Fire chiefs get 50pc rise in allowances
West Midlands fire service bosses have been awarded a 50percent rise in their special responsibility allowances.
West Midlands fire service bosses have been awarded a 50percent rise in their special responsibility allowances.
The chairman of the authority, Councillor Peter Howard, has seen his allowances increase from £16,921 to £24,500.
Meanwhile, the vice-chairman Councillor Tony Ward has also seen his allowances go up from £8,145 to £12,250 per year. The increase in allowances was opposed by an independent remuneration panel following a review of services this year but the fire and rescue authority ignored its advice.
Instead, it voted in favour of the rises, which bosses say will bring them into line with other emergency services.
Conservative councillor Howard, a member of Birmingham City Council, said: "There is not a day goes by that I am not involved with the fire service. It is a big job, and these allowances reflect the measures of the job."
The news of the allowance increases comes after the fire service unveiled plans to close some stations and build new ones. The plans would see stations at Halesowen, Cradley Heath, Wednesbury and Smethwick close. New stations would be built in the Halesowen-Cradley area and in Wood Green, Wednesbury.
Tory councillor Ward, who sits on Sandwell Council, said: "I can understand how people are making the connection between the alterations in the service and the increase in allowances but I assure you that it is a relatively small amount compared to what will be invested in the redevelopment of the new stations."
Councillors in Sandwell recently voted that the fire serve shake-up be temporarily shelved until Deputy Chief Fire Officer Vij Randeniya had looked at the plans, following the shock resignation of former chief officer Frank Sheehan, who was arrested over child porn allegations.
Friar Park councillor Simon Hackett said: "At a time when three stations in Sandwell are going to be badly affected by these changes, I don't think it is right and proper that these increases should be allowed to go through.
Mike Fox, spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service, said the rise is in line with the allowances paid to councillors who are members of other similar authorities such as the police and transport authority.
