Governance will transfer to the PCC later this year
The way Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is governed will change later this year, when it moves away from Northamptonshire County Council and to the Office of the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Police and Fire Service have been working very closely together in Northamptonshire since the beginning of 2013 and in fact, we are nationally recognised as leaders in this area. Buildings, vehicles and joint operational teams are already shared and fire and crime prevention is carried out jointly.
When the Commissioner’s Office carried out a consultation about the change, 63 per cent of local people and 92 per cent of Fire and Rescue staff voted to create a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
What will change for the Fire and Rescue Service?
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service will remain a separate organisation, with its own chief officers, its own uniform and its own role.
The close working relationship with Northamptonshire Police will continue, and they will share more buildings and support services where it makes sense to do so. This will help to reduce costs and allow investment in frontline services to respond to the needs of a growing county.
In his new role, the Chief Fire Officer will be accountable for performance to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, just like the Chief Constable.
After the transfer however, the Fire and Rescue Service will have its own, ring-fenced budget which cannot be used for any other purpose.
These plans are still in development, and we will keep the public updated as they take shape.
Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commis- sioner Stephen Mold said: “It is important to me to provide a solid, stable future for the Fire Service, investing in frontline people and equipment while making positive changes so that both services can work together where it makes sense to do so.”
