Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority - Guide To Committees

Strategy and Resources Committee

The Strategy and Resources Committee is the principal decision-making Committee of the Authority. It has amongst its powers and duties, the delegated powers to determine new policies or changes in policy within the Service, to exercise financial control over expenditure within the approved revenue budgets and capital programme of the Authority and to manage and monitor organisational risks.

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The Committee meets every seven weeks but will also meet at any other time where the Chair has identified that there is an urgent requirement to do so. The Chair of the Committee, which has eight Members, is Councillor Dave Hanratty. Political composition is 3 Labour Group Members, 3 Liberal Democrats and 2 Conservatives.

Meetings of the Committee are usually open to members of the press and public except in cases where statutorily defined exempt and confidential items of business are being considered.

The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Dave Hanratty (Chair) - Labour
Councillor John George - Labour
Councillor Jimmy Mahon - Labour
Councillor Jack Colbert- Liberal Democrat
Councillor Andrew Blackburn- Liberal Democrat
Councillor Vera Best - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Gerry Ellis - Conservative
Councillor Lesley Rennie- Conservative

Community Safety and IRMP Committee

The Community Safety and IRMP (Integrated Risk Management Plan) Committee has responsibility for considering all issues related to community safety as well as to the Authority.

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The Committee meets every seven weeks. The Chair of the Committee, which also has eight Members, is Councillor Betty Lowe M.B.E. Political composition is 3 Labour Group Members, 3 Liberal Democrats and 2 Conservatives.

Meetings of this Committee are in practice almost always open to members of the press and public as items containing exempt or confidential information are rarely considered.

The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Betty Lowe (Chair) - Conservative
Councillor Ken Roughley - Conservative
Councillor Ted Grannell - Labour
Councillor Sharon Sullivan - Labour
Councillor Jack Colbert - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Karen Afford - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Steve Niblock - Liberal Democrat

Appeals Committee

The Appeals Committee considers and determines all of the disputes, grievances and appeals which arise from the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades.

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The Committee meets as and when it is required and as such meetings will by their nature disclose information of an exempt or confidential nature, members of the press and public will invariably be excluded from attending.

The Chair of the Committee, which has five Members, is Councillor Tony Newman. Political composition is 2 Labour Group Members, 2 Liberal Democrats and 1 Conservative.

The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Tony Newman (Chair) - Labour
Councillor Jimmy Mahon - Labour
Councillor Jimmy Kendrick - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Vera Best -Liberal Democrat
Councillor Ken Roughley - Conservative

Appointments Committee

The Appointments Committee has responsibility for making appointments to the Chief, Principal Officer and Director posts within the Authority by way of the formal shortlisting and interview process.

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The Committee meets when required and as with the Appeals Committee because of the nature of the meetings, members of the press and public are excluded from attending.

The Committee has five Members. Political composition is 2 Labour Group Members, 2 Liberal Democrat Members and 1 Conservative.

The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Tony Newman (Chair) - Labour
Councillor Jimmy Mahon - Labour
Councillor Jimmy Kendrick - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Vera Best - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Lesley Rennie - Conservative

Standards Committee

The Standards Committee has responsibility for overseeing the Code of Conduct for Members and to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by elected Members.

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The Committee meets as and when required and its meetings will be open to the press and public except where information of an exempt or confidential nature is likely to be disclosed.

The Committee has eight Members including two non political independent Members who are not Councillors. The Chair of the Committee is Carole Roberts who is one of the independent Members. Of the six elected Members, the composition is two from each of the three political parties represented on the Authority. The statutory requirement for political balance on Committees does not apply to the Standards Committee.

The Members of the Committee are:

Mrs. Carole Roberts (Chair) - Independent Member
Vice Chair To Be Announced
Councillor Dave Hanratty - Labour
Councillor Ted Grannell - Labour
Councillor Karen Afford - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Vera Best - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Martyn Barber - Conservative
Councillor Ken Roughley - Conservative

Management Board

The main function of the Management Board is to highlight to Members any forthcoming business. It provides a level of scrutiny for any reports due to be sent to future Authority Meetings and adds an extra analytical stage to the decision making process.

The elected Members on the Management Board are:

Councillor Tony Newman (Chair) - Labour
Councillor Jimmy Mahon - Labour
Councillor Eddie Clein - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Lesly Rennie - Conservative

Consultation and Negotiation Panel

The Consultation and Negotiation Panel has been created for the informal discussion of industrial relations issues, brought by either service Management or Staff side accredited representatives, where there is potential for a breakdown in the normal process of consultation or negotiation. The Panel has no decision making power but may make appropriate recommendations to the Policy and Finance Committee or the Authority.

The Panel which meets as and when required consists of three elected Members, one from each political group, and is chaired by Councillor Ted Grannell.

The elected Members on the Panel are:

Councillor Ted Grannell (Chair) - Labour
Councillor Jack Colbert - Liberal Democrat
Councillor Ken Roughley – Conservative

Performance and Audit Committee

The Performance and Audit Committee was introduced in 2008/09 to give Authority Members a dedicated opportunity to examine, discuss and approve all proposed Authority Plans, Statistical, Governance and other returns, prior to submission to Auditors and Publication.

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The Committee meets quarterly and consists of 5 Elected Members. The Chair of the Committee is Councillor Jimmy Kendrick and the Political Composition is 2 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrat and 1 Conservative.

The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Jimmy Kendrick (Chair) – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Steve Niblock – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Sharon Sullivan – Labour
Councillor John George – Labour
Councillor Martyn Barber – Conservative

Asset Management and Shared Services

The Asset Management and Shared Services Committee was also introduced this year, and aims to oversee all matters related to the delivery of the North West PFI project, matters related to the management of the Authority’s assets, and also our procurement strategy. It is an 8 member Committee, Chaired by Councillor Sharon Sullivan.

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The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Sharon Sullivan (Chair) – Labour
Councillor Ted Grannell – Labour
Councillor Tony Newman – Labour
Councillor Jack Colbert – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Steve Niblock – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Andrew Blackburn – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Gerry Ellis – Conservative
Councillor Lesley Rennie – Conservative

Stronger and Diverse Communities

The Stronger and Diverse Communities Committee is another new introduction in 2008/09, and its main function is to consider all matters related to the development, promotion and delivery of a coordinated strategy for developing and maintaining stronger communities. It is a 5 member Committee, Chaired by Councillor Karen Afford.

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The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Karen Afford (Chair) – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Vera Best – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Jimmy Mahon – Labour
Councillor Sharon Sullivan – Labour
Councillor Betty Lowe MBE – Conservative

Regional  Economic Development and Sustainability

This Committee is the fourth to have been introduced for 2008/09 and its primary function is to reflect the Mersey Region agenda, the relationship with North West Management Board Environmental Sustainability and European Issues. It is a 5 member Committee, Chaired by Councillor Steve Niblock.

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The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Steve Niblock (Chair) – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Karen Afford – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Dave Hanratty – Labour
Councillor John George – Labour
Councillor Martyn Barber - Conservative

North West Regional Control and FIReLink

This is the final addition to the Committee Structure for 2008/09, its purpose is to oversee and consider all matters related to the delivery and implementation of the Regional Control Project. It consists of 5 Members and is Chaired by Councillor Ken Roughley.

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The Members of the Committee are:

Councillor Ken Roughley (Chair) – Conservative
Councillor Sharon Sullivan – Labour
Councillor Ted Grannell – Labour
Councillor Steve Niblock – Liberal Democrat
Councillor Andrew Blackburn – Liberal Democrat

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