Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority to challenge takeover by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion

Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd approved the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposal to merge the services into one body in March.

The move means Mr Campion will be solely responsible for governing Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, replacing the 42 councillors on the existing authorities.

Critics hit out at the decision with Bromsgrove cllr Kit Taylor, an elected member of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority (HWFA), saying it offered "no benefit to the people of Worcestershire", while campaign group Bromsgrove Against Cuts labelled it as a “hostile, undemocratic takeover which strips our fire services of their independence and accountability”.

Last week, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority announced it was to challenge the government’s approach – a decision HWFA has now also taken.

HWFA chairman, cllr Roger Phillips, said: “The members of the Fire Authority thought very carefully beforehand about making this decision and believe it is in the public interest to challenge a process that has highlighted that a change in governance would not significantly improve the economy, effectiveness or efficiency of the service.

“The current oversight arrangements of the service by the Fire Authority have been in place for over 20 years and have demonstrated themselves to have been proactive, diligent and forward-thinking - as well as representative of the needs of our local communities - ensuring that the service continues to be both effectively and efficiently managed, despite the pressures of ever-reducing public funds.

“To change these arrangements without having the robust evidence to show it will significantly improve what the service is already doing is a big risk – as the upheaval in itself has a potentially damaging effect on both staff performance and morale."

Bromsgrove MP and current Home Secretary Sajid Javid has previously backed Mr Campion’s takeover, telling the Advertiser in May that he was “confident” that “joint governance will create a safer, more efficient and prosperous community”.

The view wasn't shared by Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council, who have both opposed the takeover.

But an independent assessment on behalf of the government found that while the scale of efficiency savings were overstated by the PCC in his proposal, the model did present an opportunity for savings and "would be in the interests of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness".

PCC Mr Campion added: “This is now a dispute between the Home Office and the Fire and Rescue Authority.

“The central argument, that single governance in West Mercia can deliver more effective and efficient services for our communities, has been consistently supported via public consultation, independent assessment, and by Government.

“This course of action will mean additional costs to the taxpayer and will delay benefits being delivered for our local communities and emergency services alike.”