Bastiman speaks out against police chief ’s strategy
The leader of Scarborough Council says the arguments made by the area’s Police and Crime Commissioner in her case to also govern its fire authority have “not been convincing”.
Julia Mulligan has put forward a Local Business Case for increasingthelevelofcollaboration between the police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Legislation passed by Parliament now means that commissioners can make an application to oversee both.
Mrs Mulligan’s preferred option, one of three ideas that she has laid out in an consultation with the public until September 22, would mean that each authority retains operational independence and separate chiefs, roles and identities.
But, Cllr Derek Bastiman branded the plan “overly simplistic”. He added that it could undermine collaborative work that has been done in the past.
He said: “We are supportive of collaborative working between the police and the Fire and Rescue Service, where it can be demonstrated that it improves outcomes and helps to save money that can then be invested in front line services.
“The concern is that the arguments put forward to date in favour of changes to the governance of the Fire and Rescue service have not been convincing.
Mrs Mulligan claimed that up to £6.6m could be saved.