RESIDENTS have until tomorrow to have their say on the future of the fire service in North Yorkshire.

Police and Crime Commissioners can - where the public and local authorities agree - take control of local fire and rescue authorities, and consultation ends tomorrow.

Under Julia Mulligan's preference - the Governance Model - she would be responsible for both the police and fire services. While the Fire Brigade Union supported her planned change, the Police and Crime Panel, North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council disagree.

Yesterday, the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority also called for an alternative option - the Representation Model - which would see Mrs Mulligan join the current authority, alongside Fire Service officers, councillors and independent representatives.

A report said the authority believed local leaders were best placed to determine the collaboration opportunities in the best interests of their communities.

“It is the view of NYFRA that the local business case fails to provide evidence for the majority of the savings. There are a number of assumptions made with clear caveats that these are initial ideas with no assessments of operational benefits or viability. Many of the ‘opportunities’ identified in the local business plan are already in the NYFRA work plans, while others are vague aspirations.”

The authority says the Representation Model “could deliver the same collaborations” as her suggestion “where those are clearly the best options”. The report also said irreversible change to the Governance Model was a significant risk, and changes could still be made if the Representation Model did not work out.

The authority also disputed the benefits set out by Mrs Mulligan’s business plan, stating “the benefits of the Governance model have been overstated, while the benefits of the Representation Model have been understated”, and said selecting the Representation Model would allow the region to learn from other areas which might choose to implement the Governance Model.

Public consultation on the proposals ends on Friday, and can be carried out at telljulia.com