The proposed local government reorganisations in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, planned from April 2020, will create new unitary authorities. As a result, the existing Composition of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee will need to be varied to accommodate these changes, as the existing Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) for these areas will no longer exist.
Do you agree with the proposed changes to the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee composition?
Stakeholders agreed with the proposed changes to the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee composition.
The responses to the Consultation were carefully considered and reviewed by the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee at their Meeting on the 10th July 2019. Details of the Meeting are located here.
The Committee agreed to the Proposals to the Variation to the Composition of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee that was to be submitted in two parts (Phase 1 and Phase 2) for Ministerial approval.
The results of this consultation can be found in the consultation summary below.
The Regional Flood & Coastal Committees (RFCCs) are committees established by the Environment Agency under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. These bring together members appointed by Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) and independent members with relevant experience for 3 purposes:
There are 12 Committees in England and each has a Chair appointed by Defra. The Thames RFCC covers the River Thames catchment from Oxfordshire in the west, through London to Essex. It covers an area from Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire in the north and to Surrey and West Sussex in the south.
The following local government reorganisations mean a change to the Constituent Authority Membership of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee is required:
Each new authority will deliver all local government services in their respective areas including being Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs). The creation of these new authorities has implications for the composition of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
The Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee membership includes representation from Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire County Councils. This membership was signed off by the Secretary of State in 2011. Due to the changes in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, this membership will need to be varied before 1 December 2019 to represent the new councils on 1 April 2020.
No changes to the number of independent (Environment Agency appointed) or LLFA Members or to the LLFAs sharing seats.
The existing LLFA shared seat position for Buckinghamshire County Council would be transferred to the new proposed Buckinghamshire Council. Oxfordshire County Council would continue to represent the small part of the proposed West Northamptonshire Council that is within Thames RFCC area.
Given the minor nature of the Local Government reorganisation within a large and complex RFCC there are no other options considered to be appropriate to propose.
Please see the consultation document below for further details, along with a copy of the response form if you would prefer to respond via email or post.
We are consulting on a proposed option for the RFCC Composition.
The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Regulations 2011 stipulates a statutory six week consultation period in order to vary the composition of a Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
To ensure that we have consensus on our proposed scheme of membership we are inviting comments from members of the public and other interested parties.
The responses to the Consultation will be reviewed by the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee at their Meeting to be held in July 2019. At this meeting they will recommend a revised composition to go to the Agency Board and Minister for their approval.
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