The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has put forward proposals and an initial business case to alter fire governance arrangements in the West Mercia area. At the request of the executive, Herefordshire Council’s General Scrutiny Committee (GSC) was asked to review the PCCs proposals and initial business case.  On 21 August, the GSC met at a specially convened meeting with the PCC and the Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRA) present.  After taking evidence from the PCC and FRAs the GSC highlights a number of concerns with the PCC’s fire governance proposals. These are submitted to the executive for consideration

That:

(a)         the PCC be advised that Herefordshire Council does not support the PCCs proposals and is particularly concerned that the detailed business case has not been provided the council as a statutory consultee; and

(b)        the draft response (at appendix 1) to the questions within the consultation be approved; and

(c)         discussions be held between the relevant upper tier council leaders with a view to identifying alternative options for local collaboration for further consideration.

1.           Do nothing:  This is not recommended.  The PCCs proposals have wide reaching implications; proposals include abolition of the Hereford and Worcester and Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authorities.   The Fire and Rescue Services would remain as separate entities each under their own Chief Officer, subject to the overall governance of the PCC.  The PCC has not yet made a detailed business case available for review or consultation. Without seeing the detailed business case, Herefordshire Council cannot confidently commit to the proposals set out by the PCC, given the limited evidence presented.

2.           Do something different: The GSC draws the executive’s attention to the current working arrangements of Sussex’s PCC.  Sussex PCC has decided to maintain current governance structures without seeking to make changes to fire authority governance arrangements.  This approach was proposed by an independent review making provision for review periods of current working arrangements.  The proposed consultation response in Appendix 1 makes this recommendation to the PCC.