Berkshire Circular: Non Provision of Meals When Attending a Brigade Course

BERKSHIRE ALL MEMBERS CIRCULAR
4th February 2011

Dear All,

NON PROVISION OF MEALS WHEN ATTENDING A BRIGADE COURSE

It has come to the FBUs attention that meals are not being provided on some brigade courses. This should not be happening. The removal of the course meal provision has not been approved by the Fire Authority and has not been negotiated with the FBU.

It is the union’s opinion that if a meal is not provided on a brigade course, then Section 4 of the Grey Book applies. This states under Allowances and Reimbursements that,

1. An employee (including a volunteer carrying out operational firefighting duties) who necessarily incurs approved additional expenditure in the course of his or her work in respect of travel, meals, overnight accommodation or compulsory relocation shall be reimbursed such expenditure, subject to the production of receipts or other appropriate evidence, or paid a locally agreed allowance.

2. In appropriate circumstances, the fire and rescue authority may consider making a cash advance to the employee prior to such expenditure being incurred. (Our emphasis)

Therefore, members should refer to the RBFRS Traveling and Subsistence Payments Policy in the Employee Handbook for the correct rate of reimbursement for any food which they provide themselves. They should then make a claim on an FB58 through the usual channels. For ease of reference, the relevant sections are appended below.

The FBU has approached RBFRS on this issue.

Other expenses associated with Travel
 
An employee of RBFRS who is absent from their home or usual place of work, on duty, and incurs additional expense in obtaining food and/or lodgings may be paid a subsistence maximum on production of receipts.
 
Maximum subsistence payments will not be made on days when a suitable meal is provided elsewhere and employees incur no additional costs to their normal outlay.
 
Maximum subsistence Payments associated with travel are updated annually in accordance with non pay inflation rate used by the Fire Authority.  Line Managers must ensure the rates are correct and up to date BEFORE signing the expenses claim form.  Expenses claimed above those outlined will be automatically refused and returned to the individual.
 
The current subsistence maximum reimbursement all employees are available in Appendix Two.

Appendix Two
 
Subsistence Maximum Reimbursement with Effect from 1 January 2009
 
Time left home/venue
 
 Meal claiming
Amount 
Before 7:00 
Breakfast: £6.00

After 18:30
Tea: £3.27

After 20:30
Dinner: £10.27
 
Employees cannot claim for tea and dinner on the same day. (Except on Saturdays and Sundays for non uniformed employees) 

Residential training courses (other than a recruits training course) may be entitled to the overnight out of pocket maximum allowance set out in the NJC Circulars, and updated from time to time, which currently stand at £4.89 per night and £19.57 per week (with effect from 01 January 2005). 

Yours in unity,

Mark Stollery – FBU Brigade Secretary - 07917065868
Maurice Whyte – FBU Berkshire Chair – 07917065867