The Committee 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; and

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.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Authority, held on 7^th May 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 7^th May 2013, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

Minutes to follow due to tight deadline.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Performance and Scrutiny Committee, held on 30^th May 2013, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Performance and Scrutiny Committee, held on 30^th May 2013, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

Minutes to follow due to tight deadline.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee, held on 30^th May 2013, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee, held on 30^th May 2013, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

To elect a Chairman of the Authority for 2013/14.

Councillor Hanratty requested nominations for the position of Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority.

Councillor Dave Hanratty (proposed by Councillor Linda Maloney and seconded by Councillor Les Byrom) was nominated for the position of Chair of the Authority.

Councillor Dave Hanratty was duly elected as Chair of the Authority for the municipal year 2013/14 and presided over the remainder of the meeting.

To elect a Vice-Chairman of the Authority for 2013/14.

Councillor Dave Hanratty requested nominations for the positions of Vice – Chair of the Authority and explained that there are two positions of Vice-Chair of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority.

Councillors Linda Maloney and Les Byrom (proposed by Councillor Dave Hanratty and seconded by Councillor Ted Grannell) were nominated as Vice-Chairs of the Authority.

Councillors Linda Maloney and Les Byrom were duly elected as Vice-Chairs of the Authority for the Municipal Year 2013/14.

To consider the attached report CFO/066/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the changes to the Membership of the Authority for 2013/14.

Members considered Report CFO/066/13 of the Clerk To The Authority concerning changes to the Membership of the Authority for 2013/14.

Resolved that:

(a)   The termination of the appointment of Councillor Darren Dodd following the Wirral District Council AGM, be noted and a letter of appreciation be sent from the Chair on behalf of the Authority to Councillor Dodd and be noted in the minutes; and

(b)   The appointment of Councillor Jean Stapleton (Labour) to the Authority by Wirral District Council be noted and Councillor Stapleton be welcomed onto the Authority by the Chair; and

(c)    The Political Balance of the Authority being 15 Labour Members, 2 Liberal Democrat Members and 1 Conservative Member, be noted; and

(d)   That Membership of the Authority for 32013/14 as follows, be noted:

Knowsley District Council – 2 Members:

Councillor Ted Grannell (Labour)

Councillor Tony Newman (Labour)

Liverpool City Council – 6 Members:

Councillor Vi Bebb (Labour)

Councillor Dave Hanratty (Labour)

Councillor Barbara Murray (Labour)

Councillor Roy Gladded (Labour)

Councillor Sharon Sullivan (Labour)

Councillor Pat Moloney (Liberal Democrat)

Sefton District Council – 4 Members:

Councillor Les Byrom (Labour)

Councillor Jimmy Mahon (Labour)

Councillor John Joseph Kelly (Labour)

Councillor Andrew Blackburn (Liberal Democrat)

St Helens District Council – 2 Members:

Councillor Robbie Ayres (Labour)

Councillor Linda Maloney (Labour)

Wirral District Council – 4 Members:

Councillor Steve Niblock (Labour)

Councillor Denise Roberts (Labour)

Councillor Jean Stapleton (Labour)

Councillor Lesley Rennie ( Conservative)

To consider report CFO/058/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the structure of the Authority for 2013/14.

Members considered Report CFO/058/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the Structure of the Authority for 2013/14.

Resolved that:

(a)    the following proposed Authority Structure be approved, appointing the following Committees until the time of the Annual meeting 2014, with the number of voting Members as follows;

                      I.        An Appeals Committee with 5 Members

                    II.        An Appointments Committee with 5 Members

                   III.        A Community Safety & Protection Committee with 8 Members

                  IV.        A Policy & Resources Committee with 8 Members

                   V.        A Consultation & Negotiation Sub-Committee with 5 Members

                  VI.        An Audit Sub-Committee with 5 Members

                 VII.        A Performance & Scrutiny Committee with 5 Members (plus 1 Co-opted Member)

               VIII.        A Member Development Group with 4 Members

(b)    that the Authority allocates seats on the above Committee and Groups by political Group on the following basis:

                      I.        Those Committees with 8 seats: 7 seats to the Labour Group: 1 seat to the Liberal Democrat Group OR Conservative Group.

                    II.        The Performance and Scrutiny Committee with 6 seats: 4 seats to the Labour Group: 1 seat to the Liberal Democrat Group OR Conservative Group: 1 seat to a co-opted Member.

                   III.        The Appeals and Appointments Committee with 5 seats: 3 seats to the Labour Group: 1 seat to the Liberal Democrat Group and 1 seat to the Conservative Group.

                  IV.        Those other Committees and Sub-Committees with 5 seats: 4 seats to the Labour Group and 1 seat to the Liberal Democrat Group OR Conservative Group.

                   V.        The Member Development Group with 4 seats: 2 seats to the Labour Group and 1 seat to the Liberal Democrat Group and 1 seat to the Conservative Group

(c)    alternates be appointed from the relevant political group in the absence of the substantive Member by that Member; and

(d)    Democratic Services be informed prior to the meeting, and where possible prior to posting the papers for that meeting, of an alternate Member by the Member who is unable to attend; and

(e)    Democratic Services be provided with a list of Committee Members and Lead Members.

