A MAJOR new report has highlighted significant weaknesses in the governance of Wales’ Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs), calling for urgent action from the Welsh Government to address long-standing concerns. The Auditor General for Wales has criticised the current governance structures as lacking the necessary expertise and oversight required to manage the vital emergency services these authorities provide.

Fire and Rescue Authorities, which are responsible for fire-fighting, promoting fire safety, and responding to road traffic accidents, play a critical role in protecting Welsh communities. However, the Auditor General’s review warns that the system designed to govern these authorities is not fit for purpose, raising concerns over accountability and effectiveness.

What do councillors know about fire fighting?

One of the key findings of the report is that the current governance model for FRAs, which relies exclusively on councillors nominated by their local authorities, is not aligned with the specialist nature of fire and rescue services. Members of FRAs are drawn from local councils, often with little or no prior experience in fire and rescue, meaning they lack the technical knowledge required to make informed decisions on crucial public safety matters.

“Fire and Rescue Authorities provide vital services, and it’s important that they are governed in a manner reflecting the public and environment they serve,” said Adrian Crompton, the Auditor General for Wales. He urged the Welsh Government and the FRAs themselves to address these governance weaknesses and ensure that the people tasked with overseeing these services are properly equipped for the job.

The report highlights that while elected councillors provide important community representation, this does not guarantee the specific skills needed for governing such specialised services. As a result, there is a significant gap in knowledge and experience that poses a risk to the effective oversight of fire and rescue services across Wales.

Limited training and short-termism of positions

The review also revealed that many FRA members do not receive sufficient training to help bridge this knowledge gap. Of the three FRAs in Wales—North Wales, South Wales, and Mid & West Wales—only the latter provides a structured programme of training and development for its members. Elsewhere, training is sporadic and not consistently aligned with members’ individual needs, leaving many unprepared for the responsibilities they face.

In addition, the high turnover of FRA members, with frequent changes in membership due to local elections, further complicates the situation. The report found that this constant churn of councillors prevents the development of long-term expertise within the FRAs, making it difficult to maintain a knowledgeable and engaged governing body.

“Governance requires stability, expertise, and a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities,” the report states. However, the review found that in practice, many members did not demonstrate a clear understanding of their governance duties, further weakening the effectiveness of decision-making processes.

Lack of scrutiny and accountability

Another significant concern raised in the report is the lack of rigorous scrutiny and challenge within FRA governance structures. The review found that in many committee meetings, there was minimal questioning or discussion on important matters, including strategic risk management and performance oversight. This raises fears that decisions are being made without sufficient scrutiny, potentially putting public safety at risk.

The Auditor General also expressed concerns over the lack of diversity among FRA members, with the majority being male and few representatives from ethnic minority backgrounds. This lack of diversity, the report argues, reduces the ability of FRAs to reflect the communities they serve and engage with a broad range of perspectives on public safety issues.

The report further criticises the absence of regular evaluations of individual FRA members’ contributions, meaning there is no mechanism to assess whether members are fulfilling their roles effectively. This, coupled with the lack of structured training, results in a governance system that is not fully accountable to the public.

Urgent calls for reform

This is not the first time Welsh FRAs have faced calls for reform. In 2018, the Welsh Government’s White Paper on FRA governance recommended reducing the number of elected councillors in favour of appointing non-executive members with specialist expertise in fire and rescue. However, these proposals were never implemented, leaving the current governance structures largely unchanged.

The Auditor General’s report echoes these earlier recommendations, urging the Welsh Government to revisit its governance model. It calls for a membership structure that better reflects the technical and operational demands of fire and rescue services, ensuring that those tasked with overseeing these services have the necessary skills and knowledge.

In particular, the report recommends that the Welsh Government conduct a comprehensive review of FRA governance to introduce clearer accountability mechanisms and improve the training and development available to members. This would include regular assessments of members’ skills and contributions, as well as a more formal approach to succession planning within the FRAs.

Financial pressures not helping

The need for reform is made all the more urgent by the financial pressures facing the public sector. The combined budget of the three Welsh FRAs for 2024-25 is approximately £200 million, equating to £64 per head of the population. With such significant sums of money at stake, ensuring these funds are managed effectively is crucial, particularly in the current economic climate.

The report warns that the lack of robust governance could undermine the ability of FRAs to deliver value for money, with public safety potentially being compromised as a result. It emphasises that strong governance is essential for effective decision-making and the delivery of high-quality services, particularly in times of financial austerity.

A long road ahead

The findings of the Auditor General’s review have put the Welsh Government under pressure to act swiftly. The issues identified are not new, but the report makes clear that the need for change is more pressing than ever. As public sector budgets tighten, and the complexity of fire and rescue services increases, the risks posed by inadequate governance structures could have serious consequences for communities across Wales.

Whether the Welsh Government will heed the Auditor General’s call for reform remains to be seen. However, the message from the report is clear: without action, the governance of Wales’ Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to fall short of what is required to keep the public safe and ensure effective management of these essential services.

In the meantime, the public will be watching closely to see if the necessary reforms are put in place to address the serious issues raised in the report and ensure that Wales’ Fire and Rescue Authorities are governed with the expertise and accountability they deserve.

Responding, Joel James MS, Shadow Minister for Social Partnership, said: “It’s vital that those who form FRAs have the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain a high standard of service management.

“We’d encourage the Welsh Government to be led by this report and ensure that expertise can be retained in fire service governance.”