England & Wales Wildfire Forum

Members of the EWWF represent a number of key groups and organisations.
 

Grouping	Organisation
Governmental	Home Office (Lead government department for wildfire) Civil Contingencies Secretariat, Cabinet Office Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Welsh Assembly Government
Representative organisations	Country Land & Business Association (CLA) Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Heather Trust Moorland Association Scottish Wildfire Forum
Fire & rescue service	National Fire Chief's Council (NFCC) Wildfire Group Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Government agencies	Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) Forestry Commission England Met Office Natural England Natural Resources Wales Network Rail
National parks and local authorities	English National Park Authorities Dorset County Council Local Government Association (LGA) Peak District National Park Authority
Research institutions	Manchester University
Special interest groups	South East England Wildfire Group (SEEWG) Northumberland Fire Group (NFG) Peak District Fire Operations Group (FOG) Urban Heaths Partnership

 If you would like to join the EWWF, then please contact us.

The EWWF is currently managed by a chair, vice-chair and secretariat:

• EWWF chair: Simon Thorp, director at the Heather Trust
• EWWF vice-chair: Andy Thomas, assistant chief fire officer at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• EWWF secretariat: Robert Stacey, project officer at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.

The EWWF is governed according to the following key principles:

Legal status:
The forum will hold no legal status. Members agree to work together to deliver the forum’s aims and address wildfire issues.

Chair:
The forum will be chaired by a senior officer of a member organisation. The role of chairperson shall be reviewed annually.

Vice chair:
The vice chairperson of the forum, shall be a senior officer of a member organisation and shall deputise for the chair as required. The role of vice chairperson shall be reviewed annually.

Membership:
Member organisations shall nominate a standing representative but may if necessary send a replacement representative to forum meetings. New members, either by invitation or on application, shall be admitted at the discretion of the existing forum members. Additional representatives from member organisations shall be co-opted at the discretion of the forum members.

Meetings:
Forum meetings will be held at least annually, as agreed with members. Additional meetings to address specific matters may be held when necessary. An invitation to attend to discuss specific items of business may be extended to other organisations and individuals. Forum members will host meetings of the forum as appropriate.

Work groups:
Work groups will be established to undertake tasks of a specific nature as identified by the forum. Membership of work groups will comprise of representatives with expertise or interest in the identified task(s) who shall nominate a group leader. Work groups will report back to the wider forum membership.

Administration:
The administration function associated with the work of the forum will be undertaken by the chairperson (and/or vice chairman) and an appointed secretariat.

Budget:
Membership of the forum is on a voluntary basis, but member organisations are asked to make a small annual contribution to the running costs of the forum. Any additional funding requirements identified will be progressed through partnership arrangements amongst forum members and other bodies as appropriate.

Voting:
Every effort will be made to reach decisions by consensus but where a vote is required, the quorum will be six. Each forum member organisation will have one vote and decisions will be taken on the basis of a simple majority.

For the avoidance of doubt, decisions taken by the forum will not be binding upon forum members, albeit members will be expected to support the forum’s deliberations in accordance with their commitment. Where it is necessary to take a vote inbetween meetings, a vote can be taken by electronic means.

Reporting:
The forum will produce reports for public circulation as appropriate, related to progress matters relevant to its remit.

Relationship with other groups:
The forum will establish and maintain close working links with the CFOA Wildfire Group and the Scottish Wildfire Forum. In addition, the forum will promote new and existing relationships with other groups and forums operating in the wildfire arena.

Recognition:
The forum members agree that in conducting the forum and in publicising its work, full recognition will be given to the support of each member.

Withdrawal from the forum:
Any member will be entitled to withdraw from the forum after giving written notice to the chairperson (or vice chairperson).

Review:
The forum will review progress on delivery of its aims and objectives on a regular basis.

Meeting agendas

• EWWF meeting in Wrexham, North Wales on 24th April 2018
• EWWF, SWF, NFCC Wildfire Group and Northern Ireland Stakeholder Group Joint Meeting in Bournemouth on 7th November 2017
• EWWF meeting in Bakewell on 9th November 2016
• EWWF meeting in South Wales on 7th June 2016
• EWWF meeting in Cambuslang on 10th November 2015
• EWWF and SWF joint meeting in Cambuslang on 10th November 2015
• EWWF meeting in London on 9th June 2015
• EWWF meeting in Sheffield on 27th November 2014
• EWWF meeting in London on 10th June 2014

This section provides copies of newsletters previously published and circulated by the EWWF. 

• September 2017 
• March 2017
• December 2016