The Scottish Government

Water Framework Directive National Stakeholder Forum

27/28 April 2004

Developing a River Basin Management Planning Strategy

Callum Sinclair, WFD Project Officer, SEPA

1. General introduction:

SEPA is identified in the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 as the authority leading the production of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) in Scotland.

In autumn 2003 SEPA organised a number of stakeholder seminars around Scotland to consider three strategic RBM Planning issues and gather views as to how these should be developed in Scotland.

These events considered the themes of:

· Developing administrative arrangements and principles to support RBMP production;

· Delivering effective participative and consultative opportunities; and

· Effectively integrating the RBMP with other plans and planning.

The discussions, views and responses provided at these seminars have been used to produce a consultation document to be released by SEPA on 28 April 2004. This consultation will lead towards the publication of a Scottish River Basin Management Planning Strategy later in 2004 that will:

· Present our view of RBMP production;

· Provide clarification of future actions and intentions in RBMP delivery; and

· Assist interested parties preparing to contribute to the process.

Some of the more substantive proposals made in the consultation document are presented for discussion with National Stakeholder Forum (NSF) members.

2. Summary of key consultative proposals:

Developing administrative arrangements and principles to support RBMP production:

We propose that a RBMP National Advisory Group be formed, developing from the existing Scottish Executive NSF, to co-ordinate and inform RBMP production across Scotland. We also present options for a supporting network of Area Advisory Groups covering the whole of the Scottish River Basin District. A generic membership and list of roles is suggested for the National and Area Advisory Groups.

We identify and propose SEPA's preferred option for the Area Advisory Group network; this is a total of eight groups based upon surface water catchments, coastal water units and aligned, where possible, with local authority boundaries.

It is proposed that the National and Area Advisory Groups from in 2005/06 in order to deliver required reports from 2006.

Delivering effective participative and consultative opportunities:

We propose key principles for the consultative and participative activities and methods that will support RBMP production and that a Participation and Consultation Plan is produced by December 2006 using these principles. This plan would support and inform activities undertaken by the proposed National and Area Advisory Groups.

Effectively integrating the RBMP with other plans and planning:

We make proposals regarding a range of existing planning activities and planning types, which we feel will assist in the integration and co-ordination of the RBMP with other plans. Many of these proposals identify the need to include representatives of other sectors on either the National or Area Advisory Groups.

More specific recommendations are made on the important relationship between the RBMP and Statutory Development Plans. A joint working group made up of representatives from RBM Planning, the Scottish Executive and Development Planning is proposed to inform and assist co-ordination between these plans towards the first RBMP of 2009.

The RBMP presentation to the NSF will provide further information on the proposals made in the consultation, how these have been developed and allow discussion of areas of concern and interest.

3. Future RBMP strategy timetable:

The RBMP Strategy consultation will be subject to a 12-week consultation period and close on 21 July 2004. The final RBMP Strategy should be published in late 2004.

4. Further WFD timetable:

The WFD provides a comprehensive timetable for all major tasks to be delivered. Leading towards the production of the first RBMP this is as below:

5. Suggested issues for discussion:

1. It is proposed that the NSF is developed to form a National RBMP Advisory Group overseeing RBMP production. A generic membership and list of tasks is presented.

Do NSF members have any immediate views on these proposals?

2. We propose that National and Area Advisory Groups are formed during 2005/06 to deliver required RBMP reports from 2006.

Does the NSF feel that this is an appropriate timescale to take forward these arrangements?

3. A process of joint working between RBM Planning, the Scottish Executive and Development Planning interests is proposed to inform co-ordination of the RBMP with Development Plans.

Does the NSF consider this, or any of the other proposals made regarding coordination of plans, to be appropriate?