Explanatory note

Section 21 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (“the 2004 Act”) requires the Welsh Ministers to prepare a Fire and Rescue National Framework. The framework must set out priorities and objectives for fire and rescue authorities in Wales and may provide guidance to those fire and rescue authorities in connection with the discharge of any of their functions and any other matter relating to those fire and rescue authorities or their functions that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate. Fire and rescue authorities in Wales must have regard to the framework in carrying out their functions.

Article 2 of this Order brings into effect a revised Fire and Rescue National Framework for Wales.

Significant revisions have been made to the framework, and the new version published on 3 March 2026 takes effect from 30 March 2026. Copies of the framework may be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and it is published on www.gov.wales.

Articles 3 to 5 of this Order vary the North Wales Fire Services Combination Scheme, the Mid and West Wales Fire Services Combination Scheme and the South Wales Fire Services Combination Scheme, respectively. Those schemes are set out in the Schedules to S.I. 1995/3218, S.I. 1995/3229 and S.I. 1995/3230 and are collectively referred to in this Explanatory Note as “the Schemes”.

This Order varies the Schemes to make changes to the constitution of the fire and rescue authorities in Wales. The variations make changes as regards membership, varying the number of members and providing for appointment of members from the executive of the constituent authorities and for appointment of one third of the membership by the Welsh Ministers.

The combined fire service fund provisions of the Schemes are varied to require the Authority (defined in paragraph 2 of the Schemes) to consult with the constituent authorities, with the view of reaching agreement, on the Authority’s net expenses estimate and amount of contribution to be paid by each constituent authority. The Authority is required to provide a statement to the constituent authorities on how its net expenses estimate will best promote the economic, efficient and effective discharge of its functions.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order. A copy can be obtained from Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and is published on www.gov.wales.