Proposed National Liaison Panel for England

Proposed National Liaison Panel for England Cath Beaver Stakeholder Relations Manager

WFD decision-making • River basin planning happens at different scales: The framework for planning is set by national legislation and policies National The River Basin District is the focus for river basin planning River Basin District Catchment Local

The role of RBD liaison panels • We have set up ten RBD liaison panels • Members represent main stakeholder sectors and: • provide help, support and advice to the Environment Agency as WFD competent authority • bring their sector’s knowledge and understanding to inform river basin planning • provide a forum for negotiations between deliverers in relation to measures • Scrutinise planning to ensure Directive requirements are met and RBP Guidance is adhered to

Role of a national liaison panel To represent the main national sectors and organisations in England in the development of national mechanisms and measures to support river basin planning

Scope of work • The national panel will: - provide national level help and advice to the Environment Agency - act as a forum for negotiations between deliverers on national measures - raise issues directly with the Environment Agency • Members will use their powers and influence to assist effective implementation • The national panel will not scrutinise the work of the RBD liaison panels but will consider national issues they raise

Membership Membership of the national panel will: • Include major interests • Include organisations that can help drive action at all levels • Include key government departments • Ensure a mix of members from 3 different areas of action - regulation, planning and business

Core members (17)

Working Groups • Time-limited working groups can be set up to: • review issues or measures • propose national actions • Working group members will be drawn from the National Stakeholder Group

Cross-border issues • Scotland and Wales are setting up their own national stakeholder groups: • SEPA’s National Advisory Group will co-ordinate and advise on RBMP production • The Welsh Assembly Government is setting up a stakeholder group for Wales • The national liaison panel will only include English stakeholders

Summary of proposals • We will establish a national liaison panel for England that meets for the first time at the end of 2006 • The panel will be a small group of key deliverers • The panel will discuss and assess national measures • The panel will set up time-limited working groups where necessary

Next Steps • We need to finalise our proposals in Sept 06 so we can begin the appointment process • To help us do this we would like your views on: • the proposed role of the panel • the membership composition • whether it is practical for a single group to cover different areas of action (regulation, planning, business) • the use of working groups • Contact: cath.beaver@environment-agency.gov.uk or tel: 01454 205718

Proposed National Liaison Panel for England