Written Statement: Intervention in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service: Next Steps

In January 2024, Fenella Morris KC published a highly critical report of her year-long inquiry into the culture and management of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS). It exposed widespread bullying, harassment and discrimination, favouritism in promotion arrangements, and management which was unable or unwilling to confront these problems. 

The following month, the Welsh Government intervened. Having received inadequate assurances from SWFRS that it could and would address these problems itself, the then Deputy Minister for Social Partnership appointed four Commissioners to assume full oversight of the Service by taking over all of the functions of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority (SWFRA). 

The Commissioners have made some good progress since then. The senior management team has been completely refreshed, and those who oversaw the original failings have been replaced. Internal policies and procedures are being overhauled and made fairer and more robust. And staff survey results show that workplace culture is improving, albeit from a very low base.

The aim of intervention is to ensure that not only are actions taken to address the identified issues it is vital that these changes are sustained. This is on the basis that all such actions are measures of last resort: central government should only suspend local control of local services where absolutely necessary, and only for as long as necessary. It is therefore important that we consider when to end an intervention carefully on the basis of evidence and the views of those involved.

Whilst there has been significant progress, the Commissioners do not believe that their task is finished.  In particular, they have concluded that change is not sufficiently embedded to survive a return to local control. They are fortified in that view by a report from leading academics in the field which has cast material doubt about the sustainability of recovery if the Commissioners were to leave in the near future.

Having carefully considered this position, I agree with the need to maintain the intervention.  Bringing our intervention to an end now risks the change not being sustained and it is vital for those who were impacted by the previous issues that these are not allowed to return. It would also jeopardise the quality of services on which the people of South Wales rely to keep them safe. Those are risks I am not prepared to take. 

I have therefore decided that the Commissioners will remain in place until after next year’s local elections. During that time, I expect them to complete their original remit and to take steps to secure an orderly and sustainable transition back to local control. I have also engaged with the WLGA on the pathway to transition. To assist the Commissioners in ensuring a smooth transition back to local control, they and we will work closely with the WLGA, the ten local authorities in South Wales and the Cabinet members those authorities have appointed to membership of SWFRA. 

Finally, one of our Commissioners, Carl Foulkes, will shortly leave that post for personal reasons. Carl has brought great insight and leadership to the role, drawing on his experience as Chief Constable of North Wales Police. I would like to thank him for his service and wish him well for the future. I will appoint a replacement Commissioner in due course.