Campion queries Shropshire fire service takeover review deadline
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has raised concerns about the time given to an independent firm to check over his business plans to take over the fire service.
The fire authority has hired independent firm Ameo Alendi Consulting to analyse the plans, and hopes to receive a report by July 27.
But Mr Campion has said that three weeks cannot be enough time to thoroughly check over his business plans, and that members of the public could not be convinced it isn't just "a hatchet job, produced to reinforce opinions that have already been formed".
He said his plans would deliver the "best results" for the people of Shropshire and save £4 million each year.
“Work began on my business case at the start of the year," he said. "The fire authorities were consulted every step of the way.
“All of the evidence in the business case was provided by our police force and the fire authorities themselves. It took independent experts several months to gather all the necessary evidence, analyse it, refine it, and present their findings.
“We are now a month into the three-month consultation. I welcome the fire authorities engaging in this debate and understand why they are not in favour of the proposals, as it would see their posts abolished.
"However, knowing the time and effort it takes to look at all the relevant issues thoroughly, I am concerned that their three-week timeframe is not enough to do this.
"Certainly it is not enough time to do it with sufficient rigour that our communities can be confident that this is not just a hatchet job, produced to reinforce opinions that have already been formed.
“I have always been, and remain open-minded. This is not about politics or personalities. It is purely about making our communities the safest they can be."
Councillor Carter said that the fire authority believed strongly that the best way to run a local service was with local people.
He said the proposal for an independent check had cross-party support, and that he was also backed by council leaders at all levels.
The government has said it wants to see a more joined-up approach in the way police and fire services work together.
On January 25, 2016, the government announced it would bring forward legislation to enable police and crime commissioners to take over fire and rescue services.
It means police and crime commissioners could potentially create a single employer for both police and fire personnel if they are able to demonstrate a clear business case for doing so.
