West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority gives go-ahead to set up special board to tackle 'significant weaknesses' in governance

At a meeting on Monday the body nodded through the setting up of the new Corporate Governance Improvement Board to carry out changes after a series of ongoing reviews by the Home Office and the fire inspectorate in the aftermath of a damning audit report.

Auditors found the service breached its constitution in the suspension of an un-named senior officer, failed to follow the correct procedures in the appointment of a senior officer earning in excess of £100,000 and had not complied with its responsibilities in checking out the educational qualifications of former chief Wayne Brown who died last year.  

The move follows a turbulent 12 months for the brigade including the departure of interim chief executive Oliver Lee, who took over after Mr Brown's death and the resignation of former authority chairman Wolverhampton councillor Greg Brackenridge.