Shropshire fire service takeover bid ‘significantly flawed’, say chiefs

Shropshire's fire authority has questioned the final business case submitted to government by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, claiming it has "significant flaws".

The comments come in a joint statement from Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority.

It said Mr Campion has "denied local people and communities a voice" by taking "little or no heed of the views and concerns of the constituent authorities, town and parish councils" expressed in the consultation in his final business case.

Mr Campion wants to become the joint commissioner for West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

He has argued that one commissioner for all services would produce savings of £4 million.

The letter, signed by chairman of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority Eric Carter and chairman of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority Roger Phillips, said: "The two fire and rescue authorities believe that the final business case contains significant flaws, including a lack of compelling evidence to support some of its main claims."

However, it also says that the business case offers "some good, positive ways forward".

It states: "The fire authority remains committed to collaborating as far as possible and believes that parts of the final business case offer some good, positive ways forward, however, Mr Campion appears to have gone into a consultation process and taken little or no heed of the views and concerns of the constituent authorities, town and parish councils. By doing so that he has denied local people and communities a voice. Again, this is very disappointing."

It says that their proposals for a new structure that would bring together the two fire authorities and the PCC have been ignored, and labelled it "particularly disappointing".

At the end of the letter it says the organisations welcome the independent panel's forensic examination of the PCC's business case.

Speaking when he announced his decision to press ahead and submit the business case Mr Campion said: “I promised I would listen to, and be guided by, our communities and that is what I am doing. If there is credible evidence that a change in governance would cost less, achieve more and has public backing, I cannot just ignore that. For those reasons I felt it was right to further develop these proposals, create a full business case and put it to government for their consideration.

“I recognise that some people had raised concerns during the consultation, but I am confident those concerns have been addressed in the full business case. Enhanced collaboration between our emergency services must now be delivered to increase public safety.”

A decision on whether to allow Mr Campion's bid to go ahead will now be taken by the government.