Corporate report

Environment Agency corporate scorecard 2022 to 2023 - quarter three

Published 12 April 2023

Applies to England

The corporate scorecard 2022 to 2023 quarter 3 (Q3) starts 1 October 2022 and ends 31 December 2022. The year end is 31 March 2023.

1. Corporate scorecard summary page

The Environment Agency use a red, amber, green system to see how we are performing at a glance. They are:

• green which means we are performing at or above the target(s) set
• amber which means we are falling slightly short of the target
• red which means there are improvements to be made

This table shows the red, amber, green scores for the 14 measures plus the actual and target figures.

1.1 A nation resilient to climate change

By 2025 we (the Environment Agency) will have created more climate resilient places and infrastructure, by ensuring the nation is prepared for flooding, coastal change and drought

Measure title	Units	Q3 actual	Q3 target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 status
We reduce the risk of flooding for more properties	Number of properties better protected	39,324	37,000	60,000	Green	Green
We maintain our flood and costal risk management assets at or above the target condition	% of high risk assets at target condition	94%	98%	98%	Red	Red

By 2025 we will be a stronger leader on climate adaptation and resilience, encouraging others to act now on the climate emergency

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 year to date status
We will deliver our strategic adaptation actions to tackle the climate emergency	Actions	93%	90%	90% minimum	Green	Green

By 2025 we will be a recognised and trusted incident management organisation responding rapidly to environmental emergencies to protect people and the environment

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 year to date status
We have a first class incident response capability - proportion of trained staff employed in core incident roles	% Staff utilised	75%	80%	80%	Amber	Amber

1.2 Healthy air, land and water

By 2025 our air will be cleaner and healthier

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 year to date status
By 2025 our air will be cleaner and healthier	% reduction grams per tonne	Reports in Q4	Reports in Q4	4 out of 4 pollutants showing a reduction on the previous year	Amber	Reports in Q4

By 2025 our rivers, lakes, groundwater and coasts will have better water quality and will be better places for people and wildlife

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 year to date status
Our rivers and coasts have better water quality and are better places for wildlife	Kilometres (km)	1,602	1,984	2,058	Green	Amber

By 2025 our air, land and water is better protected and enhanced

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 year to date status
We increase biodiversity and encourage an environmental net gain by creating more and better habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife	Hectares (ha) created and habitat restored	Reports in Q4	Reports in Q4	660 Hectares total	Red	Reports in Q4
We protect people and the environment through effective regulation	% compliance of permitted sites	Reports in Q4	Reports in Q4	97%	Green	Reports in Q4

1.3 Green growth and a sustainable future

By 2025 we will achieve cleaner growth by supporting businesses and communities to make good choices, through our roles as a regulator, adviser, operator and enabler

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 year to date status
We successfully influence planning decisions by local authorities	% decision notices successfully influenced	96.2%	97%	97%	Green	Amber

By 2025 we Will have cut waste crime and helped develop a circular economy

Measure title	Units	Q3 actual	Q3 target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 status
We reduce the number of high risk illegal waste sites	Number of high waste sites	190	185	180	Amber	Amber

By 2025 we will be on track to deliver our sustainable business commitments, including to be net zero by 2030

Measure title	Units	Q3 actual	Q3 target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 status
Net zero by 2030 (total carbon)	tonnes (carbon dioxide equivalents emissions)	181,032	163,823	218,431	Red	Red

1.4 Enabling outcomes: life enhancing organisation - how we will deliver our actions: our people and our values

Measure title	Units	Q3 year to date actual	Q3 year to date target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q3 status
We manage our money efficiently	% spend on budget	95%	100%	100%	Green	Amber
We have a diverse workforce: a) The proportion of our staff are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (B.A.M.E)	% of workforce	5.1%	14%	14%	Red	Red
We have a diverse workforce: b) The proportion of our executive managers who are female	% of executive manager workforce	45%	50%	50%	Amber	Amber
We have the lowest possible lost time incident (LTI) frequency rate	LTI frequency rate per 100,000 hours	0.08	0.11	0.11	Green	Green

2. We reduce the risk from flooding for more properties.

Q3 Status	Actual	Cumulative target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Green	39,324	37,000	Green	60,000

Commentary

There were 16 schemes completed in Q3 providing better protection to 3,446 properties. These include:

• River Wey Strategy works, Thames Area (385 properties)
• Ouse Washes Reservoir works, East Anglia Area (180 properties)

This takes the cumulative total since April 2021 to 39,324 properties. We are forecasting to reach a total of around 60,000 by the end of March 2023, with claims from over 100 projects during quarter 4.

