Agenda item

The Chair invited Gill Gittins, Senior Adviser (Workforce and Negotiations), and Clair Alcock, Firefighters Pensions Adviser, to introduce the update.

Gill urged FRA Chairs to respond to the Brigade Managers pay claim consultation.

Clair highlighted the Government’s consultation on its age discrimination remedy proposals which is due to close on 11 October. This will represent a huge challenge for FRAs and Clair said that it is important for members to be properly briefed by their officers on the implications.

Clair then updated members on the Home Office Immediate Detriment Guidance in the McCloud/Sargeant case and said that the LGA had asked for further clarification about a number of technical areas on the application of the guidance.

Cllr Roger Phillips (Member of the Fire Scheme Advisory Board and Chair of LGPS Scheme Advisory Board) said that in his view the informal guidance was not strong enough and was likely to be challenged by the employee side. He advised members to ensure that administration of the scheme is on their authority’s risk register as several administrators were considering pulling out. He added that extra employers’ contributions had so far been met by the Government and that it was important for this to continue going forward.

Decision

Members of the Fire Commission noted the workforce update.