2 Background to the post
Environment Agency
3. The Environment Agency was established
in 1996 to protect and improve the environment. It has around
10,600 employees and its planned resource budget for 2014/15 is
£1.095 billion, of which £676 million comes in government
funding (the remainder being income from charges, such as abstraction
licences and FCRM levies).
Its principal responsibilities are:
- Regulating major industry and waste;
- treatment of contaminated land;
- flood and coastal risk management;
- water quality and resources;
- fisheries;
- inland river, estuary and harbour
navigations; and
- conservation and ecology
4. The Agency has three primary roles:
as a major environmental regulator, as an operator in the environmental
field, and as a major public advisory body.
5. Much environmental legislation in
the UK derives from European directives, which the Environment
Agency is charged with implementing. It uses permits, authorisations
and consents to set the conditions that operators, such as power
stations, the chemicals industry, food and drink manufacturers
and farms, must comply with so that their activities do not adversely
impact on people and the environment. It also regulates water
abstraction for drinking water, irrigation and industry, commercial
fisheries and license anglers and boat users.
6. As an actor in the environmental
field, the Environment Agency plays a central role in managing
flood risk, with a strategic overview role for flood risk management
from all sources, including rivers, the sea, groundwater, reservoirs
and surface water. It works in partnership with local authorities,
who are responsible for managing flood risk from surface water
and smaller local watercourses.
7. Thirdly, the Agency acts as independent
adviser on environmental matters, within government and more widely.
It advices government on developing legislation and policy, and
it is a statutory consultee for land use planning as well as advising
local authorities on planning to prevent inappropriate new development
in flood plains.
The role of the Chair of the Environment
Agency
8. The recruitment information provided
to candidates for the post outlined the role of the Chair of the
Environment Agency and the qualities required as follows:
As Chairman, you will provide overall
leadership and strategic vision for the Board of the Environment
Agency, which delivers Government policy for protecting and enhancing
the environment in England.
The Environment Agency tackles many
critical issues, including ensuring there is enough water for
people and wildlife, pollution prevention and flood defence. It
is also responsible for incentivising business energy efficiency
and cost-effective carbon reduction and carrying out proportionate
pollution regulation. As Chairman, you will understand the environment
and its importance to everyone. You will help improve the environment
and grow the rural economy and business. You will be able to balance
priorities and command confidence and respect at the highest level
with Ministers across Government and partners.
You will promote a positive and
constructive relationship with everyone that works with the Environment
Agency including local government and local communities, business
and industry, planners and developers, and a wide range of other
interest groups. Providing excellent customer service will be
core to your role.
This is a dynamic period for the
Environment Agency and a significant challenge will be to deliver
the Environment Agency's priorities within a tight fiscal period.
Supporting the executive team to prioritise resources and drive
forward further efficiencies will be key to delivering the best
value to the tax payer.
The successful candidate will have
a keen interest and understanding of the environmental priorities
for England and in driving sustainable development.
The Environment Agency is going
through a period of substantial reform. Strong leadership in the
context of change and transition will be essential while maintaining
a clear focus and ensuring business continuity across a range
of areas. You will also implement the conclusions of the joint
Triennial Review of the Environment Agency and Natural England.
This will involve in particular delivering a joint plan for driving
further integration between the two bodies, continuing to drive
the improvements in culture and ways of working as well as working
closely across the Defra network in various ways, including the
sharing of services with the wider Defra network.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
· manage the business of the
Board, ensuring that Board membership is aligned with the challenges
facing the organisation; and that the skills of Board members,
both individually and in teams, are used effectively.
· ensure that the Board has
accurate and clear financial information and is advised of all
achievements and likely future developments and trends.
· oversee and make a strong
contribution to the Environment Agency's corporate strategy, acting
as a sounding board for the Chief Executive who will involve the
Board in the development of new strategic plans, and implement
the NE/EA Triennial Review.
· be the principal public face
representing the Environment Agency to Parliament and Government
Ministers, senior representatives of partner organisations, with
the media and promoting excellent relations, explaining the Environment
Agency's work to a range of audiences.
· take responsibility for building
and maintaining an effective Board, in particular ensuring that
the correct governance arrangements are in place, and ensuring
that the performance of individual members of the Board and its
committees is evaluated annually.
· support and encourage the
Chief Executive and their staff in their roles, but also, as required,
constructively challenge the Chief Executive's decisions and recommendations.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The candidate will need to effectively
lead the Board and the organisation and have the interpersonal
skills to engage effectively with a wide cross section of people
and organisations. The candidate will help improve the environment
and grow the rural economy and business. The candidate will be
able to demonstrate:
· Strong leadership;
· Excellent ambassadorial qualities;
· Clear strategic and creative
thinking;
· A collaborative style, being
a team player, ready to work with partners across sectors to deliver
Government's long term objectives for the natural environment
and the public benefit it brings; and
· Probity, integrity and a
commitment to public service values.
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