The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington met to discuss proposed amendments to the Authority's Constitution, including changes to committee structures and meeting frequency. The meeting also covered the Community Risk Management Plan 2026 consultation results and plans for a new gas hot fire training facility.

Review of the Constitution

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a review of the Combined Fire Authority's Constitution. The report proposed several amendments aimed at modernising governance arrangements and increasing efficiency.

Key proposed changes included:

• Reduction in the number of Fire Authority meetings: It was proposed to reduce the number of full Authority meetings from seven to five per municipal year, with an annual review of this schedule.
• Review of Committee Structure: The report recommended the removal of the Human Resources Committee, with its functions to be redistributed to the Audit and Finance Committee, which would be renamed the Audit, Finance and Governance Committee. The Performance Committee would regain responsibility for monitoring key performance indicators related to sickness, health and safety, and training.
• Amendments to the Audit, Finance and Governance Committee: In addition to absorbing the Human Resources Committee's functions, the committee's delegations would be expanded to include supervision of the investigation and determination of complaints of breach of the Authority's Code of Conduct for Members, and ensuring Members are adequately trained in their obligations under the Code of Conduct.
• Amendments to the Appointments Panel Delegations: The panel's delegated responsibility would be limited solely to the appointment of Principal Officers, rather than including Directors.
• Attendance of Substitutes: The Constitution would be amended to remove the ability for substitute members to attend, speak, or vote at meetings of the Full Combined Fire Authority. Substitutes would still be permitted at committee and sub-committee meetings, provided they are from the same political group and constituent authority.
• Public Participation: A new provision was proposed to allow members of the public to submit questions in advance of open meetings of the full Authority.
• Financial Regulations: A delegated approval limit for the write-off of debts below £1,000 by the Head of Financial Services was proposed, to increase the speed of processing routine write-offs.

The Authority was requested to agree to these proposed changes to the Constitution and Procedure for Local Assessment of Complains.

Community Risk Management Plan 2026 Consultation Results

The meeting considered the results of the consultation on the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) for 2026-2030. The consultation, which ran from 18 February to 18 May 2026, received over 2,000 full responses.

The report indicated strong support for the proposed approaches:

• Emergency Response: 96.50% of respondents supported the approach to delivering a stronger, more resilient emergency response.
• Collaboration: 88.72% of respondents considered collaboration with other organisations to be very important for improving efficiency and effectiveness.
• Deliberate Fires: 98.34% of respondents supported the approach to minimise the impact of deliberate fires on communities.
• Workforce Health, Safety and Wellbeing: 88.72% of respondents considered investing in the health, safety, and wellbeing of the workforce to be very important.

The report also included detailed demographic data from respondents and feedback from partner organisations, including the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Durham County Council, the Fire Brigades Union, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, and Cleveland Fire Brigade. The Authority was asked to approve the CRMP for 2026-2030.

Proposal for a New Gas Hot Fire Training Facility

A report was presented outlining a proposal to construct a new gas-powered hot fire training facility at the Service Training Centre (STC). The current Hydra Minerva training facility has exceeded its operational lifespan and is incurring increasing maintenance costs and operational risks.

The preferred option is a multi-level, containerised fire training simulator, broadly similar to a smaller version of the current facility. This new facility is expected to offer several strategic benefits:

• Welfare of Training Staff: A cleaner, more controlled environment would significantly reduce exposure to harmful by-products, improving working conditions for instructors.
• Contamination Reduction: The gas facility would generate fewer particulates and toxic by-products, reducing long-term health risks and decontamination costs.
• Training Quality and Flexibility: The purpose-built environment would support a wider range of operational and specialist training courses, enhancing learning outcomes.
• Capacity and Income Generation: The new facility is projected to increase training capacity by approximately 200 days per annum, potentially generating up to £200,000 in additional income annually for Vital Fire Solutions (VFS).

The estimated capital cost for the scheme is £721,600. The report indicated that the investment would be cost-neutral on the revenue budget initially, with an increasing surplus from year six onwards, due to anticipated savings in maintenance, PPE decontamination, and potential staff efficiencies. The Authority was asked to approve the development of the facility, the capital investment, and amendments to the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

Other Scheduled Business

The meeting agenda also included several other items for discussion:

• Chief Fire Officer's Commendation: Acknowledging outstanding service.
• Appointment of Chair and Opposition Group Leader: Formal procedural appointments.
• Appointment of Committee Membership: Proposals for the composition of various committees and panels for the 2026/27 period, taking into account proposed changes to the committee structure.
• Representation on Other Bodies: Agreement on appointments to external organisations such as the Local Government Association (LGA), Community Interest Company, and Vital Fire Solutions Ltd.
• Member Champions: Nominations were sought for vacant Member Champion roles, specifically for People and Organisational Development, to support specific areas of the Service's work.
• Member Induction: Proposed arrangements for new and existing members to receive induction and ongoing development.
• Minutes of Previous Meetings: Review and approval of minutes from various committees, including the Human Resources Committee, Performance Committee, Audit and Finance Committee, and the Local Pension Board.
• Current Correspondence: An update on correspondence received from government and other relevant bodies.
• Local Government Association (LGA) Subscription: A decision was requested regarding the LGA subscription for 2026/27, with a proposed fee of £7,485 plus VAT.
• Annual Plan 2026/2027: Presentation and approval of the Service's delivery plan for the forthcoming year, outlining key priorities and projects.

Part B of the agenda included items for which the public would be excluded due to the potential discussion of exempt or confidential information, including the appointment of a Director.