Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are reminded that the Members’ Code of Conduct requires the disclosure of Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Non-Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Disclosable Non- Pecuniary Interests.

There were no declarations of Members’ Interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16^th November 2020.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Brigade Managers’ Pay and Performance Committee held on 16^th November 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: That:

That under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Order 2006, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business listed below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A to the Act in the paragraphs indicated:

Item 3 – 2021 Brigade Manager Remuneration Review

Paragraph 1 – Information relating to an individual 

Report of the Authority’s HR Consultant

The Independent HR consultant presented his report to Members which provided details of the process to be followed regarding the 2021 Brigade Manager Remuneration Review.

The Independent HR consultant informed Members that there was a contractual requirement to review the remuneration arrangements of the Chief Executive/Head of Paid Service in the role of ‘Chief Fire Officer’ and of the Principal Officers (Brigade Managers) under the two track approach to pay and conditions, defined in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the ‘NJC for Brigade Managers of Local Fire and Rescue Services; Constitution and Schemes and Conditions of Service’ (the Gold Book). 

Members had previously agreed to review remuneration levels of Brigade Managers annually to ensure that the packages reflected current market factors and were set at a fair and appropriate rate.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       having considered the salaries of the Principal Officers and recruitment and retention challenges of combined fire authorities across the country, that the base salary of the Principal Officer roles be increased by 3% with effect from 1^st January 2021; and

[2]       under the two track approach, no additional local award be made to increase base salaries for 2021.

Note:

The Principal Officers were grateful for the award but agreed with the elected Members that all public sector workers deserved a pay rise. Consequently, all of the Principal Officers confirmed that they would not receive the pay award until firefighters and fire staff also received a pay award. They decided to donate the additional money due by virtue of the award to the following charities:-

-       CFO Mark Cashin - half to the Firefighters Charity and half to Cheshire Women’s Aid Organisations

-       ACFO Gus O’Rourke - all to the Firefighters Charity

-       ACFO Alex Waller - half to the Firefighter Charity and half to Prostate Cancer Research.