North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC)
The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) is a committee established by the Environment Agency under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 that brings together members appointed by Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFA) and independent members with relevant experience for 3 purposes:
- to ensure there are coherent plans for identifying, communicating and managing flood and coastal erosion risks across catchments and shorelines
- to encourage efficient, targeted and risk-based investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management that represents value for money and benefits local communities
- to provide a link between the Environment Agency, LLFA, other risk management authorities, and other relevant bodies to build understanding of flood and coastal erosion risks in its area
Map
Meeting dates
Meeting dates for 2025 to 2026 are:
- 26 January 2025 (virtual)
- 25 April 2025 (virtual)
- 11 July 2025 (face-to-face)
- 24 October 2025 (face-to-face)
- 23 January 2026 (virtual)
Members of the public and press are welcome to attend as observers.
To attend a North West RFCC meeting contact the Environment Agency by emailing NW-RFCC@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Meeting papers
To request copies of agendas and papers of North West RFCC meetings, please contact the Environment Agency by emailing nw-rfcc@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Minutes of meetings
Vacancies
We currently have 3 independent member vacancies. They are for:
- independent member, business and assurance - we are looking for an independent member with a business and assurance background, this role starts on 30 June 2025
- independent member, agriculture and land management - we are looking for an independent member with a knowledge of agriculture and land management issues, this role starts on 30 June 2025
- independent member, planning and design - we are looking for an independent member with knowledge of planning and design issues, this role starts on 1 February 2025
Being a member of the committee is a fantastic opportunity to:
- get involved with issues that really matter in your area
- gain new skills, experience and build your network
- make a real difference to people’s lives, livelihoods and to the environment we all live in
You can find out more about these roles and apply on our recruitment website.
Committee members
| Member | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Adrian Lythgo | Chair |
| Cllr Denise Rollo | Cumberland Council |
| Cllr Stephen Clarke | Lancashire County Council |
| Cllr James Shorrock | Blackburn with Darwen Council |
| Cllr Philip Cusack | Salford Council |
| Cllr Ged Cooney | Tameside Council |
| Cllr Alan Quinn | Bury Council |
| Cllr Laura Crane | Cheshire East Council |
| Cllr Karen Shore | Cheshire West and Chester Council |
| Cllr Tony Brennan | Knowsley Council |
| Neville Elstone | Environment Agency appointee (General business and assurance) |
| Carolyn Otley | Environment Agency appointee (Communities) |
| Kate Morley | Environment Agency appointee (Nature conservation) |
| Paul Barnes | Environment Agency appointee (Agriculture and land management) |
| Susannah Bleakley | Environment Agency appointee (Coast) |
| Amy Cooper | Environment Agency appointee (Water industry) |
| Chris Findley | Environment Agency appointee (Development and Sustainable Investment) |
| TBC | Environment Agency appointee (Planning and design) |
2 of the following members attend on a rotating basis:
| Member | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Cllr Mhairi Doyle | Sefton Council |
| Cllr Elizabeth Grey | Wirral Council |
| Cllr Daniel Barrington | Liverpool City Council |
North West RFCC Business Plan 2022 to 2025
We’ve created a new business plan for 2022 to 2025. This plan translates the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for the North West and sets out the role the RFCC will play in enabling and supporting its implementation.
The plan recognises the need for the RFCC and its flood risk management authority partners to work more collaboratively with a wider range of partners and communities, and to develop and achieve shared objectives.