Keep Fire & Rescue under proper scrutiny - or Hemel will lose control

Liberal Democrats led the opposition in Dacorum against the Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner take over of the Fire Service.

On wednesday 11th July Dacorum Borough Councillors voted unanimously for a Liberal Democrat Motion instructing the Dacorum CEO Sally Marshall to write to the Home Office to insist that "the Fire and Rescue Service should remain under the control and democratic accountability of Hertfordshire County Council."

All 78 County Councillors at Hertford, including the 10 Councillors for Dacorum Divisions, voted to fight the takeover, begun more than a year ago, when Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd launched his bid to take over the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service from the County Council.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Hemel Town & St. Paul's, Ron Tindall brought the Motion and argues that:

"the evidence does not support the need for such a move. The Home Office, which ultimately decides the fate of our highly effective fire service, stalled the decision for months, commissioned an independent analysis, then wrote back to the PCC asking for further evidence to support his questionable claims of huge efficiencies to be gained. home

Commissioner David Lloyd's revised submission to the Home Office shows his lack of understanding of the service, and his calculations are not based in reality."

Cllr Tindall summed-up:

"Our Fire and Rescue Service should not be a political prize. It should be overseen by the 78 County Councillors, which is far more able to listen to the people, and has far more robust scrutiny. The PCC should concentrate on facing up to rising crime, and keep his ambitious hands off our fire service."