The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington were scheduled to meet to discuss the Community Risk Management Plan, Local Government Legislation Subscription, and Pay Awards, alongside other internal matters. The meeting was due to take place at the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters. Councillors were also expected to discuss items that were exempt from the public.

Community Risk Management Plan 2025 Consultation Results

The Chief Fire Officer was scheduled to present the results of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) consultation, which took place between 19 February 2025 and 14 May 2025. The consultation was based around five questions relating to investment with partner agencies, reducing the impact of deliberate fires, improving the on-call response model, and investing in buildings, equipment and technology.

According to the report pack, there were 1,491 responses to the consultation.

• 99.21% of respondents agreed with the statement: We will invest further with partner agencies to increase our access to people vulnerable from fire and other emergencies.
• 99.03% of respondents agreed with the statement: We aim to reduce the impact that deliberate fires have on our communities through targeted interventions and prevention activity.
• 99.52% of respondents agreed with the statement: We are committed to continually improving our on-call response model.
• 98.83% of respondents agreed with the statement: To meet the challenges of the future and reduce our impact on the environment we will invest in our buildings, equipment and technology.

The report pack indicates that Councillor Andrew Anderson had previously queried progress with the Data Sharing Agreement with Darlington Borough Council, and Councillor Richard Bell had questioned the numbers of responses from outside areas such as Cleveland and Middlesbrough. Councillor Bell also questioned the low response rate from Barnard Castle.

Local Government Legislation (LGA) Subscription

The Chief Fire Officer was scheduled to provide details of the LGA subscription for 2025/26. The Local Government Association (LGA) is a national membership body for local authorities. According to the report pack, the LGA:

lobbies on behalf of local authorities on many issues that affect the sector as a whole and works with councils and fire authorities to develop new approaches to improvement and innovation.

The overall membership fee for 2025/26 is £7,337 (plus VAT).

Update on Pay Awards

The Chief Fire Officer was scheduled to provide an update on the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) pay claim (Grey Book¹) and update members on the Green Book² (Corporate Staff) claim and Gold Book³ (Senior Leadership Team) pay award for 2025.

Other Items

The agenda included:

• Declarations of interest.
• Minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2025.
• Current Correspondence Report of Director of Emergency Response.
• Appointment of Committee Membership Report of the Clerk to the Authority.
• Member Champions - Report of the Director of People and Organisational Development.
• Member Buddy System and Affiliation with Fire Stations - Report of the Director of People and Organisational Development.
• Any urgent business.
• Any resolution relating to the exclusion of the public during the discussion of items containing exempt information.

Part B of the agenda concerned items during which it was considered the meeting would not be open to the public, including any urgent business.