Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to consider the views of fire service and governance experts when reviewing the independent assessments relating to Police and Crime Commissioners taking over responsibility from fire and rescue authorities.

If a relevant local authority indicates that it does not support a PCC’s proposal to take on governance of local fire and rescue services, the Secretary of State must obtain an independent assessment of the proposal. The Home Secretary and Minister for Policing and Fire Service appointed the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to carry out independent assessments of the proposals submitted by the PCCs for Hertfordshire, Staffordshire, Cambridgeshire, West Mercia and North Yorkshire.

CIPFA has substantial public finance expertise and works closely with police and fire and rescue services and is therefore well placed to provide an independent, professional view on proposals. Whilst the conduct of the assessment is for CIPFA to determine, they may contact other organisations if they are of the view that additional input or expertise is necessary to help them make a judgement on whether the proposal is in the interest of the statutory tests. CIPFA secured the views of the local police force, fire service and local authorities during the independent assessment process.

The Secretary of State must consider the PCC’s proposal, independent assessment, consultation outcomes, and any further representations along with the PCC’s response to them, when coming to a view on whether the proposal is in the interests of economy efficiency and effectiveness or public safety. No additional weight is given to one stakeholder’s views over another.