The Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel met on Wednesday 12 August 2026. The agenda included a discussion on the appointment of a Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities and a review of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's Annual Assurance Declaration for 2025-2026. The date of the next meeting was also noted.

Appointment of Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities

A report was presented regarding the proposed appointment of a Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities. This role, responsible for policing, fire and rescue, crime reduction, and criminal justice functions, is a mandatory appointment for the Mayor of Greater Manchester following changes to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, as amended by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026. The report detailed the procedures for the confirmation hearing, the qualifications of the candidate, and the terms of employment. The report recommended that the Panel note the process, consider the proposed appointment following the confirmation hearing, and submit a report to the Mayor with a recommendation on whether the candidate should be appointed. The candidate, Kate Green, who had served as Deputy Mayor since January 2023, was nominated by the Mayor, Bev Craig. The report outlined Ms. Green's extensive experience in policing, fire and rescue, and criminal justice, both nationally and at a Greater Manchester level, her ability to work at a senior executive level, and her skills in influencing policy and engaging with partners and the public. The salary for the role was stated as £98,786.

GMFRS Annual Assurance Declaration 2025-2026

The Panel was to review the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's (GMFRS) Annual Statement of Assurance for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. This document, prepared in line with the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England, outlines the governance, financial, and operational arrangements in place. The report detailed GMFRS's commitment to operational assurance, including its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), which is underpinned by a Strategic Assessment of Risk (SAoR), Fire Plan, and Annual Delivery Plan. It also covered prevention and protection activities, financial assurance through robust governance and audit processes, and workforce development. The statement highlighted GMFRS's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, its wellbeing programmes, and its operational training and health and safety initiatives. The report noted that the Annual Statement of Assurance had been endorsed by the Service Leadership Team, the Deputy Mayor, and formally approved by Mayor Paul Dennett on 29 July 2026.

Date of Next Meeting

The Panel was informed that the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 16 September 2026.