A new committee established to oversee public safety in Fife has been described as “unnecessary” by the leader of the opposition.
Councillor Peter Grant, leader of the SNP group, believes that the newly-established safer communities committee has no purpose, with Fife Council not acting as the statutory body for either the police or fire service.
A proposal to form the new group was passed at a full meeting of Fife Council following the dissolution of the region’s fire transition and police transition committees.
Stating that the council’s influence in local emergency services was limited, Mr Grant added that there appeared little reason for the new group.
He said: “We have committees set up with a purpose and when the purpose comes to an end that committee seems to find a way to continue going on.
“I’ve got a concern that might be what is happening here. Whether we like it or not, policing is not the responsibility of the council.
“We are not the statutory body of the police or fire service and I don’t see why this committee is necessary,” said Mr Grant.
Previous council committees have been established to scrutinise police and fire service performance in Fife, however, the transition to single national forces for both services has reduced local authority influence in these circles.
However, both the police transition and fire transition committees agreed in August that a new body to monitor regional performance was crucial in making both bodies accountable to local people.
Labour councillor Gavin Yates, the chairman of the police transition committee, said that the safer communities group will prove effective.
“I think this will offer a good way forward and a way to build on what we have already done to ensure that the scrutiny of fire and safety issues continue,” he said.
“What we have got here is something more than just a replacement of an old committee, but one based on partnership.
“The new arrangements will help us target cost-cutting issues and as time goes on this new committee will find its own shape and find a way to make communities safer something that we all seek.”