Brigade Committee Meeting Minutes

30th January 2008 – 19:00hrs – Hatfield Fire Station

The meeting observed one minute’s silence for Bro John Noble

Those Present:

Region 9 EC Member, TUC, Women’s Section, Officers, Health & Safety, Command & Control, Garston, Hatfield, Harpenden, Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, Pensions Rep, Brigade Chair & Secretary.

Apologies:

Vice Chair, B&EMM, G&L, IRMP, FAW, Membership, Stevenage, Baldock, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Rickmansworth.

Election of Representatives

The following were elected unanimously:

• Peter Cargill – B&EMM
• Simon Bloxham – H&S
• Bill Liggins – RDS
• Jason Neates – RDS H&S
• Terry Saunders – Membership

Secretary’s Report

The Secretary updated the meeting on current industrial relations; answered questions and a discussion took place. The following resolution was unanimously agreed:

This Brigade Committee recognises the ongoing work of the Brigade Executive Committee and the considerable success that Herts FBU have achieved since our dispute in 2006.

We are disappointed that it has taken 18 months to secure a date for formalising a partnership agreement with our employers. We believe this agreement will bring about positive change and we remain committed to assisting in this change process through partnership working as agreed in 2006.

We recognise the recently launched NJC Joint Protocol for Industrial Relations in the Fire & Rescue Service and we direct the Brigade Executive to observe and promote this protocol with a view to achieving a local partnership agreement. We ask that our employers do the same.

The FBU membership of Hertfordshire have been promised positive change by management for some time and now seek tangible evidence that our Fire & Rescue Service is improving.

This committee directs that the Brigade Executive report to the next BCM having obtained such evidence from our employer.

Hatfield Branch put forward that when the partnership agreement is reached it should be acknowledged in ‘In Focus’ – this was agreed.

EC Members Report

The EC Member for Region 9 gave the meeting an update on national issues, the continued government ‘modernisation’ agenda and the latest meetings of the NJC.

The Chair thanked Keith on behalf of the meeting for his continued assistance and support.

Union Learning

The Chair updated the meeting on the 2008 education program and particularly the date for the next learning day in Herts. Thursday March 6th at St Albans Fire Station The Chair urged all members to attend the learning day and would be approaching the new Reps to ensure their attendance.

Union Entitlements

The EC Member reminded the meeting of the entitlement of all reps to be reimbursed FBU agreed rates for travel and subsistence costs when carrying out authorised union work.

The meeting discussed this and it was agreed that Branches should seek the opinion of their members and report back to the next BCM as to how they would like reimbursements paid.

CPD

The Chair updated the meeting on the agreements reached to date with regard to the use of a simplified form, payment in January and an enhanced rate for RDS members.

A discussion was held and the Chair was questioned as to the agreement for payment in January. He assured the meeting that having originally requested payment in December; the negotiating team had gained agreement with management for January payments.

The Chair reminded the meeting that the framework for CPD payments was set out & preliminary agreement reached in July 07 and fully agreed in September giving 6 months preparation for the pay run to be set up.

The meeting then discussed the short payment of several members in January. The EC Member advised the meeting on the legal position and routes of recourse for members when they are underpaid or an NJC contractual agreement has been breached.

The Women’s Repsection agreed to compile and distribute written guidance for members.

2008 Pay Award

The EC Member updated the meeting on progress toward this year’s award, the Government public sector pay policy and the issue of the Police pay award. It was agreed that all members would lobby our employers for a fair pay award this year.

Warwickshire Improvement Notice

The EC Member updated the meeting on the situation in Warwickshire and how it relates to the ongoing HSE investigation into the Harrow Court Incident. The improvement notice focuses on incident preparedness and it was agreed that all members should ensure they receive regular comprehensive familiarisation with all and every site that may have to attend in case of an incident.

The secretary is to write to the CFO to establish how SLG intend to ensure that such familiarisation takes place.

Regionalisation of Control Rooms

The Chair updated the meeting on that held between the FBU and the HFRA Chair at the end of last year. The Brigade Executive is to meet with Richard Smith again and would continue to lobby for the HCC to reject the proposal for a regional control room.

