Labour has wasted thousands of pounds of public money by embarking on a consultation exercise and then predetermining the outcome.  Labour councillors claim that the Labour Chairman, and it is assumed the Labour members of the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Authority (DFRA) will not support the proposals put forward by the Authority. 

Cllr Andrew Lewer, Leader of Derbyshire Conservatives stated,

"We have an absurd position where the Labour controlled Fire Authority has put forward, or allowed to be put forward a set of proposals that weeks before the end of their own consultation they've decided they don't like and will vote against.  To develop such proposals and then to run a high profile consultation costs tens of thousands of pounds, which has now been wasted."

Talking about Labour Derbyshire County Councils' own submission to the consultation Cllr Lewer added,

"It's clear by the way this report is worded that the County Council wishes to exert more control, a typical Left-wing approach to public service delivery because they have little faith in the Fire and Rescue Authority and their own members to run it in an effective fashion."

Cllr Simon Spencer, Deputy Leader and the Conservative Group Leader on the DFRA said,

"The approach taken by our Group has been to very much engage with the public consultation and encourage the public, local authorities and the various concerned groups to make their views known. What we should not do is prejudge a consultation before the final proposals are known, which should  of course be very much shaped by the public and their concerns. 

I am worried that the Labour stance and public statements may have thrown even greater uncertainty into the mix - one which may cost firefighter jobs and erode the ability of the service to meet public needs into the future."