Issue - meetings

Report of Corporate Leadership Team, GMFRS. Dawn Docx, Deputy Chief Fire Officer will be in attendance at the meeting.

Kevin Lee, Director of Mayor’s Office, introduced the item, noting that following the close of the consultation and the continuing engagement with Trade Unions, Leaders had met that morning to consider the proposals, and had agreed the points below: 

a)      Retaining current crewing levels and maintaining firefighter numbers at or above May 2017 levels for this financial year (and the Mayor is considering the options to extend this beyond April 2020);

b)      Retaining an additional 11 specialist prevention staff to support complex cases and address safeguarding concerns;

c)      Allowing more time for the transition of prevention activity to ensure firefighters are adequately trained and equipped;

d)      Developing alternative delivery models for volunteering and cadets;

e)      Retaining Princes Trust, reducing the number of teams from seven to five, whilst allowing more time to develop future options;

f)       Developing an improved delivery model for Protection including continued efforts on High Rise, Grenfell implications and improving fire safety within the Private Rented Sector;

g)      Undertaking a limited restructure of administration activity initially, allowing more time for the development of a centrally managed delivery model;

h)      Recommendation that the capital schemes as set out in the OBC are incorporated into the Service’s Capital Programme;

i)        Ongoing investment in stations, including welfare facilities.

It was acknowledged that the revised proposals reflected previous concerns raised by the Committee, and Members were informed that the Mayor was keen to hear their views, before any final decisions were made.

Members were informed that with regards to the Government Spending Review, it was understood that the fire grant would be uplifted to be a flat grant, notwithstanding, confirmation had not yet been received in relation to addressing the pension’s shortfall of £5.7 million. If the Government did not meet this shortfall, it would need to be addressed through the GMFRS budget. It was agreed that further updates would be circulated to the Committee as appropriate.

In relation proposal to reduce the number of non-uniformed staff, which initially would have affected 113 posts, it was highlighted that following consultation, this has reduced to 60 posts. It was reiterated that, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were still determined to avoid compulsory redundancies for support staff, and work was underway across the GMCA family, to identify alternative opportunities for those staff affected.

Members were informed that the Mayor was proposing to maintain the current crewing levels and firefighter numbers at or above May 2017 levels (1121 firefighters) for this financial year. This commitment, supported by overtime arrangements, and the continued use of reserves, has proposed to maintain current crewing arrangements of 5:4:4 and 50 fire engines in the short term, to allow more time for discussions with the Fire Bridgades Union (FBU) about the number of fire engines available, and the crewing levels that could realistically be achieved. The long-term viability of this arrangement however, was dependent on future funding settlements from government, which at this stage was unclear.

Members raised the following questions and comments:

·         Members from Manchester and Salford Labour  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26