Kent Fire and Rescue Service
The Kent Fire Services (Combination Scheme) Order 1997

(This is not part of the Order)

This Order makes a scheme which combines the areas of the council of the district of the Medway Towns (which would otherwise become an individual fire authority on 1st April 1998 by virtue of the Local Government Act 1992) and the Kent County Council into a combined fire area. The scheme comes into force on the same day as the Order comes into force for the purpose of doing anything 
which is necessary to bring the scheme fully into operation on 1st April 1998. The scheme establishes a fire authority for the combined area, to be known as the Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority, and provides for the appointment and terms of office of its members, and for meeting of the Authority. The scheme establishes a fire brigade for the combined area, to be known as the Kent 
Fire Brigade or by such other name as the Authority determines, appoints its first chief officer, and provides for the submission of an establishment scheme to the Secretary of State. The scheme establishes a combined fire service fund and provides for the administration of the Authority’s finances. The scheme also provides for the transfer of staff, and certain property, rights and 
liabilities, directly from the Kent County Council (the fire authority for the same area as combined area prior to 1st April 1998) to the new combined authority