Warwickshire fire service collaboration talks approved

Plans for Northamptonshire and Warwickshire fire services to collaborate are a step closer after a council approved the proposal.

Warwickshire County Council's cabinet agreed Warwickshire Fire Service can investigate the possibility of forming a strategic alliance.

The authorities are looking to collaborate to save money.

Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet will meet to discuss the plans on 13 September.

The authorities are considering sharing support functions, management posts and training.

'Value for money'

Examples of how they could do this include sharing a joint fire control, technical equipment and transport.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer Graeme Smith said: "Warwickshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service is committed to providing the best possible fire and rescue service for its communities.

"It is also committed to delivering value for money to tax payers.

"With the support of the cabinet we will be able to deliver on that and move forward with developing a strategic alliance business model with Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service."

He added he wanted to make it clear that the alliance would not be a merger.