THE TAKEOVER of the fire service in North Yorkshire by Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan looks set to be challenged in the Houses of Parliament.

The expansion of North Yorkshire commissioner Julia Mulligan’s role, which was confirmed by Home Secretary Sajid Javed in June, is set to be the first such move to be scrutinised in Westminster due to its controversial nature.

Mr Javed found handing fire governance to the commissioner would be “in the interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness” and would not have an adverse effect on public safety.

But Mrs Mulligan’s plan had faced a wave of opposition from North Yorkshire County, City of York and six out of seven district councils in the county, members of which had decided the fire service budget.

While the police commissioner in Essex expanded the role to include the county’s fire service last year, the step had been endorsed by all three local authorities there.

Ahead of Mrs Mulligan’s expanded role passing through parliament to create a statutory instrument, officers at North Yorkshire County Council have been contacted by Liberal Democrat peers seeking documents relating to what critics of the commissioner have dubbed “a takeover”.

It is understood the peers’ principal concerns relate to the widespread local authority opposition to the move, which is expected to pass through the Houses of Parliament in the coming month.

Councillor Carl Les, chairman of North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Panel, which oversees the work of commissioner Julia Mulligan, said: “I do understand there will be a challenge in the House of Lords, but I think it will just slow it down, it won’t stop it.”