With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment 181, in schedule 1, page 122, line 10, at end insert—

“with the cost of obtaining such information to be met by the police and crime commissioner.”

This amendment would require the police and crime commissioner to pay the costs the fire and rescue authority incurs in providing the police and crime commissioner with the information needed to prepare a proposal to transfer governance to the police and crime commissioner.

Amendment 172, in schedule 1, page 122, line 22, leave out sub-paragraph (a) and insert—

“(a) consult each relevant fire and rescue authority,

(ab) any local authority all or part of whose area forms part of the fire and rescue authority area, and

(ac) the relevant workforces.”

This amendment will make it a statutory obligation for the local authority Fire and Rescue Authority, and relevant workforces, to be consulted before being taken over by a PCC.

Amendment 170, in schedule 1, page 122, line 25, leave out “make arrangements to seek the views of” and insert “consult comprehensively with”.

This amendment would require a police and crime commissioner to consult local residents about the proposal to transfer governance of the fire and rescue service to the police and crime commissioner.

Amendment 171, in schedule 1, page 122, line 26, leave out “commissioner’s police” and insert “fire and rescue authority”.

This amendment would mean that police and crime commissioners need only seek the views of people living in the affected fire and rescue authority rather than across the whole of the police force area.

Amendment 180, in schedule 1, page 122, line 43, after “proposal”, insert “from an independent panel of experts chosen by the relevant police and crime commissioner and local authorities,”.

This amendment would guarantee the independence of panels tasked with assessing takeover proposals submitted by a PCC.

Amendment 173, schedule 1, page 123, line 17, at end insert—

“(4) An order under section 4A, where modified or not by the Secretary of State, may only be made with the consent of the relevant local authority, relevant fire and rescue authority and relevant police and crime commissioner.”

This amendment makes it a statutory requirement for the Secretary of State to get the consent of the PCC, Fire and Rescue Authority, and local authority, before making an order.

Amendment 177, in schedule 1, page 123, line 17, at end insert—

“(4) Before submitting a section 4A proposal to the Secretary of State, a relevant police and crime commissioner must make arrangements to hold a referendum.

(5) The persons entitled to vote in the referendum are those who, on the day of the referendum—

(a) would be entitled to vote as electors at an election for the relevant police and crime commissioner, and

(b) are registered in the register of local government electors at an address that is within a relevant fire authority area.

(6) The referendum is to be held on—

(a) a suitable date corresponding to the regular electoral cycle, or

(b) if there are no elections scheduled within the next 365 days, such other date as the Secretary of State may specify by order.

(7) The police and crime commissioner must inform the Secretary of State of the result of the referendum.

(8) The Secretary of State may only grant an order if—

(a) the proposal was approved by a majority of persons voting in the referendum, and

(b) the turnout for the referendum is greater than 25 per cent of those eligible to vote.

(9) A police and crime commissioner may not hold another referendum within the period of ten years.”

This amendment would ensure that a PCC can only take over a Fire and Rescue Service with the approval of local people.

Amendment 178, in schedule 1, page 123, line 17, at end insert—

“(4) An order under section 4A, where modified or not by the Secretary of State, may only be made with either: consent of the relevant local authority and relevant fire and rescue authority, or a majority vote by local people through referendum.”

This amendment would ensure that a PCC can only take over a Fire and Rescue Service with the approval of local people or their local representatives.