National Joint Council for brigade managers of local authority fire and rescue
Employers’ Secretary, Sarah Ward
18 Smith Square,
London, SW1P 3HZ
Telephone 020 7664 3000
e-mail: [email protected]
Staff Side Secretary, Glynn Luznyj
Fire Leaders Association
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.prospect.org.uk/fla
To: Chairs of fire authorities
Chief fire officers
Clerks to fire authorities
Directors of Human Resources Members of the National Joint Council
6 July 2026
Gold book pay award 2026
1. We write to inform you that the NJC for Brigade Managers has agreed to the following pay award:
- a 3.80 per cent uplift on all salaries effective from 1 July 2026.
2. The pay of all brigade managers covered by the NJC’s agreement should therefore be increased.
3. Revised minimum annual rates of pay for chief fire officers effective from 1 July 2026 are below.
4. In each case the minimum salary arrangements for new appointments in population bands 1 and 2 remain as defined in the 2006/2007 pay settlement (issued by circular on 7 December 2006) which the NJC has indicated should be reviewed.
5. The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services has been explicit about the commitment to look at pay reform for Grey Book roles, and while we know that is likely to be a complicated and detailed piece of work which will take time, it does follow that the Gold Book should be included as part of that wider project.
Yours faithfully,
Sarah Ward
Glynn Luzny J
Joint Secretaries
| Population band 1 | Up to 500,000 |
| Minimum rate of pay | £137,219* |
| Population band 2 | 500,001 to 1,000,000 |
| Minimum rate of pay | £137,219* |
| Population band 3 | 1,000,001 to 1,500,000 |
| Minimum rate of pay | £142,285 |
| Population band 4 | 1,500,000 and above (except London) |
| Minimum rate of pay | £156,223 |
| Population band 5 | London |
| Minimum rate of pay | £171,554 |
*New appointments in accordance with paragraph 4 above