Employers Secretary, Sarah Messenger Local Government House, Smith Square London, SW1P 3HZ Telephone 020 7187 7373 Fax 020 7664 3030 e-mail: firequeries@lge.gov.uk Staff Side Secretary, John Bonney Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9SJ Telephone 02380 626830 NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL FOR BRIGADE MANAGERS OF LOCAL AUTHORITY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES To: Chief Executives/Clerks to Fire Authorities Chief Fire Officers Chairs of Fire Authorities Directors of Human Resources Members of the National Joint Council Date?? Dear Sir/Madam 1. The NJC has agreed a revised version of the Scheme of Conditions of Service (Gold Book) including guidance on local salary structures and appraisal. 2. A copy of the new fifth edition is enclosed. 3. A breakdown of the changes is attached as Appendix A. 4. Authorities will also wish to be aware of a number of issues arising as a result of this review. Allowances and expenses 5. The paragraphs relating to expenses and allowances have been deleted and now fall under paragraph 26 Application of other terms and conditions which defines that in matters not covered by the Gold Book principal fire officers should be treated no less favourably than under those relevant terms and conditions for an Area Manager under the Scheme of Conditions of Service of the NJC for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (Grey Book). 6. As the Grey Book refers to reimbursement upon production of receipts or a locally agreed allowance, authorities should ensure that appropriate arrangements are put in place. 7. In respect of removal expenses, the Grey Book provision relates to compulsory relocation only. Authorities are reminded that under the terms of the previous edition of the Gold Book the provision for principal fire officers extended to approved cost of removal on securing an appointment with a different authority. Authorities should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to deal with voluntary moves.
8. On the matter of car allowances, authorities are reminded that under the terms of the previous edition a principal fire officer could alternatively be provided with an appropriate car. As this is not an option under the Grey Book authorities will need to ensure they have a policy in place which defines appropriate car usage arrangements to be implemented at local level. 9. Paragraph 12 relating to an authority s discretion to grant an additional payment has been deleted. Authorities are therefore reminded of the need to consider appropriate local arrangements. Minimum salaries for Chief Fire Officers 10. The previous edition of the Gold Book contained a provision that defined the minimum salary of a Chief Fire Officer as 47% above that of the basic salary of a competent Area Manager B, plus the flexible duty supplement, under the NJC for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services. That provision has been removed. 11. However, the following arrangements will apply to population bands 1 and 2 only. These arrangements will be subject to review (insert date - dependent upon date of end of agreement) The minimum salary level of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer (or equivalent title) will be set at 12.5% above that of the basic salary of a competent Area Manager B, plus the flexible duty supplement, under the NJC for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services The minimum salary level of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (or equivalent title) will be set at 7.5% above that of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer. The minimum salary level of the Chief Fire Officer (or equivalent title) will be set at 22.5% above that of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer. Minimum salaries for deputy and assistant chief officers 12. The previous edition of the Gold Book contained a provision that defined the minimum salaries as not less than 80% and 75% respectively. That provision has been removed. 13. The following should be considered in addition to paragraph 10 above. In considering the salary levels of the principal officer group as a whole authorities will need to be mindful of justifiable differences in the pay levels of individual managers. Differences will be justified on a number of grounds including: Range and responsibility of role e.g. having a deputising role Performance Recruitment and retention difficulties
14. In conducting such a review an authority will wish to ensure it has a range of salaries with appropriate relativities between brigade manager posts. Order process 15. A CD-Rom version of the new fifth edition of the Scheme of Conditions of Service can be obtained from the Local Government Employers. An order form is attached (Appendix B). Yours faithfully, SARAH MESSSENGER JOHN BONNEY Joint Secretaries
APPENDIX A BREAKDOWN OF CHANGES FOURTH EDITION Title FIFTH EDITION Amended to National Joint Council for Brigade Managers of Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services Constitution Title - Para 1 Scope paragraph 2 Constitution paragraphs 3 to 5 Functions paragraph 6 Paragraph 1 - title of organisation amended Paragraph 2 - amended to reflect brigade managers and clarify NJC covers only those on employed on its conditions. Heading changed from constitution to membership. Paragraphs 4 to 6 - includes increase in the Employers Side representation to 14, introduction of smaller negotiating group. Moves to paragraph 3 and renamed Object. Committees paragraph 7 Moves to paragraph 14. Co-opted members paragraph 8 Chair and Vice Chair paragraph 9 Officers- paragraph 10 Moves to paragraph 15 and renamed Advisers. Moves to paragraph 16, additional reference to alternating chair Moves to paragraph 17, mechanism clarified. Meetings paragraph 11 Moves to paragraph 18. Voting paragraph 12 Quorum paragraphs 13 and 14 Moves to paragraph 19, wording simplified Moves to paragraphs 20 and expanded to include new negotiating group. Notices of meetings paragraph 15 Moves to paragraph 21. Settlement of differences paragraphs 16 and 17 Moves to paragraphs 23 and 24, amended from unilateral to bilateral reference. Minutes paragraph 18 Moves to paragraph 22. Provision within 21 days deleted. Amendment to the constitution paragraph 19 Amendment to the constitution paragraph 20 Moves to paragraph 25, process simplified. Incorporated into new section called Changes in composition of the staff side - paragraphs 7 to 13
Status Paragraph 1 Replaced by new paragraphs 1 to 3- definition of employees who fall within the remit of the NJC, assimilation to the Brigade Manager role, selection arrangements Wholetime service Paragraph 2 Wording simplified and moved to Paragraph 7 Advice to political groups Paragraph 3 Wording simplified and moved to paragraph 8. Salaries of chief fire officers, officers in metropolitan and combined fire authorities, deputy chief fire officers, assistant chief fire officers, minimum salaries for deputy and assistant chief fire officers, additional payments Paragraphs 4 to 9 Replaced by new paragraphs 9 to 12 plus guidance on local salary structures (Appendix A). In addition, authorities will need to be mindful of paragraphs 9 to 14 above. Expenses, uniform allowance, car allowance, removal expenses Paragraphs 10 to 13 Replaced by paragraph 26 application of other terms and conditions. In addition, authorities will need to be mindful of paragraphs 5 to 8 above. Sick pay Paragraphs 14 to 18. Moves to paragraphs 14 to 19 including a provision outlining authorities discretion to extend periods of sick pay in exceptional circumstances. Leave Paragraph 19 Moves to paragraph 20. Special leave Paragraph 20 Moves to paragraph 21. Restrictions on re-employment Paragraph 21 and 22 Replaced by paragraphs 22 and 23 employment with other organisations, which includes removal of the twelve-month restriction.
Pecuniary interest Paragraph 23 Moves to paragraph 25. Application of other terms and conditions Paragraphs 24 and 25 Revised and moved to paragraph 26 - application of other terms and conditions Differences Paragraph 26 Replaced by a new section proceduresparagraphs 27 to 29. In addition, guidance on grievance and disciplinary matters is contained at Appendix D. Interpretation Paragraph 27 Moved to paragraph 33. New sections Preface page 1 Fairness and dignity at work paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 Part-time employees: paragraph 13 provision of pro-rata terms and conditions Indemnification of employees to undertake authorised tasks - paragraph 24 refers to the Local Authorities (Indemnities for Members and Officers) Order 2004 as well occasions when a Brigade Manager may be required to undertake incident command roles in other authorities. Workplace performance and assessment paragraphs 30 to 32 plus guidance on the appraisal of brigade managers, (Appendix B).