Jobs fear if Shropshire fire service 'takeover bid' is successful
Jobs will have to be cut if £4 million is to be saved under radical plans to merge the running of police and fire services, a fire authority boss claimed today
Eric Carter, chairman of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority, said the body will fight a business case put forward by Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.
Mr Campion wants to have a single joint commissioner for West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
Councillor Carter today called the move a "takeover bid" and said he is sceptical the business case would be able to save £4 million, as outlined, without cutting jobs.
His fears come despite Mr Campion's insistence that frontline services will not be hit and that savings can be made behind the scenes.
Mr Carter said: "Whilst many of the ideas in Mr Campion’s business case make sense they are not new to us and already form part of our plans.
"Shropshire’s Fire Authority has consistently shown how it can achieve an excellent service with an ever-decreasing budget.
"We will continue to engage with Mr Campion’s consultation but the first question we will ask is, how does he see the stated £4m savings being achieved?
"Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is already lean and efficient so in our view £4 million of further savings can only come through job losses.
"I have consulted with the other political leaders in Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority and we strongly believe the public are better served by local representatives, governing a local fire and rescue service that focuses on local needs. We have seen time and time again that as organisations become bigger they move more slowly, have more bureaucracy and are less aware of local issues."
He said the was "disappointed" in the business case as the outcome of work done together with the office of the PCC.
"Mr Campion was invited to take part in our fire authority meetings long before the change in legislation required us to do so and it was our hope that this would allow our partnership to strengthen rather than provoke what can only really be described as a ‘take-over’ bid," he said.
"The authority fully supports reforms to governance but believes that can be done better by further streamlining our current governance processes. This could include a reduced number of members of the fire authority and the inclusion of the PCC.
"This would ensure Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service remains on a secure footing to seize opportunities for further collaboration with West Mercia Police but at the same time ensures Shropshire’s fire service continues to be governed by Shropshire’s community representatives."
His comments were echoed by a former senior fire officer.
Martin Timmis, a Shrewsbury-based fire safety expert who was previously head of operational response with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, called the, drawn up by independent experts Beckford Consulting, "serious flawed".
Mr Timmis said, “Mr Campion says he wants to run the fire service in Shropshire, but I don’t think he has any idea of what that would entail.
“The chief fire officer and his senior management team have been subject to huge financial pressures and run an excellent service.
“There are fewer fire deaths, less business fires and better operational procedures than ever before. The costs of any amalgamation with neighbouring services are prohibitive. I simply don't see what value the PCC can add.
“The salary for the West Mercia PCC is about £75,000 a year. Well, that’s about the same as the cost of running each of the part-time fire stations in Shropshire. Which do you keep? We all know which can save a life.”
The case is now being consulted upon by Mr Campion until September 11.
Mr Campion said: "It was extremely important that, during the drawing up of my business case, I fully involved those affected by the proposed changes – this included all fire authorities. Understandably some members will not support the proposals I have put forward, however, there are significant potential benefits that can’t be ignored.
“There may currently be collaboration in place, however it is nowhere near as fully developed as it could be. Improved collaboration will contribute to the £4 million savings, as will abolishing the existing governance – which equates to approximately £500,000. Other savings would be achieved primarily in shared back-office functions, and the front line would be improved, not damaged,” he added.
