A new Chair has been appointed to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority. Councillor Phil Tye was formally appointed at the meeting of the Authority at the Service’s Headquarters in Washington.
The extraordinary meeting was held after a decision on the appointment of a new chair could not be reached at the Annual General Meeting on June 27th. He will work with other members of the Fire Authority and Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther to create the safest community for residents and businesses in Tyne and Wear.
fire and rescue service
Cllr Tye has been a Councillor in Silksworth since 2006 and replaces Cllr Tony Taylor who stepped down as Chair earlier this year. Speaking about his appointment, Cllr Tye said he was looking forward to working with the Chief Fire Officer and getting to know the Service in more detail.
He said, “It is an exciting time to be part of the fire and rescue service and I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of the Fire Authority."
creating safe communities
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is an organization that has a reputation at the local and national levels"
“Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is a great organization that has a fantastic reputation at both a local and national level. I share their vision of creating the safest communities here in Tyne and Wear and look forward to the future.”
Cllr Carole Burdis, who represents the Valley ward at North Tyneside Council, was also appointed as the Authority’s Vice-Chairperson.
New members
Other new members of the Fire Authority include:
- Cllr David Wood CBE – Newcastle, Walker
- Cllr John Usher – Sunderland, Redhill
Chief Fire Officer Lowther welcomed the new members and said he will continue to work hard to deliver the best service to the communities he serves.
He said, “I would like to extend a warm welcome to Cllr Tye, and all the new Authority members, from myself and everyone at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service."
Strategic goals
It is an exciting time to be a part of the Service as we are investing in new ways of working"
Chief Fire Officer Lowther added, “It is an exciting time to be a part of the Service as we are investing in new ways of working, new technology, and people. There are also several challenges ahead of us but I look forward to working closely with Cllr Tye and the new members of the Authority."
“I hope that together we can continue to achieve our strategic goals and continue to create the safest communities across Tyne and Wear.”
Efficient service
The responsibility of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority is to ensure the service performs efficiently and in the best interest of the public. It is made up of elected members from across Tyne and Wears, as well as the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness.
The Authority holds public meetings every month with several sub-committees also taking place throughout the year.