Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Chief of Staff which provided an update on work undertaken to enhance collaboration between the Police and Fire and Rescue Services (for copy see file of Minutes).

The PCC informed the Panel that there was no intention for the PCC to take on the role for the Fire and Rescue Service. He had held discussions with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority around enhancing collaboration with the intention to drive out efficiencies without changing structures.

Councillor Brookes referred to the prospect of elected mayors and asked whether this could lead to a change in arrangements in the future for both the Police and Fire and Rescue Services.  The PCC replied that the Police and Fire and Rescue Services were not part of the currently proposed roles for the elected mayor, and if this was to change, would need to be backed by a business plan and discussions with the PCC.  Feedback from both Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council was that neither wanted these services to be part of the role of an elected mayor.

Mr Dodwell asked whether liaison took place with other PCCs about collaboration.  The PCC replied that he met regularly with other PCCs to discuss such issues.

Councillor May informed the Panel that both the Police and Fire and Rescue Services had specific expertise in the service they provided and expressed concern that if services were combined too much then this expertise could be diluted.  The PCC replied that while there were clear parameters for combining services, some could be done jointly, for example, fire prevention and crime prevention.

Councillor Hopgood referred to paragraph 5 of the report and suggested that he chair of the Panel should sit on the Joint Strategy Board (JSB).  The PCC replied that the JSB was made up of representatives of the governance structures of both services and the Panel had a scrutiny function rather than a governance function.  Councillor Allen added there was a need to keep a clear separation between the two structures, because the more the Combined Fire Authority (CFA) and the Police and Crime Panel (PCP) were amalgamated, the more danger they would be seen as uniting.  Meetings of both the PCP and the CFA were open to the public and any member of either group could attend meetings of the other.

Resolved:

(i)              That the progress made on enhancing collaboration be noted

(ii)             That the proposal for representatives of the Fire and Rescue Service to attend meetings of the Police and Crime Panel, to broaden understanding and share knowledge, be endorsed.