SOUTH Yorkshire’s chief fire officer is to retire in a move that will save the authority £300,000 a year.

Mark Smitherman will step down in April next year after 32 years’ service within the UK Fire and Rescue service.

His departure will pave the way for a restructure of the service’s principal officer team, reducing the number of directors from five to four.

Union members say this figure proves Mr Smitherman was earning more previously stated through undisclosed ‘achievement bonuses’.

A fire authority spokesman said the savings were not a reflection of Mr Smitherman’s annual salary.

“His salary comes nowhere near £300,000, that takes into account all the chief’s costs which include his pension and car. It is not just his post and the four directors involved, there is another tier of management below which is being restructured.”

Mr Smitherman joined South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue in April 2004.

During his time in charge he was locked in a two-year battle with fire-fighters over shift patterns.

Coun Jim Andrews, chairman of the fire authority, said: “It has been a challenging period for fire and rescue services up and down the country. We have made massive strides in improving the safety during Mark’s time.”