The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington was scheduled to meet on 20 June 2025 to discuss committee membership, a review of the constitution, representation on other bodies, and other business. The meeting was to be held at the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters.

The report pack includes a report on the consultation results for the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2025, and requests its approval. The report pack also contains updates on pay awards, member induction, and other items.

Here's a more detailed look at the topics that were scheduled to be discussed:

Community Risk Management Plan 2025-2028

The report pack included the results of the consultation on the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) for 2025-2028, and sought its approval. The CRMP consultation took place between 19 February 2025 and 14 May 2025. The report stated that the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework document places a legal responsibility on all fire and rescue authorities to produce and consult on their CRMP. The report stated that the consultation was promoted extensively, including:

• publishing the CRMP document and an explanatory booklet on the website
• issuing a press release
• sending information to a range of partner organisations
• presenting to Durham County Council's Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• consulting with the Senior Command teams of neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services and the Police and Crime Commissioner
• in-person engagement at car washes and open days
• promotion on social media, reaching 660,000 views

The consultation asked for feedback on 5 key areas:

• Investing in communities
• Investing in people
• Investing in the on-call firefighter response
• Investing in the future

The report noted that there were 1,491 electronic survey responses, and included a heat map of responses by postcode, showing a low level of responses in the Barnard Castle area. The report also included demographic information on the respondents, including gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and disability. The report also included a number of comments from respondents, including one from Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, who stated that she fully supported the partnership approach and the opportunity to join up work as there are clear alignments with her own recently published Police Crime and Justice Plan. The report recommended that members approve the CRMP for 2025-2028.

Review of the Constitution

The report pack included a report seeking approval for proposed amendments to the Combined Fire Authority's Constitution. The proposed changes included:

• Section 7, Scheme of Delegation to Officers: Amending the delegated authority of the Chief Fire Officer regarding special severance payments, following a change to the guidance on the making and disclosure of special severance payments by local authorities published in May 2022. The amended wording stated that the Chief Fire Officer would be authorised:

  (ix) To approve officer severance payments of £20,000 and above, but below £100,000, in consultation with the Chair of the CFA and the Treasurer. (x) To authorise severance packages up to a financial limit of £20,000

• Section 8, Point 11 - Voting: Amending the mode of voting at meetings of the Authority to ensure an efficient and effective method of recording named votes is in place. The amended wording stated:

  Unless this Constitution provides otherwise, any matter will be decided by a simple majority of those members voting and present in the room at the time the question was put. If there are equal numbers of votes for and against, the Chair will have a second or casting vote. There will be no restriction on how the Chair chooses to exercise a casting vote. If five members present at the meeting of the CFA request it, the names for and against the motion or amendment or abstaining from voting will be taken down in writing and entered into the minutes. When any member requests it immediately after the vote is taken, their vote will be so recorded in the minutes to show whether they voted for or against the motion or abstained from voting.

• Section 8, Point 14 – Attendance of Substitutes: Limiting the provision of substitutes for subcommittee meetings to CFA members only.

• Section 12 – Contract Procurement Rules: Revising the Contract Procedure Rules to ensure that they reflect the up-to-date legislative regime, following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023.

• Section 14 – Financial Regulations: Making changes to terminology, clarifying responsibilities of the Chief Fire Officer and Treasurer, and adding the term Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) alongside the revenue budget for clarity.

• Section 18 – Raising Concerns at Work Procedure: Updating this section of the Constitution in line with the Service procedure, which includes updated routes for employees to raise concerns as well as where to seek advice.

• Section 19 - Anti-Fraud, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption: Updating telephone numbers of key contacts named.

• Section 20 – Code of Conduct for Employees: Updating the Code of Conduct for employees following the introduction of the Core Code of Ethics and additional information regarding behaviours in the workplace.

The report recommended that the Authority approve the proposed changes to the Constitution to take immediate effect, and request that the Service publishes the amended Constitution on the website.

Appointment of Committee Membership

The report pack included a report seeking approval of the Committee Membership for the Authority for 2025/26. The report noted that the political membership of the Committees is determined by the overall political balance of the Authority, which is agreed in consultation with Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council. It also noted that all Committees must have a Member from Darlington and a Member from Durham. The Authority was scheduled to appoint Committee Members to the following committees, panels and other meetings:

• Appointments Panel
• Appeals Committee
• Audit and Finance Committee
• Human Resources Committee
• Performance Committee
• Joint Consultative Committee
• Pension Board
• Salary Review Group

The report recommended that members approve the Committee membership for 2025/26 as outlined in Appendix A for the Appointments Panel, Appeals Committee, Audit and Finance Committee, Human Resources Committee, and Performance Committee. It also recommended that members approve the membership for other panels for 2025/26 as outlined in Appendix B for the Joint Consultative Committee, Pension Board, and Salary Review Group.

Representation on Other Bodies 2025/26

The report pack included a report seeking agreement on the appointments process of Members of the Combined Fire Authority to the Other Bodies for 2025/26. The Authority was scheduled to agree at its annual meeting the appointments to the Other Bodies where the Authority is represented. Those Other Bodies are detailed in the table below:

The report recommended that members agree the appointments as set out in the table, authorise the Clerk to make appointments to the Other Bodies which the Authority are invited to nominate, and authorise the Clerk to make any changes to membership of the Other Bodies that may arise during 2025/26.

Member Champions

The report pack included a report setting out details of the Authority's Member Champion roles and seeking nominations for the individual roles for the forthcoming two-year period. The following Member Champion roles have been identified as bringing significant advantages to the Service and Authority:

• Community Risk Management
• People and Organisation Development
• Emergency Response
• Corporate Resources

The report recommended that CFA Members note the member champion role as set out in the report, note that the expression of interest form needs to be submitted by email by 30 June 2025, and note that the Fire Authority will approve the Member Champions at the Combined Fire Authority meeting on 15 July 2025.

Member Induction

The report pack included a report setting out the proposed arrangements for the Combined Fire Authority Member inductions. The Induction programme will be delivered through the issuing of relevant information and a series of presentations, as follows:

• Issue of Information Booklet, including online links to further reading.
• Introduction to the Service (face to face session)
• Opportunity for a more detailed overview session with your Member Buddy
• Subject and Committee specific sessions
• Local Government Association training

The report recommended that CFA Members note the arrangements for Member Induction.

Update on Pay Awards

The report pack included a report outlining the latest position in relation to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) pay claim (Grey Book) and updating members on the Green Book (Corporate Staff) claim and Gold Book (Senior Leadership Team) pay award for 2025. The report noted that the National Employers had made an offer of a 3.20% increase on all basic pay rates and Continual Professional Development payments with effect from 1 July 2025, to address the issue of Trainee rates of pay, by removing that rate from all National Joint Council (NJC) pay scales from 1 July 2025, a commitment to an on-going dialogue around Grey Book pay reform, and to improve the Grey Book provision around notice periods. The report also noted that the FBU ballot closed on 19 May 2025 with a turnout of 59%, and 82% in favour the offer was accepted. The report recommended that members note the pay award for grey and gold book staff, and note the position that green book pay remains unresolved.

Other Matters

The report pack also included:

• The minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2025
• Current Correspondence Report of Director of Emergency Response
• Notes of the Performance Committee held on 6 March 2025
• Notes of the Audit and Finance Committee held on 10 April 2025
• Local Government Association (LGA) Subscription Report of the Chief Fire Officer