JUC PAC Annual Conference 2021 How Place Matters?

Transcript:JUC PAC Annual Conference 2021 How Place Matters?:
JUC PAC Annual Conference 2021 How Place Matters? Leadership, Governance and Public Administration De Montfort University Leicester 7th-8th September 2021 The government’s proposals for reform of Fire and Rescue Services in England Pete Murphy and Katarzyna Lakoma Introduction and Background 2010-2015 Coalition Government replaced Police Authorities with directly elected individuals responsible for police forces in England and Wales (originally a Labour idea, PCCs were included in 2010 manifesto’s of both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats). Introduced by Home Secretary (Mrs May) in Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 1st election in Nov 2012 had historically low electoral turnout with a number of independents appointed 2nd election in May 2016 coincided with local government elections for 40 of 43 territorial police forces - London (Met and City) and Greater Manchester A popular policy within the Tory party clearly associated with Mrs May 2015- 2021 The 2015 Conservative Manifesto (but not Lib Dems or Labour) included a proposal to extend PCCs’ control to all fire services (PFCCs) 2016 replacement of some PCCs with directly elected mayors (in July 2016 Mrs May becomes Prime Minister). 2017 Policing and Crime Act facilitated PCCs taking responsibility for FRS subject to a ‘local case’ being made. 2021 election of 39 PCCs, 4 were PFCCs all in England (Essex, Staffs, Northants and North Yorkshire) London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire - mayoral models Fire Service Reform Home Secretary’s proposals for governance (March 2021) Consultations on whether to mandate the transfer of FRS functions to PFCCs across England. Practical limitations - the government will now be consulting on “coterminosity (sic) challenges” in the South West, Thames Valley, Sussex, West Mercia and Tyne and Wear. Rather than mandating PFCC everywhere. Operational independence for Chief Fire Officers which also has the potential to clearly separate and delineate strategic and operational planning for F&R and separate budgets in the PFCC model (Winsor reviews also highlighted). Clarify some of the legal entities which anticipates some changes in legal entities as between PCCs/PFCCs and local authorities (the Redmond Review has also highlighted). Governance - ‘evidence’ relating to the new PFCC model Have PFCCs improved accountability in practice? (some emerging evidence) New accountability arrangements are significantly more complex than the traditional arrangements. The expanded powers of PFCCs are reflected in more structured and detailed meetings, boards, and panels relating to public accountability, transparency, governance, performance, ethics, and assurance. Mixed views on whether the PFCC improve