THERE has been a call for a proposed merger between North Yorkshire and a neighbouring fire services to be abandoned in favour of more collaboration with police.

Julia Mulligan, who is currently standing for re-election as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), says the proposal to merge North Yorkshire and Humberside fire services would take jobs and resources out of the county.

The fire authority asked the fire service to put together a business case for a possible merger with Humberside and they are due to look at the report in June, ahead of consultation.

Mrs Mulligan claims the move is being suggested to effectively bankroll the creation of a new fire station and control room on the fire service’s existing site in Northallerton.

She said with North Yorkshire Police due to move its headquarters next door to the site, at Alverton Court, the service should be collaborating more closely with them.

The police will make the former Rural Payments Agency building its base from autumn 2017.

Mrs Mulligan said it would save money for both services, including on back office administration, governance and buildings, adding: “Surely it would make much more sense for two local blue light services to look at what’s possible on their own doorstep before opting for a hasty merger with another service over 90 miles away?”

But Steve Howley, the Labour PCC candidate and head of the Fire Brigade’s Union said no decision was due to be made yet over a proposed merger with Humberside and accused Julia Mulligan of “scaremongering”.

He said: “I approached Mrs Mulligan back in 2013 when she first came into office to discuss ideas I had as leader of NYFBU on collaboration and ways we could save money to invest in frontline and she dismissed the concept, refusing to meet.

“Now she wants to fully takeover the fire service, why? To further grow her empire. Fire merger seems the obvious fit and it still offers opportunity to collaborate with the police for further benefits to North Yorkshire taxpayers.”

Chairman of the fire authority, Councillor John Fort said they were continuing to collaborate on pooling resources and were already exploring a joint fire and police station in Ripon.

He said: “The fire authority will also need to consider the benefits of any merger against the benefits of any other options, including a merger with North Yorkshire Police. Should the PCC wish to submit a business case subject to the draft legislation currently before parliament coming into force later this year and allowing such a merger.”

Independent candidate Mike Pannett said Julia Mulligan had been one of the first PCCs in the country to express her interest in also overseeing the running of the fire service, which had prompted fears of cutbacks in the fire service.

He said: “If I was a member of North Yorkshire fire service I would be looking at exactly the same as the fire service is doing now, as she wants to take control of their finances.”