NORTH Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has rejected a proposal which would see the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) oversee both emergency services.

Days into a public consultation over plans to replace the fire authority with a Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, chairman Councillor Andrew Backhouse said the move could destabilise the organisation.

A change in the law means North Yorkshire’s PCC Julia Mulligan can take on the role of the fire authority to set budgets, shape policies and hold the service to account if she has public support.

Mrs Mulligan insists this would not be a merger, with budgets remaining separate and firefighters and police officers retaining their distinct roles and chief officers. Rather, it would be a way of increasing effectiveness, speeding up decision-making and saving up to £6.6m over the next ten years. This would be achieved by sharing resources, buildings, back office departments and ideas, freeing up money to invest in frontline services.

But Cllr Backhouse believes the best option is for the PCC to join the fire authority, which is currently made up of 16 elected councillors from North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council.

He said: “The fire authority considers that the PCC has not set out an evidenced case for an irreversible transfer of governance from the fire authority to the PCC. Instead we believe it would be better if the PCC were to become a voting member on the authority, alongside existing councillors.

“Our proposal balances costs, savings, collaboration and public safety in an appropriate and risk assessed way and still keeps options for change open for the future, if necessary.”

He said external reviews had “consistently confirmed” the authority has strong governance arrangements, adding: “These arrangements can be further enhanced by the addition of the PCC on the authority. We want to ensure that any future governance structure does not destabilise the organisation.

“The authority believes in greater collaboration with a wide range of partners, not just with the police, and our proposed model of governance would deliver this.”

Last month, Upper Dales councillor John Blackie told the Darlington and Stockton Times he could see no advantages in drawing the two services together.

“I am quite in favour of collaboration and this is already happening, but once you start drawing them together and having a combined emergency response centre, it takes them further and further away,” said the former leader of Richmondshire District Council

“There are huge reservations amongst frontline staff. They will have to go a long way to convince me in this particular case given the rural nature of the county.”

But Mrs Mulligan maintains it is about making services more effective and spending money where it makes the most difference.

This would include exploring the possibility of sharing police and fire stations at more than 20 locations, including creating a joint headquarters with the potential to save £250,000 a year.

"To date, the pace and scale of collaboration between police and fire in North Yorkshire has been lacklustre,” said Mrs Mulligan.

“My plan is a chance to move forwards more rapidly, whilst ensuring the two organisations remain independent, as I don't believe a merger would be right.

“This is particularly important right now, as both services are under pressure. For example, over 30 frontline firefighting roles are being phased out and the police service is seeing increases in demand. Given this, I firmly believe we must do everything possible to protect the frontline.

“My business case sets out a number of opportunities, including considerable financial savings which could be used to protect the public. For example, why should the public pay for two HQs in the same town? For two IT systems, finance teams and two of pretty much everything else?

“In short, it's time to put our own interests to one side, and to put public interest and safety first, especially as the Fire Authority's alternative would leave the public £5m worse off and do little to protect vital frontline services.”

The ten-week consultation runs until September 22. Comments can be made online at northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/workingbettertogether/