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Working Better Together Consultation Report

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 makes provision for local assessments by PCCs as to the most effective governance model for their local Fire and Rescue Service, giving them the ability to present a local business case to the Home Secretary where they perceive that a change would generate improvements in economy, efficiency and effectiveness, or public safety.

Details

In North Yorkshire, the PCC, Julia Mulligan, appointed PA Consulting to assess whether or not a different governance model would be beneficial, and if so which of the different governance options set out in the legislation would most effectively deliver these opportunities. Due to the history of collaboration in North Yorkshire, local stakeholders agree that the status quo is not
sufficient and that a change to the current model of governance is required.

The 2017 Act amends the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 to enable PCCs to form part or all of the governance of their local fire and rescue service, either through sitting on the fire authority through the Representation Model (Policing and Crime Act 2017), or by replacing it through either the Governance Model or the Single Employer Model (Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 as amended).

After assessing the options, the PCC has decided that the Governance model is the best option for North Yorkshire and should be recommended to the Home Secretary.

As such a full public consultation was required to gather feedback from the public, local authorities, fire and police services and partners. The above three options were presented to the public for consideration as to which they preferred. There was no option for the status quo, as there was local agreement that this was not an option. The consultation launched on 17 July 2017
running for 10 weeks. The LBC was published along with consultation materials and videos via a dedicated website.

The consultation included an open survey, a representative survey, a staff survey and a series of public events across the county in each district, during which over 1400 people were engaged.

Information leaflets were available in public libraries, police and fire stations and council buildings across the county, with the website providing the full details of the business case. Over 2500 people responded to the survey.

The consultation found that a majority of the public and workforce favoured a transfer of
governance, with the preference being for the Governance model. Local Authorities preferred the
Representation model.

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