Today, members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Northamptonshire Brigade have unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Police, fire and crime commissioner Stephen Mold.
The firefighter’s vote comes ahead of a public meeting of the Police, fire and crime scrutiny panel on Thursday 7th September, which is scheduled to include questions scrutinising Stephen Mold’s tenure. Firefighters are set to hold a rally outside the meeting, calling for Mold to resign or be held to the “highest account” by the panel.
Commissioner Stephen Mold is facing scrutiny after appointing his own staffer, Nicci Marzec, to the role of interim Chief Fire Officer – despite the fact that Ms Marzec had never been a firefighter and had no operational experience of the fire service.
Following outcry from the Fire Brigades Union, local politicians, and the public, Nicci Marzec stepped down from the role. She has since resigned from all positions she holds with the PFCC office, including as head of staff. Stephen Mold remains in post.
The FBU has called on Fire Minister Chris Philp to end this “abuse of power” by scrapping the “undemocratic and unaccountable” PFCC model.
Adam Taylor, Fire Brigades Union Executive Council representative for the East Midlands, said:
The people of Northamptonshire deserve a fire service run in the interests of saving lives and homes. Instead, the people at the very top of our service are being allowed to put their own careers before public safety.
Stephen Mold has been able to abuse his power within a failing, undemocratic structure. Instead of an elected fire authority, we have one individual who can act without real accountability. The PFCC model has been a dangerous experiment in our region, and these chaotic events must signal its end.
Firefighters’ vote of no confidence in Stephen Mold’s leadership cannot go ignored. The people of Northampton are calling for him to resign. Firefighters are calling for him to resign. It could not be clearer. If he refuses, the panel scrutinising him this week must hold him to the highest account by holding their own vote of no confidence.”
