a)  Former Councillor and Fire and Rescue Authority member Vaughan Hopewell.

It was with sadness that the Chair informed the meeting that former Councillor and Fire and Rescue Authority member Vaughan Hopewell, had passed away on 18 June 2022. Vaughan was a popular Councillor and well-respected by all political groups, particularly for his dedication to communities and good sense of humour. The sympathies of the Chair and members of the Authority are extended to his family, friends and colleagues.

Those in attendance respected a minute’s silence in memory of Vaughan Hopewell.

b)  Heat Wave and High Service Demand.

The extreme heat of the past few days and heightened emergency response demands on the Service has emphasised the valuable service provided. Some fires are suspected to have been deliberately set and there have even been incidents of firefighters being attacked whilst attending, which is absolutely outrageous. Fire and Rescue Service employees undertake heroic work, particularly on the front line with the requirement to wear protective kit and equipment during a 40°C heat wave whilst fighting fires. Control Room staff were also extremely busy and worked exceedingly hard.

Action: The Chair expressed thanks and gratitude on behalf of the whole Authority and requested that the Chief Fire Officer ensure that staff receive a formal acknowledgement appreciating the outstanding and valuable work they undertake, particularly in such challenging circumstances.

c)  New Joint Service Headquarters Official Opening.

The official opening of the new Joint Service Headquarters is scheduled for Thursday 28 July 2022, the details of which have been circulated to members.

d)  New Incident Command Training Suite.

A new Incident Command Training Suite has been established at Mansfield Fire Station as just one element of Service improvement. An opening date is yet to be confirmed.

e)  Reform White Paper Consultation.

Members of the Authority are reminded that the Reform White Paper Consultation closes on 26 July 2022, so there is still time if members wish to respond as individuals.

f)  HMICFRS Inspection report.

Following Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection at the end of 2021, the formal report will be issued on 27^th of July 2022 and will be circulated to members.

g)  The National Joint Council Pay Award.

The National Joint Council has proposed a pay award of 2%, on which Trade’s Unions have consulted members, and unsurprisingly it has been rejected. It is too early to gauge the impact on the Service, but resilience planning is in process.

Members of the Authority commented;

h)  the national pay offer is out of the control of the Authority, but it would not be unreasonable to place on record that members feel that the offer of 2% in current circumstances of significant rises of inflation and the cost of living is unacceptable. Industrial action is not wanted, so this situation needs to be resolved;

The Chair responded that whilst in London he had been making the exact same point to the interim Secretary of State who had indicated that they did understand the issues around pay and that recommendations would be put forward that suggested something is done. Frustration is understood, especially coming from the public sector, but employees and employers need to come together in discussion;

i)  it is noted that the military is no longer available to provide cover as it had in previous disputes.

j)  a 2% pay offer is disrespectful, particularly following the national appreciation of our emergency services during the height of the pandemic. It’s not surprising that firefighters feel undervalued and it’s a concern that this will impact on staff morale. The Service needs to be properly funded;   

The Chief Fire Officer added that the Service still has the ability to request military assistance, although this was usually related to national incidents such as flooding, as the military firefighting appliances no longer exist. Business continuity arrangements are in place should firefighters withdraw their service, but service would be at a significantly reduced capacity. The Fire Chiefs Council is lobbying Central Government and urging caution as firefighters understandably feel undervalued in their role.