Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats lobby Government over emergency services merger

The Northamptonshire Liberal Democrat County Council group have lobbied the Local Government minister on the potential merger of emergency services. Recently the Conservative Police Commissioner raised alarm after talking of a "merger" between services, with the Police Commissioner taking over the Fire Service and possibly even other blue light services in the long term. In order to do this a change to legislation nationally would have to be made.

Cllr Brendan Glynane, Leader of the Northants Lib Dem Opposition and a member of the Police and Crime Panel said "The announcement from the Police Commissioner took everyone on the hop. There was no consultation with the Police and Crime Panel, Council scrutiny, unions or the public before this chaotic announcement. He appears to be trying to row back from the word "merger" that the media reported him as saying. Nevertheless the Liberal Democrats in Northamptonshire are very concerned about allowing Police Commissioners to take over other emergency services in this way."

"We have written to the Local Government minister and made representations in person to him at Liberal Democrat Conference. We sincerely hope that the Government listens and allows us to retain an independent Fire Service, free from the potential politicisation and cronyism that the Conservative Commissioner has brought to the Police by stuffing his Police Commission with Conservative campaign staff and activists upon his election."

Meanwhile, Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats campaigning to make Northamptonshire's streets safer was nationally recognised by the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association at the Council Group of the Year awards.

Cllr Glynane said "We're delighted to have won a national award for community safety. We have been campaigning hard for residents to make our streets safer. We want to see streetlights restored, frontline policing protected and broken roads and pavements fixed. Residents can support our campaign by signing our petition at www.shout-louder.org/saferstreets.html or by going to our facebook page at facebook/saferstreetcampaign "