Fire and Rescue Services
Fire and Rescue Services
Background
In January 2024, the Equality
and Social Justice Committee agreed to hold an inquiry into the governance
of Fire and Rescue Services in Wales. The inquiry was prompted by public
concerns at the findings of the Culture
Review of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service by Fenella Morris KC which
found “serious failings in policies, procedures, and systems” at the fire and
rescue service.
Terms of reference
The full terms of reference for the inquiry are to examine:
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>>>The extent governance arrangements contributed to the failings identified in the SWFRS culture review.
>>>The capacity and capability of FRAs to change the existing management structures and practices that have been identified as potential areas of concern, and their willingness to deliver cultural change.
>>>The failure of previous attempts at reform including exploring the barriers that prevented implementation of previous reviews, specifically the Commission of Public Service Governance and Delivery, which called for the reconstitution of FRAs?
>>>How the Welsh Government’s 2018 consultation on reform of fire and rescue services has shaped current governance arrangements and working practices. The extent to which Welsh Government acted on concerns identified through this consultation and its 2019 progress report.
>>>The changes needed to strengthen current arrangements for inspection and audit, including the role of external bodies including the Auditor General for Wales.
>>>The effectiveness of mechanisms for ensuring that evidence collected through inspections and reviews of FRSs by the Chief Fire Adviser and Inspector for Wales is used and acted upon and the arrangements for shared learning from inspections of FRSs undertaken in other UK nations, specifically in England, to inform policy.
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Evidence gathering
Written evidence
The inquiry was a focused inquiry, undertaken at pace. Evidence gathering took place during Spring of 2024 in the form of a targeted consultation and oral evidence hearing. The following written responses were received:
FAR01 – Fire Officers Association
FAR02- Mid and West Wales Fire Authority
FAR04- North Wales Fire Service
FAR06- Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
FAR07- Fire and Rescue Services Association
FAR08- National Fire Chiefs Council
FAR09- Women in the Fire Service
FAR10- Welsh Local Government Association
Oral evidence
The Committee heard from the following witnesses:
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Hannah Blythyn, MS, Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Dan Stephens, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser and Inspector for Wales Liz Lalley, Director, Risk, Resilience and Community Safety, Welsh Government |
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Matt Wrack, General Secretary, Fire Brigade Union (FBU) Cerith Griffiths, Executive Council member for Wales, Fire Brigade Union (FBU) Peter Crews, Branch Secretary (covering South Wales Fire & Rescue), UNISON Tristan Ashby, Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Rescue Services Association (FRSA) Mark Hardingham, Chair, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) There was also a private briefing with the South Wales Fire Commissioners: Vij Randeniya (former Chief Fire Officer for the West Midlands) Baroness Wilcox of Newport (former Leader of Newport City Council) Kirsty Williams (former Member of the Senedd and Minister for Education) |
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Adrian Crompton, Auditor General for Wales Gary Emery, Audit Director, Audit Wales Martin Peters, Head of Law and Ethics, Audit Wales Councillor Dylan Rees, Chair of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Dawn Docx, Chief Fire Officer of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service Councillor Gwynfor Thomas, Chair of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Roger Thomas, Chief Fire Officer of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Councillor Steven Bradwick, former Chair of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Dewi Rose, Temporary Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service |
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Jason Killens, Chief Executive Officer, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) Angela Lewis, Director of People and Culture, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) |
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Julie James MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning Liz Lalley, Director, Risk, Resilience and Community Safety, Welsh Government Dan Stephens, Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser and Inspector for Wales |
Business type: Committee Inquiry
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
First published: 09/02/2024
Background papers
- FAR01 – Fire Officers Association
PDF 150 KB - FAR02 - Mid and West Wales Fire Authority PDF 332 KB
- FAR03- Fire Standards Board PDF 380 KB
- FAR04 - North Wales Fire Service PDF 279 KB
- FAR05 - Audit Wales PDF 123 KB
- FAR06 - Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust PDF 137 KB
- FAR07- Fire and Rescue Services Association PDF 224 KB
- FAR08 - National Fire Chiefs Council PDF 174 KB
- FAR09 - Women in the Fire Service PDF 178 KB
- FAR10 - Welsh Local Government Association PDF 263 KB