COUNTY council chiefs have given the thumbs down to contoversial proposals which could see West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissoner take over the running of the county’s fire service.
John Campion has proposed to axe both the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority and its sister group in Shropshire and bring their functions under his remit in a bid to save £4million a year.
However the move has created a storm of criticism from councillors and fire chiefs especiallly in Shropshire who claim they have already identified £2million of savings in the next financial year.
Should the move be approved at the end of the consultation process by the Home Secretary the changes would come into effect in 2020.
It would mean local comnmunities would have the chance to elect a local police, fire and crime commissioner.
During a meeting at County Hall on Thursday, Worcestershire county councillors unanimously approved a response to Mr Campion which said the move would not be in the interest of improving public safety or the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the service.
Coun Paul Middleborough introduced the debate and called for a ‘reasonable, measured and fact-based response’ to the consultation.
“I suspect that a majority of members will be opposed to the commissoner taking over responsibility for the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority,” he said.
“To show this isn’t party political, if the previous Police and Crime Commissoner had made a similar proposal I suspect it would have met with similar opposition.
“As the debate has developed over the last few weeks, I have heard no significant support for these proposals, a lot of anger and somewhat opportunistic and necessary personal attacks on the commissoner.”
“We want to see fire safety improved but we think there are much better ways of doing that.”
Coun Andy Fry backed the motion and labelled the business case put forward by Mr Campion as ‘poor, with gaps, holes and a lack of detail’.
“We should keep the Fire Authority together, working with Shropshire, working with Telford and Wrekin and not being messed into the hole which the Police and Crime Commissoner is becoming,” he said,
“That is a job and a half without devaluing the Fire Authortity.
Coun Fran Oborski said: “I am on record to say if that is a business case then I am the sugar plum fairy!”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Campion said: “My focus throughout this process has been on building a safer West Mercia and delivering the best services for our communities.”
“I have engaged with thousands of people on this subject over the last few months in a number of different ways and I am grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation.
Their message is clear: Our communities expect their emergency services to collaborate properly in order to improve services and they want resources prioritised towards vital frontline officers and equipment.”
“I have always said I was open minded about this subject and would be guided by our communities.
I will listen to their views in determining what happens next, as well as taking on feedback from other stakeholders.”
An initial business case from independent experts suggests a change to having a single Commissioner for local police and fire services could enable greater collaboration and improve services for local communities.
