Supplementary memorandum from Lord Rooker
When I gave evidence to the Committee on 10
November, I undertook to write to you to in response to a question
asked during the hearing. The Committee asked for a full list
of how DEFRA have engaged in the Sustainable Communities Plan
programme to date. As this hearing focused on the Growth Areas
and Thames Gateway, and their sustainability, the supplementary
evidence also focuses on the Growth Areas. I am sure you can appreciate
that it is not practical to track the formal and informal involvement
of ODPM with DEFRA and other Government departments at every level,
so this evidence lists the main contact points. I am happy for
you to publish my comments as part of your evidence.
ODPM ENGAGEMENT WITH DEFRA (AND OGDs)
THAMES GATEWAY
Defra
— ODPM Thames Gateway Strategy Division
engages with the Sustainable Land Use division of Defra on a regular
basis. This division leads on co-ordinating Defra's input into
the Sustainable Communities Plan, for example, Greening the Gateway:
the joint document published in January 2004 by ODPM and Defra
setting out the Government's vision for greenspace in the Thames
Gateway.
— ODPM Thames Gateway Strategy Division
also engages specifically with the Flood Management Division of
Defra.
— ODPM Thames Gateway divisions work
with Defra representatives from the Government Offices, for example,
attending meetings with the Climate Change Partnership of Government
Office London. We are also represented on the steering group for
joint Defra and Three Regions Climate Change Partnership research
into adaptation responses to climate change for new development
in the Growth Areas.
Defra's Agencies
— The Forestry Commission, English
Nature, Environment Agency and Countryside Agency all are represented
on the Environment Sub-Group of the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership.
The Environment Agency
— We are working with the Environment
Agency to ensure sustainable flood management is planned into
development in the Gateway. For example, we were joint partners
with the Association of British Insurers, London Development Agency
and Thames Gateway London Partnership in a conference on flood
risk management in the Thames Gateway in July 2004.
— ODPM Thames Gateway Strategy Division
are taking forward work with the Environment Agency following
the conference by setting up a project group/s to ensure that
strategic flood risk assessments are carried out throughout the
Gateway. We have regular catch-up meetings with the Environment
Agency to discuss policy issues of mutual interest.
— ODPM Thames Gateway Strategy Division
are also represented on the high-level steering group of the Environment
Agency's Thames Estuary 2100 project.
— The Environment Agency has been invited
this week to be represented on the revised Thames Gateway Strategic
Partnership.
— The Thames Gateway Delivery Unit
has funded an Environment Agency project in Medway to model flood
risk that will feed into the preparation of a strategic flood
risk assessment.
The Countryside Agency
— The Countryside Agency is a partner
in the Green Grid projects of East London, South Essex and North
Kent. These are financially supported by ODPM funding and are
major tools in delivering Greening the Gateway.
— The Countryside Agency is on the
steering group of the North Kent Regional Park project, an ODPM
Thames Gateway funded project.
— The Countryside Agency is chair of
a working group involved in developing recommendations on sustainable
development frameworks to feed into the Environment Sub-Group.
OTHER GROWTH
AREAS
— Accelerating the Growth Areas requires
up front provision of transport, health, education and environment
infrastructure. ODPM is currently working closely with OGDs and
their agencies to work up plans for future investment for the
overall long-term strategy for the Growth Areas.
DEFRA and its Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB)
— Through the Rural White Paper Implementation
Plan DEFRA plans to influence development in the growth areas
to enhance the rural/urban fringe and improve access to the countryside.
DEFRA are developing partnerships and a suite of advice on how
to deliver sustainable development.
English Nature (NDPB)
— English Nature is a partner on the
MKSM Environment and Quality of Life Sub-group, which is developing
the MKSM Green Infrastructure Strategy.
Countryside Agency (NDPB)
— The Countryside Agency work through
influencing the plans, policies and decisions of others and by
developing innovative tools and techniques with regional bodies
and partnerships plus with a range of planning authorities and
other organisations at the local level.
