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| Avon Fire and Rescue Service review call over 'bullying' claim | Avon Fire and Rescue Service review call over 'bullying' claim |
| (6 days later) | |
| Calls have been made for an independent investigation at Avon Fire and Rescue Service after the departure of three senior officers in five years. | Calls have been made for an independent investigation at Avon Fire and Rescue Service after the departure of three senior officers in five years. |
| The BBC has uncovered evidence of infighting among senior management and allegations of bullying in one case. | The BBC has uncovered evidence of infighting among senior management and allegations of bullying in one case. |
| Three councillors on the Avon Fire Authority, which oversees the service, have called for an independent review. | Three councillors on the Avon Fire Authority, which oversees the service, have called for an independent review. |
| The authority said the allegations had been investigated twice and concluded no further action was needed. | The authority said the allegations had been investigated twice and concluded no further action was needed. |
| Former assistant chief fire officer Dave Salmon took early retirement on the grounds of ill-health in 2014, following a suspension. | Former assistant chief fire officer Dave Salmon took early retirement on the grounds of ill-health in 2014, following a suspension. |
| The BBC has been told he was met with resistance from colleagues after pushing for reforms to the service. | The BBC has been told he was met with resistance from colleagues after pushing for reforms to the service. |
| An independent doctor, who saw him when he was pursuing part of his under-dispute pension, said Mr Salmon "appeared to have been subject to behaviours which could be argued as being bullying and harassment prior to his suspension". | An independent doctor, who saw him when he was pursuing part of his under-dispute pension, said Mr Salmon "appeared to have been subject to behaviours which could be argued as being bullying and harassment prior to his suspension". |
| Avon Fire Authority said it could not comment on personal circumstances but that it had been subject to a "malicious campaign" at a time when it was working to make savings. | Avon Fire Authority said it could not comment on personal circumstances but that it had been subject to a "malicious campaign" at a time when it was working to make savings. |
| 'Toxic atmosphere' | 'Toxic atmosphere' |
| Deputy chief fire officer Jerry O'Brien was given a year's secondment and £25,000 pensionable allowance before retiring in 2012. | |
| But the secondment never happened and Mr O'Brien spent time instead on garden leave, the BBC has been told. | But the secondment never happened and Mr O'Brien spent time instead on garden leave, the BBC has been told. |
| Maggie Harte, who was HR director until she took early retirement in 2011, said disagreements at board level made her ill. | Maggie Harte, who was HR director until she took early retirement in 2011, said disagreements at board level made her ill. |
| "I had been in the fire service for 30 odd years, my sickness record almost flawless. | "I had been in the fire service for 30 odd years, my sickness record almost flawless. |
| "Suddenly I found I would be vomiting before I went into work on a Monday, which was our board meeting day, just at the thought of yet another clash. | "Suddenly I found I would be vomiting before I went into work on a Monday, which was our board meeting day, just at the thought of yet another clash. |
| "It was so unpleasant it broke me for a period of time." | "It was so unpleasant it broke me for a period of time." |
| 'Unfounded allegations' | 'Unfounded allegations' |
| Nick Wilton, who has called for a review, said: "I would describe the atmosphere as toxic. The fact that three senior officers have exited… I think is a real cause for concern." | Nick Wilton, who has called for a review, said: "I would describe the atmosphere as toxic. The fact that three senior officers have exited… I think is a real cause for concern." |
| The authority said it had been aware of the "unfounded" allegations for some time and they had been dealt with twice in recent months. | The authority said it had been aware of the "unfounded" allegations for some time and they had been dealt with twice in recent months. |
| A spokesman said it had "treated the matters seriously". | A spokesman said it had "treated the matters seriously". |
| "The second time a more in-depth review of the allegations was carried out and we received a statutory report from the fire authority's new monitoring officer, who was able to bring a fresh perspective to these matters," he said. | "The second time a more in-depth review of the allegations was carried out and we received a statutory report from the fire authority's new monitoring officer, who was able to bring a fresh perspective to these matters," he said. |
| The authority added an overwhelming majority of its members decided "no further action should be taken" and they have "full confidence" in the chief fire officer. | The authority added an overwhelming majority of its members decided "no further action should be taken" and they have "full confidence" in the chief fire officer. |