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Chief fire officer Kevin Pearson has been suspended from Avon Fire and Rescue Service along with his deputy, Lorraine Houghton.

The pair were named in a highly critical Home Office report last week which identified a series of back-hand pension payments, secret meetings and an “endemic” bullying culture in the organisation.

The report called for a change in senior management staff, as author Craig Baker was not convinced the team could reform itself.

The decision to suspend the two officers was made at an Avon Fire Authority Employment Committee Panel meeting yesterday but not made public until this evening.

It is unclear why the authority chose to withhold the information from the public until today.

A statement from the authority said: “The decision was taken to suspend the Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Avon Fire & Rescue Service with immediate effect, pending investigations into the findings contained within the Statutory Inspection report and complaints made against them.

“Suspension is a neutral act to protect the organisation and the individuals concerned. At the moment these are only allegations, which will be investigated in line with disciplinary procedures and processes.

“Avon Fire Authority will be making no further comment.”

Mr Pearson, who is paid a salary of £144,854 a year, has been on sick leave from the service since before June.

Dr Baker was highly critical of the Chief Fire Officer’s conduct in his report and found that Mr Pearson has access to two pensions, received a £12,000 pay rise in 2015 and signed off on senior staff pay increases to boost their final salary pensions.

Avon Fire Authority is in talks with the National Fire Chiefs Council to find suitable individuals to act as interim chief and deputy chief fire officers.

The chief fire officer of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Stewart Edgar, is currently offering “peer support” to the service.

The spokesperson added: “Members of the public can be assured that there will be no impact on our operational capability during this period.”