Environment Agency (NDPB)
— The Environment Agency is involved
in delivering elements of Coton Nature Reserve (Cambridgeshire)
and Ashford Corridor greenspace projects through the provision
of specialist advice and potential funding to provide sustainable
water management and flood relief systems.
— The Environment Agency is a partner
on the MKSM Environment and Quality of Life Sub-group, which is
developing the MKSM Green Infrastructure Strategy.
— In Ashford we are funding the Environment
Agency (a total of £400,000 over three years) to provide,
in liaison with relevant organisations, an Integrated Water Management
Strategy for the Ashford Growth Area. The Strategy will cover
water supply, waste water treatment and flood prevention and alleviation,
taking account of the additional housing proposed under the Sustainable
Communities Plan. The Strategy will feed into the current Masterplanning
for the future growth of Ashford.
— ODPM attends regular meetings of
the Delivery Managers Group (part of the Ashford Growth Area Delivery
vehicle) at which representatives of partners on the Delivery
Vehicle (including the Environment Agency) provide updates on
progress with ODPM-funded projects. Engagement at this level has
been positive (as it has at all levels in the Ashford Delivery
vehicle) and the Strategy is making good progress.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable Communities Strategy Meeting
— This is a working group including
officials from ODPM, DEFRA, Local Government, Government Offices
and the Welsh Assembly to consider Egan's recommendations on Sustainable
Community Strategies.
CLP Sub-Group on Local Delivery of Sustainable
Development
— This was a Ministerial working group
between ODPM and DEFRA. It discussed the local delivery of sustainable
development, including the definition of sustainable communities
and the development of sustainable Community Strategies.
— This was a time-limited sub-group,
which was scheduled to hold four meetings. The last meeting of
the group was held earlier this month.
Sustainable Communities Inter-Departmental Officials
Group
— This quarterly meeting is held between
ODPM officials and officials from a wide range of Other Government
Departments.
— The meeting is used to discuss the
key programmes of the Sustainable Communities Plan and related
work being done by other departments.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Sustainable Buildings Task Group
— In October of last year ODPM, Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DEFRA established the Sustainable
Buildings Task Group which was tasked with identifying specific,
cost-effective, improvements in the quality and environmental
performance of buildings, which industry and Government could
deliver.
— The Departments with membership of
the Task Group at senior level were, ODPM, OTI, DEFRA, Her Majesty's
Treasury (HMT) and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). Secretariat
function was provided by DEFRA.
Code for Sustainable Buildings
— The Senior Steering Group for the
Code for Sustainable Buildings has members from ODPM and OGC on
it.
— The official level project team includes
members from ODPM, DTI, DEFRA and OGC.
RESPONSE TO
BARKER
— DEFRA and ODPM are commissioning
joint research ("Sustainability Project") that is going
to look at the effects of additional housing on sustainable communities.
— The project will be jointly funded
by ODPM and DEFRA. However, the contract will be managed on a
day to day basis by ODPM.
— The study will be led by a steering
group comprising representatives from ODPM, DEFRA, Department
for Transport (DfT), HMT and the English Regions Network.
MARKET RENEWAL
PATHFINDERS
— ODPM has held both formal and informal
meetings with DEFRA, the Environment Agency (EA) and the National
Urban Forestry Unit (NUFU), about the Pathfinders.
— ODPM are raising awareness amongst
the Pathfinders about the services that both the EA and NUFU can
offer.
RESPONSE TO
THE EGAN
REVIEW OF
SKILLS
National Centre
— The National Centre project team
have met with colleagues from Department for Education and Skills,
the Sector Skills Councils (CITB ConstructionSkills, AssetSkills,
LANTRA the Sector Skills Council for the Environmental and Land-based
Sector, E-Business, Skills for logistics), Home Office—Crime
Reduction Centre, Cabinet Office—Public Sector Leadership
Consortium and OPSR, National Centre for School Leadership, Higher
Education Funding Council for England, Learning and Skills Council,
UK Trade and Investment, DTI—Construction Unit, GO Regional
Director's, Disability Rights Commission along with other professional
and private sector groups.
November 2004
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