To consider Report CFO/124/14 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning matters of negotiation and consultation currently being discussed between Officers of the Authority and Representative Bodies, since the last meeting of the Consultation and Negotiation Sub-Committee on 2^nd September 2014.

Members considered Report CFO/124/14 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning matters of negotiation and consultation currently being discussed between Officers of the Authority and representative bodies, since the last meeting of the Consultation & Negotiation Sub-Committee of 2^nd September 2014.

Members were provided with a comprehensive overview of the report, which highlighted the following key areas of progress:

·         Consultation on 45 new or amended Service Instructions has been concluded successfully.

·         Following 3 days of conciliation meetings, an implementation timescale for the introduction of a number of new Employment Policies was agreed. With the exception of the Firefighter Health & Fitness Service Instruction, which the FBU were not able to agree under instruction from their National Officials, the Policy documents were formally signed off by both parties on 14^th November 2014 and transitional arrangements will be applied to implement the new and revised policies from January 2015.

·         The extant Firefighter Health & Fitness arrangements will remain in place subject to further consideration.

·         Dialogue is now in progress over the issue of 24 hour working, which includes the consideration of wider adoption of the Self-Managed Teams principle, the undertaking of wholetime Retained Contracts and potential for undertaking Voluntary Additional Hours. The rationale behind consideration of these options was explained in detail and Officers advised that they would hopefully be in a position to report back to Members shortly with the outcome of those discussions.

·         A review of the move to 12 hour shifts for station based operational staff and Fire Control staff will be commencing shortly through the Joint Secretaries.

·         In relation to the ongoing National dispute between the Government and the FBU over pension reform, Members were informed that a further 24 hour period of strike action has been called by the FBU over 9^th and 10^th December 2014, to coincide with the pension regulations being laid before parliament.

The Chair invited representatives from the Trades Unions to comment.

The Fire Brigades Union made comment to highlight the amount of work undertaken by the Joint Secretaries in relation to Service Instructions and reaching agreement over the new HR Policies. They also commented that Industrial Relations are excellent at the moment, with issues being grasped and dealt with in an effort to create some stability for all moving forward.

Members of the Committee then made comments emphasising the positive industrial relations on Merseyside and welcoming the continuation of close working with the Representative Bodies through a period of ongoing significant change and uncertainty, in an effort to maintain the best service possible.

Members also suggested that it would be helpful f to have a “Learning Lunch” for Members focusing on Service Instructions, to aid their understanding of the development and roll out process.

Members Resolved that:

a)    The progress being made to maintain effective and constructive industrial relations with representative bodies, be noted.

b)    The progress being made to deliver the Authority’s IRMP, be noted.

c)    Their thanks be recorded to everyone involved in maintaining excellent industrial relations.

d)    A “Learning Lunch” be arranged for Members concerning the development and implementation of Service Instructions.