Members considered the identification of any declarations of interest, matters of urgency or items that would require the exclusion of the press and public due to the disclosure of exempt information.

Resolved that:

a)  no declarations of interest where identified by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda.

b)  no additional items of business which the Chair has determined should be considered as matters of urgency, where identified.

c)  no items of business required the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof, due to the possible disclosure of exempt information.

Members considered Report CFO/035/18 of the Monitoring Officer, concerning the succession planning arrangements following the announcement of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) that he intends to retire from the service of MFRA and accept the offer to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer/Chief Officer of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Members were informed that the report was produced by the current Chief Fire Officer – Dan Stephens; and reflects what he considered to be appropriate succession planning arrangements. The report recommends that the current Deputy Chief Fire Officer – Phil Garrigan, acts up to the role of Chief Fire Officer, the current Director of Operational Preparedness – Nick Searle, act up to the role of Deputy Chief Fire Officer, and current Area Manager seconded to National Resilience - Paul Hitchen, acts up to the role of Director of Operational Preparedness.

Members were advised that due to MFRA being the Lead Authority for National Resilience, it is vitally important that there is someone appointed at the top of the organisation with responsibility for National Resilience and as such, a recruitment process be undertaken quite soon to make substantive appointments to those roles.

However, with regards to the Area Manager seconded to National Resilience, acting up to the Director of Operational Preparedness role, Members were advised that the current Deputy Chief Fire Officer would wish to look at the structure of the organisation; and in-particular the Area Manager arrangements.

The acting Chair of the Authority commented that Members would normally only be involved in first tier appointments and it would therefore be better to appoint to those only at this stage.  

Members Resolved that:

(a)  The recommendation that the current Deputy Chief Fire Officer act up to the role of Chief Fire Officer, be approved.

(b)  The recommendation that the current Director of Operational Preparedness act up to the role of Deputy Chief Fire Officer, be approved.

(c)  Any second tier appointments, be arranged by the acting Chief Fire Officer.

(d)  A report regarding permanent arrangements, be brought back to the Authority in due course.