The Government has reiterated its preference for fire and rescue services to be accountable to a single, elected individual, in its long-awaited fire reform White Paper.
It is consulting on a range of governance models, including ones led by police and crime commissioners, combined authority mayors, or ‘executive councillors’, for example where a fire service is part of a county council.
The White Paper, ‘Reforming our fire and rescue service’, also sets out proposals aimed at developing the skills and clarifying the roles of firefighters, and improving the professionalism of the fire and rescue service.
Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the LGA’s Fire Services Management Committee, said: “The LGA is pleased to see the publication of the long-awaited White Paper.
“It’s especially positive that government has not said it will make mandatory changes to fire governance and is consulting on a range of governance models for fire and rescue services.
“As with levelling up, real change and improvement within the sector and communities will be more successful if local councils and fire services are empowered to decide what their local governance structure will be, based on the needs of their communities.”
He added: “The delivery of a good service to the public is at the heart of the fire and rescue service, and we recognise that officers and councillors have distinct and complementary roles to play in delivering that service.
“In addition, alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council and National Employers (England), the LGA has been working on a shared ambition for the fire and rescue service in England, called Fit for the Future.
“The White Paper provides us with the opportunity to consider how these ambitions might be supported in England.”