A CONTROVERSIAL bid by Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan to take over North Yorkshire’s fire service has been approved by the Home Secretary.

Despite the opposition of the majority of the county’s local authorities, including Craven District Council and North Yorkshire County Council, last week’s decision by Home Secretary Sajid Javid will mean Mrs Mulligan will start the process of taking on governance of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service from the autumn.

Mrs Mulligan’s business case, sent to the Home Secretary in September last year, proposed a ‘governance model’ with her taking on legal and overarching responsibility for the fire service, in addition to her existing governance role with the county’s police force. It will also mean the end of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

Councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council and chairman of the county’s Police and Crime Panel, said he was disappointed that the Home Secretary had not backed the panel’s and most local authorities preference which would have seen Mrs Mulligan become a member of the fire authority.

“We do agree with the principle of more collaboration between the police and fire services. However, we are disappointed that our preference, and that of the City of York Council and six of seven of our district councils, for a representation model did not find favour as we think this is a better and more balanced way of capturing the expertise, knowledge and experience of the councillors who make up the Fire and Rescue Authority.,” he said.

“We also had some concerns about the capability and capacity of the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to take on this extra responsibility, especially at a time when demands and pressures on elements of the police force require improvement and close attention.However, the Minister has made his decision and we will do all we can to make this new process work.”

Mrs Mulligan, who consulted with both the public and local authorities before submitting her business case says joint governance will mean better collaboration between the two services and will lead to at least £6.6 million of savings, involving the ‘streamlining’ of senior management, collaboration of back office services and the sharing of buildings.

Mrs Mulligan thanked North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for keeping people in North Yorkshire safe.

“ There is a lot to do, but I am very much looking forward to working with them, and I thank them for their help, and for being so candid during last summer’s roadshows. I’’m pleased that the Home Secretary has recognised the benefits that joint oversight of police and fire services will bring to the people of North Yorkshire. By bringing both organisations under the same governance, we can increase the speed and depth at which we collaborate, improve transparency and efficiency of both organisations, saving at least £6.6 million to be reinvested into frontline policing and fire services.”

She added: “This process has not been without controversy, and I would like to thank and acknowledge all the councillors and MPs that have contributed to, and scrutinised, my business case and consultation to make sure that this was a robust process. I’d also like thank the public for their clear support - we received over 2,500 responses to our consultation, of which 71 per cent preferred PCC-led oversight.”