Several projects have reported delays, with forecasts indicating around 13,000 properties will have their improved protection provided in a later year of the programme instead of 2022 to 2023. Around 3 quarters of these delays are on projects led by local councils. We are providing more support to local councils to help resolve these issues.

We are also working with Defra on making improvements, including changes to Partnership Funding policy, assurance thresholds and commercial arrangements which will improve confidence. We are also in the process of agreeing a revised properties protected target with Defra/HMT due to the high levels of inflation and introduction of the frequently flooded allowance, as well as the potential for a revised scheduled profile over 7 years instead of 6 years.

Properties protected

2022 to 2023 programme cumulative target = 60,000

Quarter	Total
Q1 2021 to 2022	7,198
Q2 2021 to 2022	10,679
Q3 2021 to 2022	17,162
Q4 2021 to 2022	32,908
Q1 2022 to 2023	33,223
Q2 2022 to 2023	35,878
Q3 2022 to 2023	39,324

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Working with delivery managers / programme specialists to derive the best method for measuring properties better protected to 2040 (for example effects of climate change).	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2023
Continued national priority programme (NPP) calls and a re-affirmation of the risks, issues and opportunities group alongside local integrated delivery teams support.	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2027
Developing dashboards to measure various risks against properties protected and expected profiles.	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2023
Work with Defra to agree new profile and target	Deputy Director Portfolio Management Office	31/03/2023

3. We maintain our flood and coastal risk management assets at or above the target condition

Q3 Status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Red	94%	98%	Red	98%

Commentary

Our reported asset condition has improved over quarter 3 to 94% from 93.9% in quarter 2. Continued asset data quality improvement works have been undertaken by area teams to resolve most data errors from the transition to a new asset system, which were affecting our position. Area teams have now completed 90% of targeted data corrections. An increasing number of below required condition assets are being identified from asset inspections because of deterioration through ageing and the summer of prolonged dry weather.

Asset condition is directly related to maintenance funding, which is currently lower than required. While it is sufficient to sustain asset condition between 94% and 95% (reflected by current performance) it is not currently enough to restore asset condition to our 98% target. This is compounded by an ageing asset stock, more frequent and extreme weather and increasing asset base.

Where assets are below their required condition this identifies that work is required. This does not mean that they have structurally failed or that performance in a flood is compromised.

We have prioritised the maintenance and repair of the highest risk assets. Where needed, we have contingency plans in place to manage risk until any necessary repairs and maintenance are complete.

Quarter	% Actual (rounded)	% Target
Q1 19/20	97.2%	97.5%
Q2 19/20	96.9%	97.5%
Q3 19/20	96.2%	98%
Q4 19/20	96.1%	98%
Q1 20/21	95.8%	98%
Q2 20/21	95.2%	98%
Q3 20/21	95%	98%
Q4 20/21	94.5	98%
Q1 21/22	94.3	98%
Q2 21/22	95.4%	98%
Q3 21/22		98%
Q4 21/22	91.8	98%
Q1 22/23	91.8	98%
Q2 22/23	93.9 %	98%
Q3 22/23	94%	98%

Number of high consequence assets passing

At or above required target condition (Environment Agency)	Below required target condition (Environment Agency)
34,083	2,158

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Repairing and maintaining flood defence assets remains a corporate priority.	Deputy Director, Asset Performance and Engineering	31/03/2023
Ensuring mitigation measures are in place for below required condition (BRC) assets to manage risk pending repairs.	Deputy Director, Asset Performance and Engineering	31/03/2023
Reducing the backlog of asset repair assessments.	Deputy Director, Asset Performance and Engineering	31/03/2023

4. We deliver our climate impact plan and enabling UK net zero plan to tackle the climate emergency

Q3 Status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Green	93%	90%	Green	90%

Commentary

At quarter 3, 91% (45 out of 49) of adaptation actions are on track. This is an improvement on quarter 2, when 86% (42 out of 49) were on track. Improvements have primarily been down to increased capacity due to recruitment or work planning. All actions not on track are delayed rather than abandoned and no function is behind on more than one action. In 2 instances the delays are due to external factors, with the other 2 being down to resource issues.

In quarter 3, 95% (18 out of 19) of net zero actions are on track. compared with quarter 2, 78% on track (15 out of 19). One action remains not on track for quarter 4 (regulation of carbon capture and hydrogen production). We have worked in consultation with:

• industry
• other UK regulators
• academia

to develop regulatory guidance on the production of hydrogen from methane with carbon capture. This is otherwise known as ‘blue’ hydrogen. Initially delayed at the at the request of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), it will be published externally soon.

