To consider a report relating to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Membership and Structure of the Authority, update (CFO/67/24).

Monitoring Officer Ria Groves presented the Membership and Structure of the Authority report.. Members were advised that Councillor Christopher Page had been appointed to the Authority by Sefton Council.

With regards to the structure of the Authority, it was proposed that Councillor Page would be appointed to the Community Safety and Protection Committee, in replacement of his predecessor.

It was also proposed Councillor Page be appointed on the Audit Committee with Councillor Finneran being transitioned from the Audit Committee to the Scrutiny Committee.

Additionally, it was recommended that Councillor Christopher Page be appointed as Chair of the Local Pension Board without any additional responsibility allowance.

Further to Councillor Linda Maloney’s passing Ria Groves advised Members that a vacancy from St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council district remained. Members were advised that it was hopeful that an update on who would be replacing Cllr Maloney could be presented to Members at the next Community Safety and Protection Committee on 30th January 2025.

Additionally, Ria Groves proposed Councillor Jeanie Bell to be the representative to answer any questions on discharge of functions for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority on behalf of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, a role previously provided by Councillor Maloney.

Members were reminded of a previous report regarding the recruitment of a second Independent Person to work alongside Mr Anthony Boyle, who had been serving as both a Co-opted Member and Independent Person.

Following the approval of the advert from the Authority for an Independent Person, and a successful recruitment process, Ria Groves proposed to seek Member approval to appoint Mr Gary Wormald.

Members were advised that due to Mr. Anthony Boyle’s long-standing role within the Authority, it was proposed to relieve him of his independent person duties and that his role would be solely as a Co-opted Member of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee. It was explained that this adjustment would allow the Authority to appoint one Independent Person and that MFRA would continue to work with local authorities to create a pool of Independent Persons, if required.

Councillor Les Byrom determined that  Councillor Edna Finneran is to assume the position of Chair of the Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Byrom additionally extended his gratitude to Mr. Anthony Boyle for his contributions to the Authority and welcomed his transition to being a sole Co-opted Member.

RESOLVED that;

a)        the changes to the membership including the appointment of Councillor Christopher Page to the Authority be noted;

b)        the appointment of Councillor Page to the Community and Protection Committee and Audit Committee and the appointment of Councillor Finneran to the Scrutiny Committee (moving from the Audit Committee be approved);

c)         the appointment of Councillor Page to Chair of the Local Pension Board be approved;

d)        the nomination for the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee be determined which was confirmed as Councillor Edna Finneran;

e)        the change in the nominated Councillor to Councillor Bell for the questions on the discharge of functions for St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council be approved; and

f)         the appointment of the Independent Person Gary Wormald and the termination of the combined role of Mr Anthony Boyle as Co-opted Member and Independent Person be approved and that Mr Anthony Boyle remain as the Co-opted Member of the Audit and Scrutiny Committees only, be approved.