Devon and Somerset firefighters appeal to councillors over part-time fire chief controversy

Devon and Somerset firefighters have appealed to councillors over the decision to allow fire chief Lee Howell to work part time and begin as a fire advisor in Wales.

Representatives from the Fire Brigades Union have written asking for an explanation and expressing their ‘grave concern’ over the decision, which will see Howell working for the Welsh Government two days a week.

In the letter, Brigade Secretary, Trevor French, said: “The decision to grant permission for the Chief Fire Officer to undertake part time work is outrageous, wrong and a kick in the teeth for the hard working and committed staff of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

“Devon and Somerset deserve and require a full time Chief Fire Officer… at this time of unprecedented cuts and challenges, with even further government spending cuts in the pipeline, with deep staff concern and very low morale, with ongoing issues regarding combination and with senior and principal officers having just taken redundancy.”

The decision came just weeks after the fire authority voted to implement unprecedented frontline cuts on Howell’s advice, which the FBU says “created enormous concern amongst staff.”

In the letter Trevor French also said that the fact that firefighters discovered the news via the media, demonstrated a “contemptuous disregard for industrial relations and a lack of commitment towards an open and transparent culture”.