THE FIRE Brigades’ Union is calling for the resignation of the chairman of the South Yorkshire Fire Authority over controversial overtime payments to chief fire officers.
Coun Jim Andrews, who is also the deputy leader of Barnsley Council, approved the payments of £42,000 without the knowledge of the full fire authority.
During the strikes of 2013, South Yorkshire’s chief fire officer Jamie Courtney received an extra £14,390 on top of his £185,000 salary package, while his deputy Mark Shaw, who has since retired, received £14,820 and the assistant chief John Roberts, who is now deputy, a further £13,425.
An investigation has revealed the payments were not made illegally, but lacked transparency.
Neil Carbutt, brigade secretary said: “If you put aside the legality issue and put it down to what is right and put it down to what is right and proper for decision-makers of the authority to do, our members think grave errors have been made and think it is time for him to fall on his sword.”
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