The EC Member explained the current trend by politicians to see involvement as inevitable because of the sums already spent more beneficial than opposition and asked that all members take the opportunity to explain the pitfalls and enormous on-going costs of the project to local politicians. He confirmed that the project has cost 1.4 Billion Pounds to date and was likely to be further delayed due to the staging of the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

The C&C Rep informed the meeting of the rejection by East of England Ambulance to regionalise their control rooms. The Secretary asked that all members continue to show their support to our colleagues in Command & Control.

Rank to Role

The Chair updated the meeting on progress toward Rank to Role and he hoped to reach agreement with management at the next meeting, which ACO Hazeldine has agreed to arrange. He reminded the meeting that they did not yet need to submit appeals, as agreement had not yet been reached.

The subject of the refusal of HCC to back pay overtime to 2003 was raised and the Chair advised the meeting that at the last Level 1 meeting with management they had agreed to the back payments.

Additional Responsibility Allowances

The Chair advised the meeting that negotiations would begin shortly for additional responsibility allowances and reminded the meeting how these should be applied and back paid to members.

It was agreed that branches would discuss ARA’s and report back to the next BCM. Ill Health Pensions. The Pensions Rep updated the meeting on the progress of the judicial review into ill health pensions and the recent adjournment debate held in parliament.

He explained the wider ramifications of this issue and asked that it be discussed at branch meetings. The EC Member commended those members that had lobbied their MP’s and asked that they encourage others to do the same.

Part Time Status for RDS Members

The pensions rep updated the meeting on the court case for the cessation of the less favourable treatment of Retained members. A judgement is likely to be reached at Easter time and if it proven that RDS do ‘broadly the same job’ as wholetime firefighters a favourable judgement would see full pension rights for RDS backdated to 2000 and will have wider ramification re the treatment of Retained members

Pensions Contributions Between the Ages of 18 to 20

The EC Member updated the meeting on this issue and the enormously detrimental ramifications for all FPS Members of pursuing this issue in singular isolation. He confirmed that the FBU had conducted detailed discussions on this matter and had taken detailed legal advice. He urged all Members to refrain from joining any enticements by commercial solicitors who may seek to pursue this issue in the interests of their own fees rather than the real interests of FBU Members’ and our pension entitlements. e court action being taken by Laytons Solicitors in Manchester. He explained the ramifications of this case and confirmed that the FBU had conducted detailed discussions on this issue and agreed that it would be detrimental to members to pursue this course of action with Laytons.

RDS Recruitment

The Chair introduced Daniel Giblin to the meeting. He has been seconded to the FBU from the TUC to enhance recruitment and had been assisting in the recruitment of RDS member in Herts for the week of the 28th Jan.

Daniel reported that he was extremely pleased with the work the recruitment team had carried out over the week and would report the numbers of new members in time for the next BCM.

The Chair thanked Daniel, Pete Preston, Tam Mitchell and Sean Starbuck for their help and support and thanked Neville White for organising the recruitment drive.

2012 Olympics

The Secretary advised the meeting that he had received an FBU circular requesting that Brigades bordering London appoint a rep to consult on the plans for incident preparedness.

Simon Bloxham has agreed to take on the project and asks that any other members that wish to assist contact him at Baldock Blue Watch.

Experience Across Wholetime Watches

The Chair advised the meeting that he had been handed an SLG paper on a system for maintaining experience levels on wholetime watches. He is to reply to the consultation and asked that any issues or thoughts be sent to him particularly those around safety and equality.

Retirement of Membership Secretary

The meeting directed the Secretary to write to Ben Read thanking him for his hard work as membership secretary and for his wider involvement as an active rep for Herts FBU

Reinstatement of Expelled Members

The Chair advised the meeting that it was likely that throughout the continuing recruitment drive some expelled members may wish to rejoin the FBU. He referred the meeting to Rule 5 and asked that branches discuss how they wish to treat such cases should they arise.

A.O.B
FDR1 Fire Damage Reports

Concern was raised that the Service appeared to be adjusting FDR1’s after the author had signed them. The Secretary agreed to add this item to the next Level 1 meeting.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 21:45

The date and venue for February’s BCM is to be advised

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Hertfordshire Fire Brigades Union
FBU Office, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Old London Road, Hertford, Herts SG13 7LD
Tel: (01992) 507507 - Email: the.team@hertsfbu.org