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)  Councillors Makinson and Roberts declarations that they are Councillors at Liverpool City Council.

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.

To consider report CFO/050/022 relating to the procurement of utilities.

Members considered a report of the Chief Fire Officer, Phil Garrigan relating to the procurement of utilities.

Councillor Makinson queried if the Authority paid Liverpool City Council any administration fees for providing Internal Audit services. Ian Cummins, Director of Finance and Procurement, confirmed that the Authority did not pay administration fees for these services.

With regards to the revenue underspend, Members were advised that any reserve underspend would contribute towards the build of the proposed Training and Development Academy.

Councillor Makinson asked what financial arrangements the Authority relied on Liverpool City Council for and was advised that the contract for supply of Gas was in place until March 2023.

In terms of treasury management, it was explained that although Liverpool City Council were involved, there were arrangements in place to outsource for any audits.

It was explained that the proposal was to seek a fixed price contract in order to protect the Authority budget and the Chief Fire Officer explained that if the Authority were to seek other providers, the Authority would need to remain on a variable rate during that period.

RESOLVED that:

a)    note the contents of the report;

b)    agree to continue procuring utilities via the Liverpool City Council (LCC) energy contract whilst awaiting the outcome of an independent review of arrangement and therefore, approve entering into the Crown Commercial Services framework for the period from 1st July 2022 (or, if possible, sooner) until the 31st March 2023;

c)    instruct officers to prepare a report on the alternative options available to the Authority for the future procurement of utilities from March 2023 onwards; and

i)     this report is to take into account the outcome of the LCC independent review into the Council’s management of its electricity contract of which MFRA are an interested and affected party, and

ii)    is to take into account the internal Audit report commissioned in response to this matter.