At the start of the meeting, the Chair of the Authority thanked everyone for attending and welcomed any members of the press or public who were observing the proceedings.

The Chair of the Authority then introduced the meeting and provided all present with an overview of how this remote meeting would work and some housekeeping.

A roll call was then taken of all Members present, to confirm that they could hear and be heard; and that they could see and be seen.

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.

Members 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.

The Minutes of the previous meeting, held on 4^th June 2020, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous meeting, held on 4^th June 2020 were approved as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

To consider Report CFO/045/20 of the Treasurer, concerning the financial position, revenue and capital, for the Authority for 2020/21.  The Authority receives regular comprehensive financial reviews during the year which provide a full health check on the Authority’s finances.  This report covers the period April to June 2020.

Members considered Report CFO/045/20 of the Treasurer, concerning the financial position, revenue and capital, for the Authority for 2020/21.  The Authority receives regular comprehensive financial reviews during the year which provide a full health check on the Authority’s finances. This report covers the period April to June 2020.

Members were given a brief over view of the report, including the MFRA annual pay award assumption which has now been accepted and is 2.75% for green book staff and 2% for firefighters. 

Members were advised that the McCloud remedy assumptions cost to the employer would allow Firefighter Pension Scheme (FPS) members access to their legacy schemes and would be considered as part of the 2020 FPS actuarial review and would be reflected in Employer rates from 2023/24.        

The Home Office has issued guidance on 21 August 2020, informing Fire & Rescue Authorities (FRAs) that members of the FPS facing immediate detriment should be given the option to choose between their old scheme and the 2015 scheme.  This Home Office guidance also stipulated that any retrospective employer and employee contributions would have to be made good.  Members were informed that if the service implemented this guidance it may have significant financial implications over this and future years.   However, it has now been confirmed that the Home Office guidance was an informal guide and Fire & Rescue Services are now seeking clarification through the Local Government Association (LGA) FPS.  Until that clarification is available Members were told that no FRSs are acting on the Home Office guide.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority (MFRA) have identified the Smoothing Reserve, as currently £2m, in order to manage any risk from the McCloud case, as an in-year source of funding if any McCloud assumptions did not hold true. The current view is that the Smoothing Reserve can cover any costs associated with McCloud and the remedy in 2020/21, but the future funding of such costs will be considered as part of the 2021/22 budget process.

MRFA have assumed no Unplanned Growth in the budget, however the spread of COVID-19 has created unprecedented circumstances within which the Authority has had to respond to as follows:-

·         The anticipated financial impact in 2020/2021 is expected to be limited to a loss of commercial and other income (£0.5m) and additional expenditure on protective equipment, cleaning, ICT and other costs (£0.9m).

·         To date the Government has awarded the Authority £1.419m to cover the impact of the virus.

·         In addition, the Government has now made available further funds to cover loss of fees and charges income and the Service will be making a grant claim to cover some of the anticipated £0.5m income loss.

·         The current position is that the grant received to date should cover the loss of income and additional costs up to the end of 2020/2021.

Members were advised by the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) at the September Strategy Day, that the Service is looking at the possibility of building a new Training Centre. To do this the CFO and Strategic Leadership  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.