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To: Chief Fire Officers
Chief Executives/Clerks to Fire Authorities
Chairs of Fire Authorities

Members of the Employers’ Side of the NJC
Directors of Human Resources (Fire Authorities)

14 March 2006

CIRCULAR EMP/4/06
Dear Sir/Madam

Long Service Bounty Payments

1. The 6th Edition of the Grey Book on the interim and protection arrangements stated that ‘Pending the introduction of pension arrangements for employees on the retained duty system the long-service bounty scheme at Section VII paragraph 15 of the fifth edition of this scheme of conditions of service shall continue to apply.’ (Grey Book 6th Edition Appendix B refers.)
   
2. Preliminary discussions with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) have highlighted that existing employees on the retained duty system will not immediately be able to access the new Firefighters Pension Scheme on the date of its introduction (6 April 2006) as authorities will first need to carry out a valuation exercise for existing employees on the retained duty system. This is likely to take place during October – December 2006. However retained duty system firefighters wishing to join the scheme at that point will be given the opportunity to backdate contributions to 6 April 2006.
   
3. The Employers’ Side of the NJC, when it meets in early April, will consider what, if any, phasing out arrangements should be put in place, together with correspondence received from both the Fire Brigades Union and the Retained Firefighters Union on this issue.
   
4. In the meantime, given that there will be an opportunity for employees on the retained duty system to be able to access the pension scheme with effect from 6 April (albeit on a backdated basis), authorities are advised that any Bounty Payments due up to and including 5 April 2006 should be made as normal. Any Bounty Payments due on or after 6 April should be made on the due date but the amount payable should be a pro-rata payment on the entitlement accrued up to and including 5 April 2006. Please note, these transitional arrangements will not apply to individuals who resign from the service on or after the 6 April 2006.
   
5. For clarity, in accordance with the Pay & Conditions Agreement 2003, the existing bounty scheme will no longer apply from 6 April 2006. For the time being the transitional arrangements outlined above will apply for existing employees on the retained duty system.
   
6. The interim arrangements will facilitate time for further discussion to take place within the NJC.

Yours sincerely

Jacky Teasell
Negotiating Officer