Appendix A is a DRAFT Constitution - attached as an Electronic Version Only (Political Groups will be provided with a hard copy for their pre meeting).

To consider the attached report CFO/059/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the Authority’s Draft Constitution for 2013/14.

Members considered Report CFO/059/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the revised Constitution for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority for 203/14.

Resolved that:

(a)    the draft amended Constitution for 2013/14 be approved; and

(b)    the Clerk to the Authority be instructed to review the Constitution in light of any changes in legislation and bring further reports back to the Authority in these circumstances.

To consider report CFO/060/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the draft dates for Authority Committee meetings and events for 2013/14

Members considered Report CFO/060/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning a timetable of meetings and events of the Authority and Committees for 2012/13.

Resolved that:

The proposed schedule of dates attached to the report, based on the new structure of the Authority (agreed earlier on the Agenda), be approved.

To consider report CFO/061/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the payments made to Members in respect of allowances during the financial year 2012/13.

Members considered Report CFO/061/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning payments made to Members in respect of allowances during the financial year 2013/14.

Resolved that:

(a)    the content of the report be noted.

(b)    the appendix showing the details of Councillor’s expenses for 2012/13 be published on the Authority’s website.

To consider the attached report CFO/067/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2013/14.

Members considered Report CFO/067/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning a review of the current Members’ Allowance Scheme.

Resolved that:

(a)    the Authority approve the Scheme of Members Allowances, to be revised in line with the new structure (Report CFO/058/13 approved by the Authority earlier in the meeting); and

(b)    the Authority approve a freeze of the current Members allowances and reject the 1% increase in line with the Firefighters Pay; and

(c)    the appointment of an Independent Person, to be advertised locally and interviewed, in order to provide a service as and when required by the Localism Act 2011, be approved; and

(d)    the appointment of a co-opted Member; to be advertised locally and interviewed, to sit on the Performance and Scrutiny Committee in a non-voting capacity under the terms set out in the job role and responsibilities, be approved.

To consider the attached report CFO/062/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the Members to be responsible for answering questions in their respective Council on the discharge of the functions of the Fire and Rescue Authority.

Members considered Report CFO/062/13 of the Clerk to the Authority requesting the Authority to nominate Members of the Authority from each of the five constituent District Councils as the Member responsible for answering questions in their councils on the discharge of the functions of the Authority.

Resolved that:

(a)    one Member from each District be appointed to answer questions on the discharge of functions, to ensure that accurate and consistent information is passed on; and

(b)    the following Members be appointed to perform this role for 2013/14 on behalf of the Authority:

Liverpool:         Councillor Dave Hanratty

Knowsley:        Councillor Tony Newman

Sefton:Councillor Les Byrom

Wirral:              Councillor Denise Roberts

St Helens:        Councillor Linda Maloney

To consider the attached report CFO/063/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the outside organisations to which the Authority is currently affiliated and to request, where appropriate, confirmation of continuing affiliation for 2013/14 and the appointment of representatives to those organisations.

Members considered Report CFO/063/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning appointments to outside organisations for 2013/14.

Resolved that:

(a)    the Authority continue affiliation with the organisations specified within the report; and

(b)    the following Members be appointed to outside organisations:

Local Government Association:    Cllrs Dave Hanratty, Linda Maloney, and Les Byrom

North West Employers:                   Cllr Roy Gladden

National Joint Council:                   Cllr Dave Hanratty

North West Partnership Board:      Cllrs Dave Hanratty, Linda Maloney, Andrew Blackburn

Association of Metropolitan Fire

and Rescue Authorities:                 Cllrs Dave Hanratty and Linda Maloney

Local Authorities Confronting

Disaster and Emergencies:            Cllr Ted Grannell

Merseyside Brussels Office:          Cllr Steve Niblock

(c)    the position of Trustee and Member of the Fire Support Network (FSN) be confirmed by the Chair of the Authority when he has had the opportunity to contact FSN.

To consider the attached report CFO/065/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the draft list of approved conferences and outside meetings and any revisions to the list that the Authority wish to make.

Members considered Report CFO/065/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the approved list of conferences and outside meetings, and any revisions to the list.

Resolved that:

The draft list of conferences attached to the report be approved.

To consider the attached report CFO/064/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the possible attendance of Members at meetings held at the location of party political conferences, in order to make Authority related representations in line with the Members Scheme of Allowances.

Members considered Report CFO/064/13 of the Clerk to the Authority concerning the possible attendance of Members at party political conferences in order to make Authority related representations.

Resolved that:

(a)    appropriate representatives of the political groups of the Authority be authorised to attend meetings with Ministers, Oppositions Spokespersons and other relevant national politicians to be held at the location of their own party political conferences to discuss issues relating to the business of the Authority; and

(b)    appropriate travel and subsistence expenses for such meetings be met but no payment of conference fees be made; and

(c)    Members report back to the Authority regarding issues raised and responses, and progress on information received.