This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Results of SEPA review announced
13/03/2003
Steps to strengthen the contribution made by the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in protecting
Scotland's environment and delivering environmental justice
were set out today by Deputy Minister for Environment and
Rural Development Allan Wilson.
Speaking as the Scottish Executive announced the results
of its
Policy and Financial Management Review of SEPA, Mr
Wilson said.
"Environment protection and environmental justice are
key objectives in creating the sustainable future that we
all want for Scotland. SEPA plays a central role in
achieving both and it is vital that it is able to do so as
effectively as possible.
"The Review of SEPA's Performance and Financial
Management demonstrates that the Agency is delivering well.
But I want SEPA to do better still and I welcome the
recommendations set out in this report as a means of
helping it to do so.
"The First Minister outlined his commitment to tackling
environmental justice - ensuring that environmental ills
are not disproportionately suffered by the poorest
communities.
"The recommendations in the report will contribute
towards delivering that objective in two ways. They will
enable SEPA to improve the quality of environment
protection that it provides to communities across Scotland
and to respond more effectively to major environment
protection challenges, such as tackling diffuse pollution
and improving Scotland's performance in waste
management.
"Just as importantly, they will ensure that SEPA becomes
more responsive to the communities that it serves, by
equipping it to engage more effectively with those who live
and work in those communities."
Mr Wilson concluded by saying that the Executive and
SEPA would be working together on proposals for
implementing the recommendations in the report.
SEPA is one of the largest non-departmental public
bodies in Scotland, employing over 900 people in 22 offices
across Scotland. It is responsible for regulating the
potential pollution of air and natural waters, the storage,
transportation and disposal of controlled waste and the
keeping and disposal of radioactive materials. More
information on SEPA and many of its publications are
available at http://www.sepa.org.uk/.
Policy and Financial Management Reviews are used by the
Scottish Executive to assess the efficiency and
effectiveness with which public bodies deliver Ministers'
policies.
SEPA's overall role and function was examined during
last year's Public Bodies Review and the PFMR did not
revisit the issue of whether SEPA should continue to exist
in its present form. Instead it focused on ensuring that
SEPA is well positioned to protect and improve the Scottish
environment and contribute to sustainable development in
the future.
The PFMR's terms of reference were to:
* consider how effectively SEPA has performed since it
was established and seek the views of stakeholders on its
performance;
* consider how well SEPA responds to the policies and
priorities of the Scottish Ministers and if the level of
delegation to SEPA from the Scottish Executive is
sufficient and appropriate;
* examine the role of SEPA in relation to other bodies
with responsibilities for environmental protection and
regulation;
* identify ways of improving the service that SEPA
provides to communities and regulated organisations;
* examine the policies and practices of SEPA in relation
to the charges it levies for its regulatory service;
* look at ways of improving the system of environmental
permits and emissions monitoring; and
* identify the key issues that need to be addressed to
allow SEPA to meet the challenges posed by the shifting
focus of environmental legislation.