Under the changes coming into force in the autumn, it
will be possible for all police and crime commissioners
(PCCs) to be represented on their local fire and rescue
authority (FRA), subject to the consent of the FRA.
This means PCCs can have voting rights on important
decisions made in relation to their local fire and
rescue services. This could include matters such as
finances and staffing.
It is for individual FRAs to decide whether to grant
membership if a PCC makes a request. In interests of
transparency FRAs will be required to publish their
decisions.
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, , said:
By working closer together, police and fire and
rescue services can share best practice and
innovative thinking to improve the services provided
to local people.
These changes mean that all locally elected police
and crime commissioners can be given a seat at the
table of their local fire and rescue authority –
meaning every area in England is able to reap the
rewards of collaboration.
Voting rights provisions already apply to county and
metropolitan FRAs and the government believes that the
same level of transparency should be extended to the 23
combined FRAs across England, which cover more than one
local authority area.
The move follows a consultation launched in 27 November
on the proposals. The responses showed
91% of affected fire authorities backed the move.
Two FRAs were found to have objections, and the
government is exploring their specific concerns to
determine whether the representation model can be
applied to them.
