Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021

167 Performance and governance of fire and rescue authorities

(1) The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 21 (fire and rescue national framework) insert—

“21A Fire and rescue authorities in Wales: performance and governance

(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations—

(a) require a fire and rescue authority for an area in Wales to make a plan in relation to the exercise of the authority’s functions;

(b) impose requirements relating to such a plan.

(2) The requirements which may be imposed under subsection (1)(b) include requirements about—

(a) a plan’s content;

(b) its preparation and revision;

(c) when it is to be made;

(d) the period to which it is to relate;

(e) its publication.

(3) Requirements about a plan’s content include requirements to—

(a) set out an authority’s priorities and objectives;

(b) describe and explain the extent to which the plan reflects the Framework prepared by the Welsh Ministers under section 21;

(c) set out actions the authority intends to take in relation to its priorities and objectives;

(d) set out how the authority intends to assess its performance.

(4) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision (including imposing requirements on an authority) for the purposes of assessing or reporting on the performance of an authority.

(5) Before making regulations under subsection (1) or (4) the Welsh Ministers—

(a) must consult fire and rescue authorities for areas in Wales or persons who the Welsh Ministers consider represent those authorities;

(b) must consult persons who the Welsh Ministers consider represent employees of fire and rescue authorities for areas in Wales;

(c) may consult any other persons the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.”

(3) In section 60(6) (procedure for orders and regulations), after paragraph (c) and before the “or” which follows it insert—

“(ca) regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 21A(1) or (4),”.