PFCP Response to the appointment of Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer)

Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel – Confirmation Hearing re Proposed appointment of David Greensmith to the post of Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer) in the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire and for the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority/Service

As you’re aware, following the Confirmation Hearing on Monday 29 April 2019 I am required to formally notify you of the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel’s recommendation with regard to your proposal to appoint David Greensmith as Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer) in the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire and for the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority/Service

You attended the Panel’s Confirmation Hearing and reported that, in line with your Business Case for the transfer to you of the governance responsibility for the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, you had reviewed the current position of having three Section 151 Officers in post, to create two posts. You had done so by creating a ‘combined’ Section 151 Officer role for your Office and for the Fire and Rescue Service/Authority, with the Police Section 151 post to remain. This structure aimed to emphasize the existence of two completely separate functions.

Referring to David Greensmith as your preferred candidate for the combined post, you reported on his wealth of experience at senior level, his knowledge and expertise in relation to the Fire  and Rescue Service and his proven ability to identify and support the delivery of savings with minimum effect on services.  Looking to the future you had confidence in David’s ability to lead on the transformation of the Enabling Services within the Fire and Rescue and Police Services and build on work to date to strengthen the financial management structures under your purview.

David briefly summarised his career particularly referring to his experience in the private sector. 

We were mindful that David was currently employed on a full time basis as the Section 151 Officer for the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service/Authority and therefore questioned you on what action would be taken to provide capacity for the Section 151 responsibilities for your Office.

You reported that you had reviewed the duties of senior level financial management posts and that David’s additional responsibilities (eg, Information Technology, Risk Management) would be re-allocated.

The Panel’s role is to recommend that an appointment be made or that an appointment not be made.  In this instance the Panel were unanimous in their support for the proposed appointment. Members were however keen for reassurance that sufficient capacity would be created within the new ‘combined ‘post to enable David to perform both elements.  We therefore agreed to request an update from you in sixth months time on how the revisions to David’s responsibilities were materialising and the amount of capacity actually freed up.  We will therefore include an item on our Work Programme for our November 2019 meeting.

In the meantime we wish David Greensmith well in his new role.

This letter will be published on Monday 13 May 2019.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Sweeney

Chairman - Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel