A PLAN for the Police and Crime Commissioner to takeover governance of the fire and rescue service will be laid before Parliament next month.

The Home Office announced in August that Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall has been successful in his bid to add governance of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to his portfolio.

A restructure of Cumbria’s seven existing councils meant that a decision had to be made on who governs the fire service.

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Existing county, city and borough councils will be abolished on April 1, 2023 and replaced by two new unitary authorities – one for Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland; another for Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness.

Cumbria County Council, which governs the fire service, will be abolished in the process.

Mr McCall believes that the PCC’s office taking over fire governance is a logical solution.

A report set to be discussed at the Police and Crime Panel on Friday sets out a timeline for the PCC’s takeover of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

The Business Case was submitted to the Home Office in March and assessed by CIPFA in May and the Home Secretary announced the decision in August.

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On November 28, the next step will take place when the transfer is discussed in Parliament.

Legislation, giving the PCC the legal authority to takeover fire governance will be produced in the process.

Mr McCall said: “It’s basically a done deal. We’re already deep in the process, engaging with the two Shadow Unitary authorities in disaggregating (splitting up) the budget.”

Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council are currently meeting as Shadow Authorities to prepare for their official launch next April.

“Each authority is keen to make sure it gets the best deal. There is an established formula for doing that which has been led by the finance team at Cumbria County Council.”

The process is being overseen by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities.

Mr McCall stressed the point that the process will not cost the tax-payer any more than it does now.

While a new recipient of council tax will appear on the bill, that charge was previously included in how much homeowner paid to the county council.

“I’m sure it is the right way to go” he said.

“It would have made no sense whatsoever to split Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service into two.”

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