WEST Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority has signed an agreement setting out a vision for closer working with neighbouring Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by chairman of the Fire Authority for West Midlands, Councillor John Edwards, and the leader of Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, as a firm commitment by the two organisations to pursue greater collaboration.

Both services will now fully explore collaborative opportunities to reform and enhance the services provided and a review will be carried out.

Phil Loach, chief fire officer for West Midlands Fire Service, said “I am very optimistic that this agreement signals the intention to broaden and deepen the relationship between our respective services and reflects our belief in collaboration.

"Closer working between fire services remains as a strong option to maintain and enhance public safety, support healthier communities and contribute to inclusive economic growth. This partnership will do that in an efficient and effective way.”

Andy Hickmott, chief fire officer for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is vital that we collaborate to ensure that we maintain and improve the way that we deliver our services. We share a physical border of 130km and already have a close working relationship with West Midlands Fire Service, so it makes perfect sense for us to look at further ways of working together.

“I am confident this agreement will provide us with a great opportunity to achieve reform and enhance the service we provide to our communities and we must strive to ensure that our standards of service are achieved as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

Both services stress the agreement is a collaboration not a merger and bosses say they will now move to share their strengths and best practice to ensure they deliver the most effective and efficient services to communities in the West Midlands and Warwickshire.