The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington met on Thursday 30 July 2026 to discuss a range of matters, including updates on pay awards, the appointment of committee chairs and members, and the establishment of member champion roles. The meeting also included discussions on the Member Buddy System and affiliations with fire stations.

Update on Pay Awards

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on pay awards for various staff groups within the fire and rescue service. This included information on the agreed pay award for Grey Book staff, which covers firefighters and control staff, and Gold Book staff, which relates to senior leadership. The report indicated that the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services had agreed a 3.8% increase for these groups, effective from 1 July 2026. Discussions were ongoing regarding the pay claim for Green Book staff, which covers corporate employees, with the national position remaining unresolved at the time of the meeting. The financial implications of these pay awards were also to be discussed, with the approved revenue budget for 2026/27 including provision for pay inflation.

Appointment of Chairs and Committees

A report from the Clerk to the Authority was scheduled to outline the committee membership for the upcoming year, 2026/27. The meeting was expected to consider the appointment of Chairs for several committees, including the Appeals Committee, Audit, Finance and Governance Committee, Pension Board, and Performance Committee. Additionally, the Authority was to consider the appointment of the Chair of the Authority as Chair to the Appointments Panel, Salary Review Group, and Joint Consultative Committee, in accordance with the Authority's constitution. The Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair, was to be authorised to make any necessary changes to committee memberships throughout the year.

Member Champion Roles

The Director of People and Organisational Development was scheduled to present details of the appointed Member Champion roles for the forthcoming year. These roles are designed to foster closer working relationships between Members of the Authority and specific areas of the Service's work, aiming to develop services and engage with stakeholders. The report was expected to list the Member Champions for various areas, including Community Risk Management, People and Organisational Development, Emergency Response, and Corporate Resources, along with their designated Officer contacts.

Member Buddy System and Fire Station Affiliations

The meeting was also set to consider the Service Leadership Team (SLT) member 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 arrangements to be made in advance to ensure crews are available. The 'Member Buddies' are intended to provide information and support to Members on a range of Service policy and organisational issues, with SLT members making themselves available to enhance Members' knowledge of the fire and rescue service. The report was expected to present the updated lists for both Member Buddies and station affiliations.