Highlights are:

• the methane plan has been approved by senior responsible officers and used as case study in the UK government COP27 communication on methane
• as part of the move of Water Resources into environmental permitting regulations (EPR) we have advised Defra on draft exemptions for ground and water sourced heating and cooling - ensuring that regulations relevant to the heat pump sector are proportional to the risk and simplified - this will minimise the regulatory burden on low risk heat pump installations
• we have been awarded £272,000 from the BEIS Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to create a digital twin of the Humber industrial cluster - allowing us to dynamically model the cluster’s combined needs and effect within the current and future water environment

Quarter	% Actual	% Target
Q4 2019/21	76	90
Q2 2020/21	70	90
Q4 2020/21	72	90
Q4 2021/22	78	90
Q2 2022/23	84	90
Q3 2022/23	93	90

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Development on the overall plans are green, but some actions are red (4 for adaptation, 1 for net zero). Executive directors can be assured that red actions are being worked on, or reasons for delay are beyond Environment Agency control.	senior responsible officers	31/03/20223

5. We have a first class incident response capability

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	75%	80%	Amber	80%

Commentary

Over the past 12 months there has been 3,303 trained staff who have responded to emergencies to reduce the effects of environmental incidents.

We continue to ensure all staff on incident rosters can work flexibly, feel supported and confident to volunteer particularly during escalated response periods. All new recruits are contractually obliged to perform incident management as part of their role.

During recent industrial action we have ensured coverage of critical roles and essential services such as flood warning service have operated.

Proportion of trained staff utilised in core incident roles

Quarter	Number
Q1 21/22	85%
Q2 21/22	83%
Q3 21/22	82%
Q4 21/22	77%
Q1 22/23	76%
Q1 22/23	76%
Q2 22/23	76%
Q3 22/23	75%

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
We are establishing a future incident response framework to ensure availability of our essential services (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year) establish reliable and resilient core and surge incident response arrangements.	Director Incident Management and Resilience	31/03/2023
During the next quarter we are undertaking an investigation into the data used to report this measure. This is to ensure we can draw important insights on our incident response capability from this measure.	Deputy Director Strategy Service and Investment	31/03/2023

6. Air quality is improving

6.1 4 out of 4 pollutants showing a reduction on the previous year: (sulphur oxides, SOx; nitrogen oxides, NOx; fine particulate matter, PM2.5 and non-methane volatile organic compounds, NMVOCs.

Q3 status	Actual	Target (tonnes)	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Amber	4 out of 4 pollutants showing a reduction on the previous year

Commentary

We have expanded the air quality measure to report emissions of 4 key pollutants:

• sulphur oxides (SOx)
• nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
• non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs)

From 4 main industry sectors:

• refineries
• large volume organic chemicals (LVOCs)
• metals (NFM)
• large combustion plant (LCP)

Full 2021 data is now included in the emissions data by sectors for the 4 key pollutants. Our 2022 data, based on annual pollution inventory reporting, will be provided for quarter 4.

We have recently reviewed the permits for these 4 sectors which creates improvements in emission levels through significant investment by these industries to meet more stringent limits. These sectors have also been affected by:

• coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
• economic factors
• high energy prices

Increased production following the ending of COVID-19 restrictions may show an increase in emissions. Opposing this, some significant sites have ceased production due to high energy prices, economic and supply chain factors. Supply chain factors may also have an influence on emissions reduction, leading to some increased emissions.

Our year end forecast for 2022 to 2023 remains as amber. Reductions in PM2.5 and SOx emissions through continued closure of coal powered stations may be delayed due to energy security considerations. Reductions in PM2.5 from the metals sector are expected from changes in production. NMVOCs for the LVOCs sub sector are expected to reduce because of permit reviews, as well as reduced operations for one of the main facilities.

Overall NOx emissions are likely to increase, as industries that reduced activities during COVID-19 restrictions return to normal or increase levels of production. However, emissions normalised by production rates may provide a different picture, as improved abatement techniques are installed.

