Tsar stands by report that fire service ‘improved fantastically’

A POLICE and fire commissioner has dismissed claims she painted a far rosier picture of a Yorkshire brigade than government inspectors found it to be.

North Yorkshire and York Police, Fire and Crime Panel heard commissioner Julia Mulligan defend the findings of her One Year On report detailing improvements since she took over governance of the county’s fire service in November 2018.

Coun Keith Aspden, York Council’s leader who is also a panel member, said while “perhaps understandably the report gives an unsurprisingly very positive picture”, the findings of the first inspection of the county’s brigade in 12 years contrasted with those of Mrs Mulligan, inset.

He said Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services report, published in December, found North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was good at keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks but required improvement at how efficiently it managed its resources and looked after staff.

He highlighted 18 per cent of brigade staff telling inspectors they felt bullied or harassed and 17 per cent saying they had felt discriminated against at work in the past 12 months.

But Mrs Mulligan stressed her report had looked at opportunities to improve the brigade, which were identified in a business case as to why it should be taken over from North Yorkshire Fire Authority.

She added: “In terms of the leadership of the service now, it is like a different place. It is fantastic.

“There is a lot to do, but we have made significant progress.”