The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington was scheduled to meet on Monday 19 January 2026 to discuss a range of operational, financial, and strategic matters. Key topics included the evaluation of the 2025 Bonfire Campaign, the State of Fire Report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and updates from various committees and Member Champions.

State of Fire Report 2025

A significant item on the agenda was the State of Fire Report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) for 2025. This report, compiled from inspections between February 2023 and August 2025, provides an assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency, and people management within fire and rescue services across England. The report highlights areas of progress, such as improvements in prevention and protection work, and identifies persistent challenges including leadership, culture, and the on-call duty system. The report also details national recommendations for sector reform, some of which remain unaddressed. The Combined Fire Authority was scheduled to consider the implications of this report for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

Bonfire Campaign Evaluation 2025

The meeting was also set to review the Bonfire Campaign Evaluation 2025 . This report details the activities undertaken between 27 October and 10 November 2025, as part of a multi-agency effort involving Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council, Durham Constabulary, and Trading Standards. The campaign aimed to reduce risks associated with bonfires and the illegal sale of fireworks. The evaluation was scheduled to cover operational outcomes, educational sessions, communication efforts, and instances of violence against staff, comparing the 2025 period with previous years. Lessons learned from this evaluation were intended to inform the planning for the 2026 campaign.

Committee Notes and Member Champion Reports

The agenda included updates from various committees:

• Audit and Finance Committee: Notes from the meeting held on 27 November 2025 were to be presented, covering topics such as the draft Auditors Annual Report, the Audit Strategy Memorandum, the Internal Audit Charter, and the 2026/27 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan.
• Human Resources Committee: The notes from the meeting on 3 December 2025 were scheduled for review, including reports on sickness absence, health and safety performance, misconduct handling, staff survey outcomes, and employee relations.
• Performance Committee: The committee's notes from 9 December 2025 were to be discussed, featuring a performance report for Quarter Two 2025/26, letters of appreciation, and formal complaints received during that period.

Member Champion reports were also listed:

• Corporate Resources Member Champion Report: This report was to provide an overview of the work within the Corporate Resources Directorate, covering Estates and Facilities Management, Finance, and Digital, Data and Technology.
• Emergency Response Member Champion Report: This report was to detail the scope and impact of work within the Emergency Response Directorate, including ER Delivery, ER Resilience & Support, Fire Control, Health & Safety, and Business Continuity.

Current Correspondence

A Current Correspondence Report from the Director of Emergency Response was also scheduled for discussion, likely covering communications received from government and other relevant bodies.

The meeting was also due to consider notes from the Audit and Finance Committee, Human Resources Committee, and Performance Committee, as well as reports from the Member Champions for Corporate Resources and Emergency Response.

The full public reports pack for the meeting can be found here, and the agenda frontsheet is available here.