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Having issued a vote of no confidence in West Midlands Fire Authority, CEO Oliver Lee has now been suspended from his post subject to the decision being supported at a meeting of the authority next week.
The announcement was made late on Monday 7 October and comes after the Birmingham Post published an interview with Lee where he shared more detail about why he had taken the decision to go public with a vote of no confidence.
The Authority made a statement on its website about its decision to suspend Lee.
“This is not a decision the Fire Authority ever wanted to have to take, or takes lightly. The Fire Authority sought external, independent legal advice before making this decision, and, in line with the Fire Authority Constitution, the suspension is subject to ratification by the full Fire Authority on Monday 14 October.”
The statement went on to say that should the suspension be supported, “a process to appoint an independent person to investigate will be undertaken.”
Professor Peter Murphy from Nottingham Trent University set out possible options for interventions in fire and rescue services as part of a news story describing the actions of Lee which led to the vote of no confidence being issued on 4 October.
The statement from the Authority refers to the inspectorate.
“The issues that Mr Lee raised publicly concerning the governance of the Fire and Rescue Service will continue to be investigated independently, and reported to the Fire Authority for consideration. They will also share such findings with our external auditors, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, and other such key stakeholders as necessary.”
The Authority said it had been “a difficult year” for West Midlands Fire Service since the sudden death of its Chief Fire Officer Wayne Brown and that it was “hugely deflating for all involved that we have reached this point, and we realise this will cause further public concern.”
In the meantime, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Barry is running the service.
Read Oliver Lee’s interview with Emergency Services Times on taking up his appointment earlier this year.
