WEST MIDLANDS FIRE SERVICE

That this House is concerned at the current proposals to transfer the governance of the West Midlands Fire Service from the Fire Authority to the West Midlands Combined Authority; calls for stronger democratic structures for decision-making where governance of a fire service is given over to a combined authority; outlines its support for effective accountability as part of the governance of fire services; calls for fire fighters themselves and other expert bodies, such as the Fire Brigade Union to be included within the process of holding those who govern fire service to account; and calls on the Government to amend the draft statutory instrument transferring the responsibility of fire governance in the West Midlands, or to withdraw it.