May 2012
Change in the Environment Agency
May 2012
As a flexible and pragmatic organisation, the Environment Agency is
continually looking to improve the way it does things. A number of change
programmes reached key stages of delivery on 1 June. This briefing explains
how these changes may impact upon our working relationships.
The main changes affect our Flood and Coastal Risk Management teams and
Planning & Corporate Services functions.
Flood and Coastal Risk Management Review
The Flood and Coastal Risk Management function of the Environment Agency will be
implementing a programme of improvements to the way we work and our
organisational structures. The changes came into effect in England from 1 June
2012.
Over the past twelve months, we have engaged with partner organisations, trade
unions and our staff and their feedback has been instrumental in shaping our new
organisational design. Additionally, the changes are designed to ensure that we are
more effective, efficient and customer-focused. The new structures mean that we
are in the best position to meet our ambitious goals for protecting people and
property from flooding and that we are confident in undertaking our duties and
responsibilities under new legislation and Government policies.
What is different
The programme of change, called the Flood and Coastal Risk Management Review,
is investing in our front line services to ensure we become more responsive to local
needs and concerns.
At local level, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Managers will be leading new
‘Partnership and Strategic Overview’ teams who will have an overview of flooding
from all sources and coastal erosion and will work with partners, stakeholders and
communities to find and deliver solutions together.
The Area Flood and Coastal Risk Managers will also lead on ensuring that local
communities are resilient to the risk of flooding and have robust plans in place,
supported by new ‘Flood Resilience’ teams. Flood Resilience teams will also lead the
planning and preparation needed to ensure that we can issue flood warnings for
potential flooding from the rivers and sea.
We have also appointed new Operations Managers and Catchment Engineers to
work in each local area. They will oversee our field teams – those providing round
the clock cover for responding to flooding and pollution incidents, delivering projects
to reduce the risk of flooding to communities and operating and maintaining our wide
range of flood defence assets and structures.
The Operations Managers will also be responsible for leading new ‘Asset
Performance’ teams who will ensure that Environment Agency flood defence assets
and structures operate safely and efficiently, providing effective flood risk reduction
for people and for property.
At a national level we have a new and stronger leadership team which will set the
direction for the flood and coastal risk management directorate and how it will deliver
David Rooke’s vision for flood and coastal erosion risk management.
Why it will be better
You told us that you are generally happy with our services but that you can find us
difficult to do business with at times and sometimes unresponsive to local concerns.
This front line investment seeks to ensure that we become easier to do business with
and that our working relationships become closer.
However, this does not mean we will be doing everything we’ve always done nor
doing it the same way. Public spending is tight so we will need to attract more money
from local sources and invest where the requirement is greatest.
Next steps
The new structures went live on 1 June. Over the coming months we will be talking to
all those that we work with to discuss how we will work with you going forward. We
will also ensure you have clear channels to communicate with us.
We will also be implementing a programme of continuous improvement to refine and
enhance our ways of working. Staff throughout Flood and Coastal Risk Management
will be part of this programme, contributing their time, ideas and expertise to ensure
we work as efficiently and effectively as possible, both internally and with customers
and partners.
Planning and Corporate Services
Our Planning and Corporate Services function offers a range of services to
businesses and our partners in local government and beyond. They have been clear
about where we can add most value, by focusing our advice and guidance on those
places where the environmental risks are highest and opportunities for making things
better are greatest. By taking a more risk-based approach, we will help others to take
better decisions for the environment more of the time and these services continue to
evolve. This unit will now be called Environment, Planning and Engagement (EPE).
The teams will focus on four cross-cutting activity areas:
 Integrated environment planning – that uses and shares evidence and local
intelligence to better understand the pressures on the local environment and
focus resources to improve things for wildlife and people.
 Sustainable Places – working with our Defra family partners to advise local
planning authorities and others on development and climate change issues.
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We’ve been asked to take a more risk-based approach to maximise the value
we can add on key sites and key plans.
Project management and delivery – to deliver multiple benefits through costeffective projects that cut across our traditional functions. Prime among these
will be our delivery of Water Framework Directive outcomes.
External relations and engagement – we want to be easy to do business with,
so it’s important that we listen to our customers and critical friends to improve
the way we operate.
We have already been working with local authorities and others to implement new
tools and ways of working to improve our services. This process of improvement will
continue over the coming months.
The immediate changes you are more likely to notice concern team names. Although
the team name might change, your contacts within the team are unlikely to have
changed. If you are having difficulty contacting who you need to speak to, please
contact Jennifer Hines.
Environment Agency Wales
On 22 May 2012, John Griffiths, the Welsh Government Minister for the Environment
and Sustainable Development, announced that he is proceeding with his proposal
(made in November last year) to create a Single Body for Wales. This means that
these changes will not be implemented in Wales. Activities to be undertaken by this
proposed new body are under review and the Environment Agency in Wales will
continue to work closely with colleagues in England to ensure that any changes to
working practices are supported and a high standard of service is maintained.
For further information on our work with national flood and coastal risk management
stakeholders please contact:
Eileen McKeever – [email protected]
Jennifer Hines – [email protected]