2015 No. 435

Fire And Rescue Services, England

The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority (Combination Scheme) Order 2015

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force in accordance with article 1

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 2, 3, 4 and 60(2) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 20041.

It appears to the Secretary of State that in the interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness there should be a single fire and rescue authority for the combined area of the Dorset Fire Authority and the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority.

This Order is made to give effect to a draft Scheme submitted to the Secretary of State by the existing authorities in question and includes modifications to the draft Scheme which seem appropriate to the Secretary of State after consulting the existing authorities in question.

This Order also revokes the Schemes (“the existing Schemes”) given effect by the Dorset Fire Services (Combination) Scheme Order 19962 and the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Services (Combination Scheme) Order 19963.

In accordance with section 4(5) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, before making the Order the Secretary of State consulted—

a

the fire and rescue authorities which appear to him likely to be affected,

b

any other authority which would, apart from the Order be a fire and rescue authority under section 1 of that Act and which appears to him likely to be affected,

c

any local authority all or part of whose area forms part of the combined area, and

d

any other persons he considers appropriate.

The Dorset Fire Authority and the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority and any other authority which would apart from the existing Schemes be a fire and rescue authority under section 1 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, and which would be affected by the revocation of those Schemes, have agreed to the revocation4.