Decision Maker: Chief Executive Officer
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The Chief Executive Officer noted that the
Members of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel held an
informal meeting on 22nd July 2021, at which they considered the
suitability of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s
preferred candidate for the role of Interim Chief Fire Officer
(North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service). Following an assessment
of the candidate’s professional competence and personal
independence and taking into account the supporting information
provided by the Commissioner and the candidate, the Panel agreed to
recommend that Jonathan Foster be approved as Interim Chief Fire
Officer to the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
By whom: Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his
emergency delegated powers and after consultation with the Members
of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel.
Please note that as a non-executive decision by an officer, this
decision is not open to call-in.
Under his delegated decision making powers in
the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s
Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of
emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the
Council, the Executive or a committee.
Following on from the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police
and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and
Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations
2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”), which allowed for
committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved
at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light
of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote
live-broadcast committee meetings should continue, as informal
meetings of the committee members, with any formal decisions
required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his
emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other
Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account
any views of the relevant Committee Members. This approach will be
reviewed by full Council at its July meeting.
The Chief Executive Officer has taken all relevant information into
account in exercising his emergency delegated powers in this
matter, including considering the views of the North Yorkshire
Police, Fire and Crime Panel Members.
The reasons for the decision in this matter are as follows:
•The Chief Executive reviewed the supporting information
provided within the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s
submission, setting out the suitability of Jonathan Foster as his
preferred candidate for the role.
•The Chief Executive also noted Mr Foster’s personal
statement and the report provided by the independent member to the
selection process, which underlined the rigour applied to the
recruitment process.
•The Chief Executive noted the comments of the Police, Fire
and Crime Panel Members in assessing Mr Foster’s suitability
at their informal meeting held on 22nd July 2021, during which time
the Panel asked Mr Foster a series of questions aimed at evidencing
an assessment against his professional competence to undertake the
role and his ability to exercise personal independence of
judgment.
•Having taken into account the background material provided
and the assessment made by the Panel Members, the Chief Executive
agreed the recommendation of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and
Crime Panel that Jonathan Foster be appointed as Interim Chief Fire
Officer.
N/A.
Publication date: 26/07/2021
Date of decision: 22/07/2021