Consultation outcome

Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) consultation: summary of responses

Updated 15 February 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/regional-flood-and-coastal-committees-membership-and-boundary-change/outcome/regional-flood-and-coastal-committees-rfccs-consultation-summary-of-responses

1. Introduction

1.1 Overview

Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) are Committees established by the Environment Agency under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. They bring together:

  • members appointed by Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs)
  • independent members with relevant experience

There are 12 Committees in England and each has a Chair appointed by Defra.

On 21 July 2021, Robert Jenrick (Secretary of State for the then Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) announced the decision to take forward proposals (following a public consultation) to reorganise councils in:

  • Cumbria
  • North Yorkshire
  • Somerset

The local government reorganisations mean a change to the Constituent Authority Membership of 3 RFCCs in these areas:

  • North West RFCC (covering Cumbria)
  • Yorkshire RFCC (covering North Yorkshire)
  • Wessex RFCC (covering Somerset)

The changes mean new councils will come into existence in April 2023. There are no proposed changes to the number of LLFA members or independent members to the RFCCs.

Additionally, we also have a boundary change to make for the English Severn and Wye RFCC, due to a historic incorrect mapping error. There are no other changes proposed to the composition of this RFCC.

In the affected areas there are no proposed changes to the number of:

  • LLFA members
  • independent members to the RFCCs

However we are required to consult under the RFCC (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).

2. Consultation

A public consultation on these changes ran from 27 September to 8 November 2022. The primary purpose of the consultation was to gather views and comments from those stakeholders directly affected by the proposals.

The consultation took place online via the Environment Agency’s online consultation hub. Newsletters and mailouts helped to communicate the consultation.

The consultation question asked for the Constituent Authority Membership of the 3 RFCCs was:

  • Do you agree with the proposed changes to the (North West/Yorkshire/ Wessex RFCC) composition?
  • Answer: Yes, No, or Don’t Know

The consultation question asked for the boundary change for the English Severn and Wye RFCC was:

  • Do you agree with the proposed amendment to the English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee boundary?
  • Answer: Yes, No, or Don’t Know

3. Consultation summary of responses

We received a total of 7 consultation responses for the proposed changes. All 7 responses were received for the proposed changes to the North West RFCC (covering Cumbria).

We received no responses for the:

  • Yorkshire RFCC (covering North Yorkshire),
  • Wessex RFCC (covering Somerset)
  • boundary change consultation for English Severn and Wye RFCC

Here is a breakdown of the of the 7 responses received for the proposed changes to the North West RFCC (covering Cumbria):

  • Consultation question: Do you agree with the proposed changes to the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee composition?

  • Yes: 4

  • No: 3

Three responses did not agree with the proposed changes. Their preference was for the new unitary authorities of ‘Westmorland and Furness’, and ‘Cumberland’ to have their own representation on the RFCC. There was also a request for the membership to rotate annually between the 2 new authorities.

4. Next steps

The consultation responses were noted. The North West RFCC agrees to work with ‘Westmorland and Furness’, and ‘Cumberland’ Councils to ensure equal representation in these areas. This is in line with the partnership approach, and the need for a strategic approach to the Cumbrian coastline and shared catchments. This is similar to the approach taken by other authorities in the sub-regions of the North West RFCC.

It was also noted that it is not unusual for council authorities to:

  • share a place on a RFCC
  • rotate that place either annually or every 2 years

There is a precedent for doing this across many RFCCs already. It is normal practice for RFCC Chairs to allow ‘observers’, such as interested stakeholders to sit in on these public meetings.

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