Shropshire - Hereford & Worcester alliance approved

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Wednesday, 10 October 2018 22:05

By Alex Moore - Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for the fire brigade throughout Shropshire to share materials and expertise with their neighbours, under alliance plans have been approved.

The fire authority voted in favour of the plans, but its members reiterated their opposition to a formal merger with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and being subsumed into a combined Mercia-wide fire and police authority.

One member accused West Merica Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion of being “after blood”, and wanting to take control of the brigade and strike Shropshire’s chief firefighter from the payroll.

Mr Campion’s office, in response, reiterated his position that mere alliance plans “don’t go far enough”.

The proposal was outlined in a report which the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority discussed yesterday. In them, Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton explained that the Shropshire brigade had, in the past, collaborated with their colleagues in Hereford and Worcester, and the proposal before the authority would formalise that arrangement.

He told the meeting – held at the Shropshire brigade HQ in Shrewsbury – “this is a plan for an alliance. It is not a plan for a merger.

“We need to be clear with our public that this is a plan for two fire and rescue services to work together, sometimes as one, to improve capacity and resilience.
“It’s about creating a relationship.”

Chairman Councillor Eric Carter, who represents Newport South and East on Telford and Wrekin Council, said the fire authority is a “sovereign body”, and added that the alliance didn’t threaten that, but instead created opportunities.

Councillor Miles Hosken, who represents Telford Council’s Ercall ward, addressed Chief Officer Hammerton directly.

“I would like to make the CFO aware that, in fact, the said John Campion is after your blood,” he said.

He is after your job. He is after the financial advantages that would come with not having your salary on the balance sheet.

“That is his driving discussion as he goes around talking to parish councils.”

When approached for comment, the West Merica Police and Crime Commissioner’s office reiterated John Campion’s view that he welcomed inter-service collaboration.

In a letter to Chief Officer Hammerton and Nathan Travis, his opposite number in Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Campion addressed the alliance plans.

“I am concerned that the overall aspiration of the plan is not far-reaching enough,” he wrote.

He added that the two brigades “acting as one” should be the “default position, except where there is a clear and evidenced rationale why they shouldn’t.”

Mr Campion’s office did not respond to Cllr Hosken’s specific remarks, but his letter did state his view that “improving value for money and efficiency” should be one of the alliance’s core purposes, along with “improving public safety”.

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