CONCERNS over controversial shared services for fire and police in North Yorkshire have been raised by councillors after Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan revealed a business case on collaboration is due to be released before May.

Ms Mulligan told members of Hambleton District council’s cabinet that big savings could come out of collaborating at a time when budgets are under pressure.

But councillors expressed concern over how services could be maintained and democracy safeguarded. Council leader Cllr Mark Robson said : “Will it not form another tier? Bringing things together doesn’t always save money long term. What it does is build a bigger empire for the people at the top.”

Ms Mulligan responded: “I think categorically it will be the opposite. We haven’t got a pre determination as to how the structure will come out . There are big savings that are due to come out of this.”

She said in Northallerton they were looking at Alverton Court, the site of the new police headquarters and the neighbouring fire station site. There are also plans for a transport hub in Thirsk to be used by police and fire services.

Cllr John Noone said merging services could be a real change which ended up haemorrhaging experienced staff.

“You have a smaller number of people trying to do a bigger job. It is all about saving money but it is really about providing a service. We haven’t to lose sight of that,” he said.

Mrs Mulligan said they needed to do everything to invest money back into the front line of services and there were tangible benefits around a greater connection. She said a business case currently being developed, which would go out to consultation, is expected before the end of March or after council elections in May.