POLICE and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire Julia Mulligan clashed head on with county councillors opposing moves for her to take over control of the fire authority accusing them of trying to protect their position.

But the county council’s Executive rejected her appeals and backed proposals by their own scrutiny committee for Ms Mulligan to become one of 17 members of the fire authority instead of taking over the service.

A major consultation is being held by the commissioner on her plans to govern both police and fire, increasing collaboration to save money and improve services. Ms Mulligan says her plans would save £6.5m for frontline fire services which had been cut by 15 per cent, against five per cent from back offices.

Councillor Andrew Backhouse, Chair of the Fire Authority, said they wanted to work with Ms Mulligan but not for her to take over. He said it was “extremely disappointing” that the Commissioner kept coming up with new information at the 11th hour putting forward additions to the business case when it was already out for consultation.

He added:“We are very aware there are challenges ahead. The only step you wish to take is a leap into the unknown when you are being offered an open hand to go forward. This is not about protecting our position, we are protective of the service we represent.”

Ms Mulligan told councillors all she had heard was “I just don’t like it “and concern over the impact of the changes on their own powers. She added:”The proposals are not a criticism of you and your job, this is an opportunity to move forward to the benefit of the public. I would ask you to wait until the public and staff have their say, not doing so risks having scant regard for their views.

“We have a perfect storm of increasing demand combined with a crisis of cuts in our collective services and we need to put the frontline first.“

Councillor Gareth Dadd said there were rumours a deal had been done between the Fire Brigade’s Union and the PCC, that she would scrap the fire service review. Ms Mulligan said there had been no deals done but she had been quite open that she would want four crew members on new Tactical Response Vehicles, along the lines of the FBU approach, currently, there are three on the vehicles.

Ms Mullligan said they had been trying collaboration between the police and fire services for nearly five years and had only managed to share a garage in Thirsk.

The public consultation ends on September 22, after which the business case will be put to the Home Secretary to make a final decision.