Cumbria’s firefighters will be led by the county’s police commissioner, the Government has ruled.
Crime commissioner Peter McCall submitted a business case to the Home Office, outlining why he should take responsibility for the service, currently managed by Cumbria County Council.
The authority will be dissolved in April, along with all the district councils, to be replaced by Cumberland Council – covering Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland – and Westmorland and Furness Council – covering Eden, Barrow and South Lakeland.
Mr McCall’s proposal was not supported by the county council in March and representatives of the Fire Brigades’ Union wrote to Mr McCall to ask him to drop the plans. The union fears it will lead to the closure of fire stations and a reduction in staff.
But the Home Office has given it the go-ahead and Mr McCall said it will only affect the service’s governance and not its day-to-day running – which will remain in the hands of the chief fire officer.
He said: “As the county council is replaced next year by two unitary authorities and new potential legislation will require a nominated and elected individual to assume responsibility for fire governance, it makes sense to bring governance together with the office of the police and crime commissioner, which already carries out a similar function for policing.
“The essential mission is to ensure that there is no disruption to the delivery of Fire and Rescue Services to the public across the county and the protection of support services and staff in a smooth transition which will take some time.
“I see my role, in addition to governance of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service on behalf of the public is to support the service by seeking the best possible resource for this essential service, to improve infrastructure and ensure that we develop staff, training and equipment, to be ready for future challenges and above all to keep residents safe.”
Councillor Jonathan Brook, of Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “The transfer of Fire and Rescue Service governance to the Police and Crime Commissioner is a pragmatic solution, providing a common focus for blue light service delivery across the county.”
Coun Janet Willis, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for customers, transformation and fire and rescue, said: “As a fire authority, we will ensure that Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service have the support they need to ensure a smooth transition to the Police and Crime Commissioner.
“Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service deliver amazing work throughout the county to ensure the people of Cumbria and our visitors are kept safe and we wish the Service every success in their future.”
