SAPG Remit: ANNEX 1
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1. Purpose
1.1 This document outlines how the Scottish Agricultural Pollution Group ( SAPG) will operate in order to deliver the remit specified in ANNEX II.
2. Functioning and Membership
2.1 SAPG will be jointly owned and operated by SEPA and the Scottish Executive ( SE). The Group will have a 'core' and 'associate' membership and will meet no less than 4 times a year. It will also hold a field trip associated with one of these meetings and ensure that these are held in different parts of Scotland. Each member organisation will take responsibility for organising and hosting this trip on a rotational basis.
2.2. The 'core' membership will consist of the Chairman ( SEPA or SE), Technical Secretary ( SEPA or SE), Administrative Secretary ( SE) with additional members from;
SEPA (3)
Scottish Executive (4)
SAC (2)
NFU Scotland (2)
2.3 The 'associate' membership will be drawn from member organisations and will be identified by the 'core' membership. This wider membership will be the 'eyes and ears' of SAPG and may also assist in fulfilling the remit and work of the Group. 'Associate' members may attend SAPG meetings by agreement with the Chairman.
2.4 SEPA or SE will provide the Chairman and Technical Secretary with neither organisation fulfilling both roles at the same time. SE will provide the Administrative Secretary of the Group. The Chairman and Technical Secretary roles will rotate between SEPA and SE every two years. SEPA representation will come from policy and frontline regulation staff. SE will provide agricultural and environmental policy leads, as well as ABRG research staff, as required. SAC will provide a senior representative from Farm Business Services and possibly, a specialist in soils and organic waste issues. NFU Scotland will be invited to provide policy and Environment and Land Use Committee members and may select representatives from an arable or livestock background depending on the issues to be discussed.
2.5 The Chairman will oversee the meetings and agree the agenda with the Technical Secretary and Administrative Secretary in advance. The Chairman will facilitate discussion at the meetings and ensure that they are business like and focused. The Chairman will promote the work of the Group and act as the Group's spokesperson, as required. The Chairman will produce an annual report which summarises the work of the Group. This will be for wider dissemination by Group members but will not be formally published.
2.6 The Administrative Secretary will arrange meetings, meeting rooms, car parking, refreshments, prepare the agenda, circulate papers and draft the minute of the meetings.
2.7 The Technical Secretary will work closely with the Chairman and other members to ensure progress on key work areas between meetings. As the Group is focused on the technical aspects of the PEPFAA Code, the Technical Secretary must have suitable experience and knowledge of agricultural and environmental issues.
2.8 Sub-groups may be established under SAPG to deliver specific tasks in relation to the Group's remit. These Groups would have 'core' members represented on them to ensure feedback to the Chairman and Group.
2.9 Guest speakers may attend SAPG meetings only if the subject matter relates directly to the production of the PEPFAA Code, the Group's agreed remit and work plan.
3. What is expected of 'Core' Members?
3.1 SAPG members are expected to:
Represent their organisations and seek input and support for its work and outputs from these organisations;
Contribute agenda items and, where appropriate, papers for meetings;
Attend all meetings, wherever possible, and seek a deputy if unable to do so;
Have the suitable skills and experience of agricultural and environmental issues to apply to the work of the Group;
Assist in the preparation of a work plan for the Group and ensure that they provide the necessary commitment to deliver the tasks allocated to them or their organisation;
Focus on the development, promotion and evaluation of the
PEPFAA Code;
Disseminate the outputs of the Group within and out with their organisation, as appropriate.
4. Work Plan
4.1 A work plan will be prepared each financial year and be approved by the Group. This work plan will allocate tasks, indicate timescales and resources for delivery.
4.2 The work of the Group will be focused on the PEPFAA Code and its proactive development, support and implementation.
4.3 The Group may contribute to publications connected with the promotion of good agricultural practice but will no longer produce an annual "Pollution Review". Water-related pollution statistics will continue to be collated by SEPA and reported via its Annual Report and/or State of the Environment Reports.
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