THE question, who is in charge of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) in future moved closer to an answer after the Government agreed to support an independent review into how it is managed.

The service is currently part of Gloucestershire County Council but the Prime Minister is keen to see if reforms, which have brought greater accountability and transparency to the police service, could do the same for fire.

One possible outcome could be closer integration between the two services run by a police and fire commissioner. Other areas are already looking at this option.

Police and crime commissioners have been given the task of overseeing the process.

Gloucestershire’s PCC Martin Surl has been given a grant of £100k towards the cost of recruiting independent consultants to do the work.

Mr. Surl said: “Whilst it is not for me to pre-judge the outcome, let me be clear - as I have said on numerous occasions before - no-one is considering an operational merger.

"It might lead to closer integration between the two, but Gloucestershire will always have separate police and fire services.

“However, when she was home secretary, the Prime Minister Theresa May signaled her intention to give PCCs responsibility for fire to bring ‘greater accountability’.

"Since I have been told by the Government to do the research, this is the next logical step”.

P.A Consultants of Buckingham Palace Road, London, were chosen from a short list of three.

The company describes itself as experts in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government, healthcare, life sciences, and transport, travel and logistics.

It will examine how GFRS is managed to see if a business case can be made for change.

Mr. Surl said: “The will begin work straight away and I expect to have a list of recommendations by the summer”.

However, Sarah Lunnon, green party county councillor for Stroud Central, said: “This is more like a land grab by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Gloucestershire's Fire and Rescue Service is outstanding. Before the blue lights merge we should be given some hard evidence on why it would be better.”