This Order is made under section 75(3) of the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (“the Act”). It is the first commencement order to be made under the Act.

Article 2 of this Order provides that 1 April 2014 is the appointed day for the coming into force of section 63 of the Act.

Section 63 amends the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (“the Measure”) by inserting a new section 143A. Section 143A provides the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (“the Panel”) with powers in relation to the salaries of the heads of paid service in county, county borough councils and fire and rescue authorities (defined in section 143A as “qualifying relevant authorities”). Under section 143A, the Panel is able to make recommendations to a qualifying relevant authority about any policy in the authority’s pay policy statement which relates to the salary of the authority’s head of paid service, and any change in salary of the authority’s head of paid service. Where a qualifying relevant authority is proposing a change of salary of its head of paid service that is not commensurate with a change to the salaries of its other staff, that authority must consult the Panel about the proposals before making the change. The Panel is required to have regard to any guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers when exercising its functions under section 143A.