Title, commencement, application and interpretation

1.-(1) The title of this Order is The Fire and Rescue Authorities (Improvement Plans) (Wales) Order 2012 and it comes into force on 21 May 2012.

(2) This Order applies in relation to Wales.

(3) In this Order -

• "the Measure" ("y Mesur") means the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.

Specification of publication date

2.-(1) In respect of the information described in paragraph (2), the following date is specified for the purposes of section 15(7)(b) of the Measure, namely 31 December prior to the financial year to which the improvement plan relates.

(2) The information described in this paragraph is information to be published by a fire and rescue authority under section 15(6) of the Measure (publication of a description of its improvement plan) for a financial year beginning on or after 1 April 2013.

Revocation

3. The Fire and Rescue Authorities (Improvement Plans) (Wales) Order 2010(2) is revoked.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 15(6) of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (nawm 2) ("the Measure") requires a Welsh improvement authority to make arrangements to publish a description of the authority's plans for discharging its duties under sections 2(1), 3(2) and 8(7) of the Measure in a financial year.

Section 15(7) of the Measure provides that those arrangements must be framed so that the information is published as soon as is reasonably practicable after (a) the start of the financial year to which the plan must relate or (b) such other date as the Welsh Ministers may specify by order.

This Order specifies that date for fire and rescue authorities, one category of Welsh improvement authority. Article 2 has the effect of providing that a fire and rescue authority must publish the required information as soon as is reasonably practicable after 31 December in the year prior to the financial year to which the improvement plan relates.

This Order comes into force on 21 May 2012 and the first financial year for which 31 December is the relevant date is the year beginning on 1 April 2013.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order. A copy can be obtained from the Fire and Armed Forces Branch, Welsh Government, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ or by calling 0300 062 8221.