A member of the public has challenged the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s response to her question about the reappointment of chief fire officer Andy Hopkinson.
Yesterday’s meeting (Thursday) was told by Ms Sue Gray (via email) that the response given during January’s Executive Committee “didn’t properly answer” her question.
“In October, the fire authority approved the re-engagement of the chief fire officer,” she wrote, “What are the exceptional circumstances of public safety affecting the people of Bedfordshire that would warrant breaking national guidance?”
Cllr Michael Headley (Bedford Borough Council), the authority’s vice-chair, read out the response given “for clarity”.
“The Bedfordshire Fire Authority (BFA) meeting held on October 14, 2024, and the decisions taken at that meeting, were in accordance with the requirements of the National Framework as set out in the published minutes.
“The discussion of this item lasted for nearly 90 minutes where the elected members in attendance had a long debate and much consideration was given to public safety, which was at the heart of discussion, alongside the National Framework.
“We never lost sight of colleagues and residents in our debate, and we know that consistency in leadership is key during this pressured time of change.
“The FRA then moved into public session to vote, and passed the motion of the re-engagement of the chief fire officer on a time-limited basis by a majority vote.
“As set out in the published minutes, because of the need to deliver current organisational plans that will ensure public safety and enable successful succession planning arrangements to be put in place.
“That’s the end of the quote from cllr Burnett,” he said.
“I will just emphasise for clarity that the reasons given in the decision were ‘the need to deliver current organisational plans that will ensure public safety and enable successful succession planning arrangements to be put in place’.
“I hope that clarifies the public safety reason recorded for the decision. Given that it was a majority decision, you will recognise there are different views on this following the extensive debate. But the minuted reason is the resolved position of the authority,” he said.
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Real World HR
Ms Gray’s second question was also read out by councillor Headley.
“Fire authority minutes show a company called Real World HR delivered the report in October that convinced fire authority members to ignore the Fire and Rescue National Framework and vote to re-appoint the chief fire officer in what would have been a lucrative re-appointment.
“It is understood that Real World HR has recently been commissioned again by the chief fire officer to undertake HR consultancy work for Bedfordshire Fire Service, which could be worth over £100,000.
“Can the fire authority reassure the public that given the value of this contract, that a full tender process was undertaken to ensure fair and transparent procurement?”
In his response, cllr Headley said: “The Real World HR contract was awarded a direct award by the ESPO consultancy services framework.
“Just to explain, the framework is a group of suppliers who have been through a formal procurement process and selected to be on a list of pre-approved suppliers for particular goods and services.
“The framework provides buyers with terms and conditions that have been pre-arranged with suppliers, often with fixed cap pricing,” he said.
“The contracting authorities can then use the framework to award contracts in a compliant, simple, and quicker manner.
“The desktop review of our requirements and pricing available through the framework was carried out, and Real World HR was chosen as the preferred supplier, and the contract was awarded to it through a direct award.
“The procurement is classed as a below threshold of procurement, as it was well within the threshold for public contract regulations.
“Therefore, the contract order has been on best practice is therefore relative requirements as it was procured through the framework complies to the authorities procurement policy,” he said.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
