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:

• Agenda Item 12, Appendix A “Occupational Health Medical Services Contract” contains EXEMPT information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. 

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)  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 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.

The Chief Fire Officer advised Members that the third and final tranche of the HMICFRS Inspections had now concluded, with all 45 FRS’s now having been inspected. Members were informed that although a number of services, particularly those who participated in the pilot, fared well, Merseyside were the only FRS to achieve “outstanding” in 2 areas.

With regards to the State of the Nation’s Fire & Rescue Services Report, Members were informed that this was due to have been released, however with the General Election, this has now been put back; and is expected to be circulated in January.

Members commented that this is good news for MFRA; and that the Government should now be encouraged to move to the next stage, regarding the sharing of best practice and mentoring, to ensure that all FRS’s can be brought up to the same level.

Members also commented that the outcome of the inspections highlight that the position of MFRA around maintaining wholetime firefighters, is paying dividends.

Discussion took place around publicising the outcome and highlighting MFRA’s role in National Resilience. Members were advised that the focus at the moment is on the Tranche 3 report. However, the state of fire report is likely to give specific recognition to MFRA when it is issued; and as such, Members were advised that it would be more appropriate to wait until that report is issued, to publicise the outcome for MFRA.

A question was raised by Members as to the extent to which the inspections have been a benchmarking exercise. Members were advised that FRS’s have not been formally inspected for a number of years; and as such, the more robust inspection regime, will enable benchmarking. Members were advised that discussion has taken place around the next round of inspections, which are likely to follow the same format; and it was noted that this will enable direct comparison and benchmarking.

Members were informed that there will be some changes however, such as services may move tranches; and for MFRA, the Service Liaison Officer will change. However for MFRA, it will very much be normal business, with the Inspectorate being encouraged to come and see what we do.

Members were also informed that we will be benchmarking against ourselves; and that in the next round of inspections, we will hopefully have moved on with improvements observed. 

Discussion also took place around the potential inclusion of corporate governance in future inspections; and Members commented that this is something that the Authority would be open to.