FPA Announces Super Thursday Elections Could See Changes In Who Runs Fire Services

The number of Police Fire and Crime Commissioners could rise after the PCC elections on 6 May, as the UK Government indicates strong support for this type of governance.

Currently, there are four Police Fire and Crime Commissioners in England:

• Staffordshire
• Essex
• Northamptonshire
• North Yorkshire

Julia Mulligan is stepping down in North Yorkshire and Mathew Ellis is likewise in Staffordshire.

PCC elections

Other PCCs have shown interest in taking on governance in the fire but have been unable to clear all the hurdles. The government halted any further progress during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been waiting for the PCC elections to take place.

Martin Surl is the Independent PCC for Gloucestershire and is standing for re-election. He will restart his bid to take on fire in the county should he win on Thursday.

Conservative PCC

The government has already made it clear that it favors the PFCC model

The Conservative PCC for West Mercia remains determined to take over the governance of fire and rescue in Shropshire and Hereford and Worcestershire. Both candidates faced fierce local opposition to the takeovers.

Other PCCs who showed interest in taking on fire governance include Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Surrey, Suffolk, and Lancashire. The government has already made it clear that it favors the PFCC model.

proposals

In a review of PCCs published in March, the Home Secretary indicated that governance would be a key part of the promised fire reform white paper.

The government said that the proposals would include:

• Consulting on whether to mandate the transfer of fire and rescue functions to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner model across England where boundaries are coterminous unless there is an option to transfer fire governance directly to an elected Mayor.
• Consulting on how to address coterminosity challenges, including in the South West.
• Legislating to create operational independence for Chief Fire Officers and to clearly separate and delineate strategic and operational planning for fire and rescue.
• Considering options to clarify the legal entities within the PFCC model.