Letter from HMCI to West Midlands Fire & Rescue Authority
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Letter information
From
Andy Cooke QPM DL
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services
To
Councillor Greg Brackenridge, Chair, West Midlands Fire & Rescue Authority
Oliver Lee OBE, Chief Executive Officer, West Midlands Fire Service
Sent on
4 October 2024
West Midlands Fire Service
I am writing to you both to express my significant concern about the leadership and governance of West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS); most particularly an apparent breakdown in the relationship between senior members of the service and the fire and rescue authority (FRA).
This appears to have escalated over recent days, leading to three principal officers of the service taking the highly unusual and very significant step of signing a letter of no-confidence in the Authority. I am concerned that the current situation will affect public confidence in the service and the FRA, impact the workforce of WMFS, and has the potential to jeopardise a safety critical service for the residents of the West Midlands.
HMI Freeman is seeking an urgent call with each of you, and I am keen to understand what immediate steps are being taken to address the current situation. HMI Freeman also intends to keep the performance of the service under close scrutiny, particularly its leadership, culture, and governance. He will keep under review the extent to which the service has been affected by the current situation, and I will in turn consider whether a move to more formal enhanced monitoring is necessary.
As you will both be aware, HMICFRS will commence our next inspection of WMFS on 28 October. The fieldwork phase of the inspection will commence on 18 November. Given the significant concerns I have about the relationship between a number of principal officers of the service and the FRA, and the potential impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the service to the public I am considering broadening that work.
I will be consulting the Home Secretary on the potential for her to commission me under S28A(3) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, or for me to self-commission under S28A(5), a further inspection into the effectiveness of the governance of the service by the FRA, and the relationships between senior personnel. Any such inspection is likely to run in parallel with our current work and would of course avoid those matters excluded under S28(A7) of the same Act.
You will know that support is available to you from the inspectorate, the Home Office, the Local Government Association, and the National Fire Chiefs Council. These organisations stand ready to help you to resolve the challenges that the service and the FRA appear to be facing.
I am copying this letter to the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, the Chair of the NFCC, the Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee at the Local Government Association, and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. I also intend to publish this letter on the inspectorate’s website in due course.