COUNCILLORS have slammed a consultation on joint governance of the police and fire services as “undemocratic” – and hit out at the “staggering £30,000” cost to produce it.

Plans could see West Mercia PPC John Campion jointly govern West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Campion says the idea would save £4 million a year and improve services.

But in a meeting of July’s Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board at county council, the consultation came under heavy fire.

Bromsgrove East councillor Kit Taylor accused it of being “full of platitude” and having “no backbone”, claiming the public were being “led down a certain line”.

He added: “If you were to ask the question that this merge would result in £4 million annual savings, closer collaboration, improved resilience, no changes to frontline services - do you support these proposals? It is extremely difficult to say no to any of that.

“From the start of this consultation you have got an agreement to it, which I think is totally undemocratic.”

While admitting “it is about how you ask the question", Kidderminster St Johns councillor Tracey Onslow, speaking on behalf of John Campion, insisted the public was "largely in favour".

Yet the consultation was labelled a “bogus case” by Kidderminster St Chads councillor Fran Oborski, who questioned if the figure for the £4 million worth of savings had been “pulled out of the air".

Savings would come from ‘back-office’ roles, councillors were told, with Cllr Onslow insisting she believed they were possible.

Beckford Consulting, who produced the consultation, was also paid around £30,000, it was revealed.

Councillor Peter McDonald, who represents the Beacon ward in Bromsgrove, told this paper the fee was “staggering” and said the consultation was “nothing more than empire building and filling the pockets of consultants”.

But Cllr Onslow said the fees had been refunded by the government and insisted the consultation was not Mr Campion’s idea, but arose under new legislation in the Policing and Crime Act allowing for joint governance.

She added: “It is not ideologically driven. This came as a direct change in government legislation. This was not John Campion's idea. John's decision was whether or not to consult the public.”

To view and take part in the consultation, which closes on September 11, visit surveygizmo.com/s3/3617685/West-Mercia-Fire-and-Rescue-Governance-Consultation.