CPD Applications - Latest News

The management of HFRS are still of the opinion that they have applied the CPD Application process in line with that agreed at the NJC a view not supported by the FBU.
Following this remaining as an unresolved ‘Collective Issue’ the FBU have now received formal notification that this matter will be jointly referred to the National Joint Secretaries for their assistance in trying to resolve this issue.
As a precautionary measure and following advice, the FBU has also now registered the remaining 37 members who were unsucessful in their CPD applications with an Employment Tribunal this was in order to comply with the relevant timescales, however a ’stay will be placed on them until the internal resolution process has been exhausted.

Humberside FBU has now been contacted by a number of members regarding their unsuccessful application of CPD for 2008. We can now report that we have requested a meeting with management regarding this matter as the FBU are still of the opinion that the application process utilised by Humberside Fire & Rescue Service is outside of that, which was nationally agreed at the NJC.
The FBU registered a ‘collective Issue’ over this matter some weeks ago and management said they would review the process utilised. This they have done, which resulted in over half of those initially refused CPD to now have those applications approved. However, we still have members who are not receiving CPD over sickness and existing formal discipline awards. The FBU are of the opinion that for this year, CPD applications should not include sickness or formal discipline awards that were received prior to the application date. This is because the national guidance states that;
‘Where, under any formal management procedures, including the performance assessment process operated by the Fire and Rescue Service, concerns are identified with respect to the maintenance of this continual professional development by an employee in receipt of the payment. Managers will inform the applicant in good time and provide opportunity for those concerns to be rectified prior to the renewal date.’

As far as the FBU are aware no individuals have been informed by management that there were concerns regarding them
• maintaining continual professional development
• that their CPD payments were under the threat of being removed
• or importantly being given the opportunity for those concerns to be rectified prior to the renewal date
The FBU have now requested a meeting with management to try to resolve this situation in line with the ‘Collective Issue’ procedures as is contained within the Grey Book sixth edition.

Following the FBU submitting a ‘Collective issue’ surrounding how HFRS have applied the national guidance on the CPD Application process, we can report that management have carried out a re-examination all of those CPD Applications that were turned down for reasons of sickness absence. Anyone who has received a letter stating that they are still not going to receive their CPD should contact a Brigade official ASAP.

Those who are eligible for CPD should now have received some back payments they are due from July 1st 2007. Anyone who believes they should have received payments and have not should contact the Brigade’s Finance Officer ask the reason why they have not received any CPD. If you have been given the reason for none payment of CPD and you are still not satisfied then contact a Brigade FBU official (details on the ‘contact us’ link) and the issue will be investigated.

RDS - Continuous Professional Developement pay

CPD pay for those who work the Retained Duty System is based on a pro rata payment. This payment will not be less then 25% of the amount payable to a WT fire Fighter. The CPD payments will be calculated on a monthly basis based on the number of hours worked during that month in relationship to the hours worked by a WT Duty System FF

At a meeting with management on the 28th June, Brigade Officials once again raised the issue of CPD Pay. Management stated that they will pay the CPD when given the go ahead by the National Employers. The FBU then asked at what figure did HFRS intend to pay as CPD. Management once again put forward their proposal to pay a figure of £575.82 and then all of the successful applicants in 2008 would receive the £62.18 that they would be owed from this year. Brigade Officials stated that this is a position they could not agree to and would hand the matter over to the National Joint Secretaries, further discussions took place and management have now stated they will go back to the Fire Authority for them to approve the funding to enable CPD Pay to be paid at the Nationally agreed figure of £638.

Following on from other CPD updates, we have been informed that it is management’s intention to put forward to the Fire Authority a proposal that for this year only all eligible employees will get a CPD payment of £575.82 (£62.18 short of the nationally agreed figure). Then come next year, a process of assessing Continuous Professional Development will be in place and all of the successful applicants in next years assessment will then receive the £62.18 that they are owed from this year.

This proposal that has yet to be formally put to the FBU and is of course a position that we feel is outside of what has been nationally agreed. Please attend your Branch meetings that are currently taking place and get the latest up to date information and make your views known.

Following HFRS’s decision not to pay the Nationally agreed figure of £638 for CPD Pay. Brigade officials have now put this matter in the hands of National Joint Secretaries for resolution. Management have stated they work their figures out to be £575.82, a £62.18 shortfall and if they were to pay at the upper rate it would cost an extra £35,000 that they do not have. This is at a time when management have just been given approval to spend £40,000 on the ‘Valued Centred leadership’ Courses otherwise known as the ‘Wow factor’ Course. One of the core values of this course is to try to create a working environment that is enjoyable – Well the message we are getting from our members is pay the CPD in full and we’ll enjoy coming to work a bit more!

You will be aware from previous Head Office Circulars that the final ratification and implementation of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Scheme agreement is subject to confirmation that CPD Payments will be pensionable in accordance with the Fire Service Pay & Conditions Agreement 2003 and the Employers’ proposals put forward in 2006.

The question of pensionability has to be ratified by CLG, (Communities and Local Government - formerly the Department of Communities and Local Government). The matter has been discussed at CLG’s Firefighters Pension Committee and I regret to have to report that we were informed yesterday at the Firefighters’ Pension Committee that CLG now wish to seek legal advice on the issue of CPD pensionability which, we are told, will probably mean that the issue will not be placed before Government Ministers until after the Easter break.

The FBU will continue to press for an early resolution of this matter at the highest levels. The matter will also be raised in Parliament. The issue will also be discussed at a meeting of the Executive Council on Wednesday 28 March 2007.

Members will be informed accordingly.