Police commissioner take over Judicial review costs

The legal costs relating to Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority’s fight to prevent a police takeover totals £37,000 to date, according to latest figures.

Legal challenges against decisions to transfer control of fire services to police and crime commissioners were thrown out last year.

Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire and Rescue Authorities were seeking a judicial review of the ruling by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd which would put their governance in the hands of PCCs instead of councillors.

West Mercia PCC John Campion had proposed a plan which he said would save £4m a year.

But there is a separate ongoing legal challenge against the business case for the takeover as it was predicated on the understanding that there was going to be joint working between West Mercia and Warwickshire Police.

In 2018 Mr Campion decided to break up the alliance with Warwickshire which is now expected to cost West Mercia around £10m.

Speaking at today’s (June 10) fire authority meeting deputy police and crime commissioner Tracey Onslow, asked why the fire authority’s legal services budget appeared to have tripled.

Martin Reohorn, fire authority treasurer, said: “Yes, the simple explanation is it includes the costs that the authority incurred in relation to the judicial review of the Home Secretary’s decision.”

Nigel Snape, legal services head, added: “Let’s address the point head on. The amount we’ve spent in relation to the judicial review which is part of that cost is £37,000.

“The remainder of the costs relate to some employment tribunal cases we had.”

Fire authority chairman Roger Phillips said the cost figures were given at a previous meeting.

“Sorry chair, I think it was £7,000 before when I asked a while ago,” deputy commissioner Onslow replied.

“I just wanted clarity because I wondered what the rest was, had it still been around £7,000 mark.”

Councillor Louis Stark said he was concerned about the future of the fire authority and asked what would happen if they lost the ongoing judicial review.

Chief fire officer Nathan Travis said they had no indication as to when the current governance challenge will be resolved.

“There is a PCC election in May next year and I believe the current PCC in their manifesto will be identifying that they wish to take over governance of the two fire and rescue services and if that election is successful for the PCC then obviously they would have a political mandate in order to achieve that.”

Chairman Roger Phillips said: “It is for him to go and get the mandate from the people to take over the two fire services which the four authorities consistently do not want to happen.

“When he does that, he will have a mandate from the electorate to do that.

“In the meantime, we are appointed for the governance and stewardship of this service.”