous period of industrial action. The Chair confirmed that the Authority had requested to be fully updated at each stage of industrial action to consider each period on its own merits

Resolved that:

a)    Option i. Continue to deploy the maximum number of appliances possible based on the availability of resilience staff, be approved

b)    This meeting be adjourned, and reconvene at short notice, if and when required, subject to further announcements in relation to the national industrial dispute regarding pensions.