Residents are urged to have their say on plans to place Birmingham’s fire service under the control of the West Midlands’ Mayor as part of a major shakeup.
In an eight week consultation, launched this month, people are being asked about who and how the service should be led and operated from 2019.
The proposals would see the region’s mayor, currently, Andy Street, become the single point of accountability for the fire service. He would have the power to hire-and-fire the Chief Fire Officer and set the service’s budget and strategy.
There would also be a Fire Advisory Committee, made up of councilors, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Health and Ambulance Trusts, to advise and support the mayor while reviewing and scrutinising decisions.
The Chief Fire Officer would report directly to the Mayor.
Last year agreement was reached to combine local councils, police and the fire services, along with other partners, into a single West Midlands Combined Authority. This requires a public consultation that is now open and runs until the 11th of March.
Upon closing, people’s views will be fed back directly to the Home Office and any changes to how the service is run are likely to be implemented in 2019.
For more information and to take part in the consultation, please visit the WMCA website
