Top firefighter quits in vehicle sale probe

Arbroath-born chief resigns after report cites poor judgment and damaged confidence

An Angus-born chief fire officer has quit after an investigation into the sale of a service vehicle.

Stewart Edgar, now based in Gloucestershire, resigned after a report concluded he demonstrated “poor judgment” over the vehicle’s disposal.

Gloucestershire County Council’s chief executive, Pete Bungard, said Mr Edgar acknowledged his actions had “damaged the council’s confidence” in him.

In a statement, Mr Bungard said: “I can confirm a complaint was recently made in relation to the disposal of a fire service vehicle. As a result an internal audit investigation was carried out.

“The investigation identified poor judgment by the chief fire officer, which he acknowledges has damaged the council’s confidence in his ability to undertake his senior leadership role. Stewart Edgar has taken responsibility for his actions and has resigned.”

Mr Edgar was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last month for services to local government and community. He already has the Queen’ss Fire Service Medal, which was presented to him at Buckingham Palace in 2013. Born in Arbroath and raised in Carnoustie, Mr Edgar has a wife, Fiona, and two daughters, Corah 25, and Lana, 22. He is an avid supporter of Dundee United FC and also lists his interests as DIY, cycling and walking and has said he would love to retire to France.

At the time of his appointment as Gloucestershire fire chief in 2014, Mr Edgar was working as chief of the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland. He began his career by joining Tayside Fire Brigade as a retained firefighter in 1991. He became a full-time firefighter in 1993 and was promoted to area manager in 2007.

Moving to Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service as deputy chief fire officer, he was quickly appointed as the interim leader of the service, becoming their last chief fire officer before the service was amalgamated into the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

He said at the time of his move to Gloucestershire: “It is my intention to ensure that the communities of Gloucestershire continue to receive the highest standards of community safety and emergency response services and at the same time being efficient and delivering value for money.”

The Fire Brigades Union said it was “concerned” with a “lack of detail” about the resignation.

FBU South West spokesman Brent Thorley said: “Initially GFRS staff were told the chief fire officer wanted to spend more time with his family. This has proven to be incorrect and only adds to the feeling that GFRS staff and the public are not being told the whole truth.”

Mr Thorley called for the county council to “reveal the full details in an open and honest manner”.

It has damaged the council’s confidence in his ability to undertake his senior leadership role. He has accepted this and resigned