Campion says fire consultation period is long enough
The region's police and crime commissioner has said three months is long enough to consult on his plans to take over the governance of the county's fire service.
John Campion, police and crime commissioner for West Mercia, has been asked to rethink his proposals by the leaders Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Worcestershire and Herefordshire councils.
It is understood that the leaders had also requested an extension to the three month consultation period.
However Mr Campion, who is proposing to combine Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire fire authorities, has said he is satisfied the time period allows long enough for people to consider the issues.
He said: “The fire authorities have been involved in this process right from the start, at the beginning of this year. On top of this, I am now ensuring a full three months for consultation. I believe this provides sufficient time for any interested party to fully understand and consider this issue.”
A draft letter from the council leaders, which was published on Shropshire Council's website, questioned whether Mr Campion's plan would generate the £4million of savings he has claimed.
It stated: "On the basis of the information available to us currently, the ability to deliver such significant savings through a bringing together of governance arrangements seems to be uncertain."
Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, said there are also concerns over the loss of local accountability with the plans.
He said: "We are opposed to it because we want local accountability and we feel the area would be better covered by the existing fire authorities."
The councils are yet to provide formal responses as part of the consultation, with meetings scheduled to discuss the responses in the next few weeks.
Last week Shropshire's fire authority announced it would be employing its own consultants to examine Mr Campion's case.
One of the suggestions contained in the business case commissioned by Mr Campion is to move Shropshire Fire & Rescue's control room to a new facility being built in Hindlip as one way of saving money.
It states: "Substantial investment is already being made by West Mercia Police, Warwickshire Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service in the new Hindlip control room together with a range of supporting investments in new infrastructure, hardware and software. While Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has and is making investment in ICT, the opportunity exists for it to join with the joint control room facility and for all services to align around the most appropriate software and technologies."
