The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington is scheduled to meet on Thursday 30 July 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on current correspondence, the appointment of chairs and committees, and updates on pay awards. Additionally, there will be reports on the Member Champion roles and the Member Buddy System, which aims to foster closer links between councillors, fire stations, and senior leadership.

Current Correspondence

The meeting will consider a report from the Director of Emergency Response detailing current correspondence received from government and other bodies relevant to the Authority between March and June 2026. This report is expected to provide an update on various matters impacting the fire service.

Appointment of Chairs and Committees

A report from the Clerk to the Authority will be presented, outlining the proposed committee membership for the upcoming year, 2026/27. The Authority is expected to appoint Chairs for several committees, including the Appeals Committee, Audit, Finance and Governance Committee, Pension Board, and Performance Committee. In accordance with the Authority's constitution, the Chair of the Authority will also be appointed as Chair to the Appointments Panel, Salary Review Group, and the Joint Consultative Committee. The report also seeks agreement for the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Authority and relevant Group Leaders, to be authorised to make any necessary changes to committee memberships throughout the year.

Member Champion Roles

The Director of People and Organisational Development will present a report detailing the appointed Member Champion roles for 2026/27. These roles are designed to allow individual councillors to work closely with specific areas of the Service, fostering development and engagement with stakeholders, local communities, staff, and other councillors. The report will list the Member Champions, their designated areas, and the corresponding Officer contacts who will assist them.

Member Buddy System and Fire Station Affiliation

A report from the Director of People and Organisational Development will confirm the Service Leadership Team (SLT) contacts for the Member 'Buddy' arrangements and the fire station affiliation list. This system aims to create closer links between Members, local fire stations, and staff, improving communication and understanding of roles and responsibilities. Members are encouraged to visit their affiliated stations, with a request to contact a member of the Divisional Management Team beforehand to ensure crews are available. The 'Member Buddies' will provide SLT support to Members on a range of Service policy and organisational issues, helping them develop their knowledge of the fire and rescue service.

Update on Pay Awards

The Chief Fire Officer will provide an update on pay awards for 2026. This includes information on the agreed pay award for Grey Book staff (firefighters) and Gold Book staff (senior leadership team), both of which include a 3.8% increase effective from 1 July 2026. The report will also note that the pay claim for Green Book staff (corporate staff) remains unresolved, with ongoing discussions and potential ballots taking place over the summer. The financial implications of these pay awards, including any impact on the Authority's revenue budget, will also be outlined.