Section Two - Pay Policy for Principal Officers

1. National pay awards negotiated by the National Joint Council for Brigade Managers of Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services, are applied by the Authority on an annual basis. This represents a cost-of-living increase.
2. In addition, a review of Principal Officer pay is undertaken on a two-yearly basis by the Combined Fire Authority. This is managed through the Policy and Strategy Committee and is approved by the full Combined Fire Authority.
3. This review is undertaken by the Clerk to the Fire Authority and Treasurer to the Fire Authority, who are appointed by the CFA to report to the Authority on the methodology applied and to make recommendations on Principal Officer pay. The last pay review was undertaken in 2023 and recommended no increase in pay for Principal Officers.
4. Principal Officer roles covered by the review include the Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer.

1. The National Joint Council for Brigade Managers of Fire Authorities, establishes a minimum salary for Chief Fire Officers based upon population size as follows:
   • Population band 1: up to 500,000
   • Population band 2: 500,001 – 1,000,000
   • Population band 3: 1,000,001 – 1,500,000
   • Population band 4: 1,500,000 and above (except London)
   • Population band 5: London
2. The population size for the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is 1.1m. The minimum payment for the Chief Fire Officer is therefore based upon Population Band 3, which establishes a minimum rate of pay for 2023 – 24 at £131,326.
3. The base salary for the Chief Fire Officer role at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently £179,525 within the range £161,573 to £179,525 per annum. Please refer to paragraph 2.3.1 for further details of pay policy on appointment.
4. The Chief Fire Officer is provided with a car limited to a purchase cost of 30% of their salary. This includes VAT and any cost associated with fitting home chargers for plug-in vehicles etc.

   Also, the vehicle must have:

   • A hybrid, electric or other alternatively fuelled, low emission engine.
   • All wheel drive capability.
   • Integrated phone connectivity.
   • Satellite navigation.
   • High level safety ratings and features in line with the fleet strategy such as parking sensors, protective mats etc.
5. Pension: The Service makes an employer contribution of 37.6% (2015 scheme), depending on individual membership. This is in accordance with the contribution made to all members of the Firefighter’s Pension Scheme. The employee contribution for 2023-24 ranges from 11% to 14.5% depending on pensionable pay.

1. In 2013 the CFA revised the payment for Principal Officers from a single pay point to a 3-point model based upon length of service, as follows:
   • Year One of appointment: 90% of full pay.
   • Year Two of appointment; 95% of full pay.
   • Year Three of appointment: 100% of full pay. Progression through the pay band is subject to a review of performance.
2. The CFA has also revised the methodology for the review of Principal Officer pay based upon a comparator for the role of Chief Fire Officer. The review compares the pay levels of comparable Fire and Rescue Authorities in the same Family Group of 18 Fire and Rescue Services, and establishes an average median pay point as a benchmark salary, which is considered by the Combined Fire Authority when reviewing Principal Officer pay on a 2-yearly basis.
3. A pay review was undertaken in 2023, which resulted in no increase in local pay arrangements. The next pay review is scheduled for 2025 for application from January 2026.

The national pay review undertaken by the NJC for Brigade Managers of Fire and Rescue Services, applied an increase of 3.0%, with effect from 1 January 2024.

The Authority has established a policy stating Principal Officer roles below that of Chief Fire Officer, would be paid as a proportion of the locally agreed Chief Fire Officer base pay rate as follows:

• Assistant Chief Fire Officer - 75%.

Pay Details of Principal Officer Pay are published on the Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service internet site. This can be found by opening the following hyperlink: Senior Salaries Report 24-25

1. In 2023-24, the lowest paid role within the Service was £23,500 (fte), which reflects the Authority’s commitment to the living wage, the highest paid role within the Service is £179,525. The Service does not have a policy of direct correlation between the highest and lowest paid roles i.e., it does not apply a pay multiple in establishing Principal Officer pay.
   * This does not include apprenticeship rates.
2. The ratio of pay between the highest paid employee of the fire service and a median salary is set out in paragraph 1.8.
3. The pay, (including rota allowances) of the most senior officer below Principal Officer, (Area Manager) is 69.9% of Assistant Chief Fire Officer pay and 52.5% of Chief Fire Officer pay.
4. The pay of the most senior support role, (at salary maximum) below Principal Officer, (Area Manager – Support) is 54% of Assistant Chief Fire Officer pay and 40.5% of Chief Fire Officer pay. It should be taken into account that the salaries of Principal Officers and other flexi-duty officers, reflects a requirement to provide duty cover on a 24/7 rota basis.

Officers are subject to the same re-engagement provisions as other Service employees. These are set out in more detail in Section 5.

Principal Officers are subject to the same severance arrangements as other Service employees. These are set out in more detail in Section 6.

1. Principal Officers are provided with a car limited to a purchase cost of 30% of the full CFO base salary. This includes VAT and any cost associated with fitting home chargers for plug-in vehicles etc.

   Also, the vehicle must have:

   • A hybrid, electric or other alternatively fuelled, low emission engine.
   • All wheel drive capability.
   • Integrated phone connectivity.
   • Satellite navigation.
   • High level safety ratings and features in line with the fleet strategy such as parking sensors, protective mats etc.
2. Pension: (i) The Service makes an employer contribution of 37.6%, (2015 scheme) depending on individual membership. This is in accordance with the contribution made to all members of the Firefighter’s Pension Scheme. The employee contribution for 2023-24 ranges from 11% to 14.5% depending on pensionable pay. (ii) For Principal officers not eligible for the Firefighter Pension schemes, the provisions of the Local Government Pension Scheme will apply: the Service makes an employer contribution which equates to 19% for all members of the Local Government Pension Scheme. The employee contributes between 5.5% and 12.5% of pensionable pay depending on their salary band.
3. Business mileage is reimbursed using fuel cards.
4. Subsistence allowances: reimbursement of expenses when working away from the base location.
5. All employees are members of a corporate health scheme, which provides cash-back for dental, optical and consultancy fees, and access to consultations and counselling support. This is at a cost of £51.96 per employee per annum. Principal Officers are also members of this scheme.