Sulphur dioxide emissions grams per tonne

Quarter	Actual	Target
Q4 2019/21	420.85	431
Q4 2020/21	421.56	431
Q4 2021/22	414.21	431

Nitrogen oxides emissions grams per tonne

Quarter	Actual	Target
Q4 2019/21	222.26	203
Q4 2020/21	236.24	203
Q4 2021/22	236.55	203

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Assess production levels for sample sector, for example refineries, to determine whether changes in emissions could be linked to increased production as opposed to lack of sufficient abatement.	sector leads	31/03/2023
Assess level of take up of improved abatement measures in individual sectors, to determine expected effect on emission reduction.	sector leads	31/03/2023
Consider additional sectors that have recently undergone or completed permit reviews, for example energy from waste or food and drink, to add to measure for 2023 to 2024.	sector leads	31/03/2023

7. Our rivers and coasts have better water quality and are better places for wildlife

Q3 status	Actual (km)	Target (km)	Year end forecast	Year end target (km)
Amber	1,602	1,984	Green	2,058

Commentary

Between October and December 2022, we reported a further 53 km of enhancements.

This means that we have achieved 1,602 km (revised target of 2,058 km) of enhancements for our:

• rivers
• lakes
• groundwaters
• coastal
• transitional waters

in the 2022 to 2023 reporting year.

We are slightly below the target this quarter of 1,984 km. This is due to unavoidable delays in reporting the Countryside Stewardship national data, which was programmed to be reported this quarter. This will now be reported next quarter. We are confident we will meet the overall target set for 2022 to 2023 based on the anticipated results from Countryside Stewardship.

Some of the enhancements we recorded during quarter 3 are from rectifying:

• misconnections in north London
• including one misconnection leading into the Pymmes Brook - which recorded an enhancement of 2.4 km

Misconnections are wrongly connected plumbing which results in wastewater entering surface water drains rather than sewers, ultimately having an effect on the water environment. In total more than 3 km were enhanced in Hertfordshire and north London by correcting misconnections.

Renovation and significant improvement to:

• a fish pass
• the installation of new eel pass in the River Mersey near Warrington

has contributed to almost 41 km of improvement. Also the installation of a new fish and eel pass in the River Irwell near Manchester has improved 5.4 km of the river. We also protected 55km in Lincolnshire, when 3 underground fuel tanks and contaminated soil surrounding them was removed. Monitoring has confirmed that the groundwater is protected.

Kilometres of rivers, lakes and coastal waters enhanced this year

Quarter	Actual km	Target km
Q1 2020/21	31	100
Q2 2020/21	4,193	1,509
Q3 2020/21	4,230	3,445
Q4 2020/21	4,551	3,900
Q1 2021/22	822	883
Q2 2021/22	1,245	1,272
Q3 2021/22	1,347	1,650
Q4 2021/22	1,528	1,650
Q1 2022/23	1,475	1,300
Q2 2022/23	1,548	1,548
Q3 2022/23	1,602	1,984

Insight cumulative totals

Quarter	Actual km	Target km
Q2 2020/21	10,967	8,000
Q3 2020/21	11,004	8,000
Q4 2020/21	11,292	8,000
Q1 2021/22	12,167	8,000
Q2 2021/22	12,590	8,000
Q3 2021/22	12,799	8,000
Q4 2021/22	12,980	8,000
Q1 2022/23	14,445	9,300
Q2 2022/23	14,518	9,300
Q3 2022/23	14,572	9,300

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Performance is rated as amber this quarter due to unavoidable delays in reporting the Countryside Stewardship national data, which was programmed to be reported this quarter. This will be reported next quarter.	Advisor, Strategic Environment Planning	31/03/2023

8. We increase biodiversity and promote an environmental net gain by creating more and better habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Red	660 hectares (ha)

Commentary

We expect to create or restore well over 500 ha of priority habitat, which is the equivalent of Derwent water in the Lake District. Within this total, one area expects to exceed its target, with an additional 115 ha of priority habitat creation and restoration.

However, it has been a very difficult year to achieve our overall target of 660 ha. Several areas are reporting that they will not meet their targets. We recognised that many projects carried an element of risk at the beginning of the year. Issues have included:

• capital pipeline and reduced funding from the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF). - some partners have concentrated on other priorities - in some cases leading us to have to withdraw funding

We are still hopeful and innovative. For example, last in 2021 to 2022 we:

• created or restored 725 ha of blanket bog
• 150 hectares of lowland mixed deciduous woodland
• 83 hectares of coastal and floodplain grazing marsh
• 24 ha of reedbed

As to the natural capital benefits, some of which helps to regulate our climate, last year we calculated that:

• 725 ha of Peatland were either created, restored, or improved
• 108 ha of Broadleaved woodland were created

We look forward to confirming what we and our partners have been able to achieve this year when we report again next quarter.

Quarter	Hectares created	Target
2018/19	460	410
2019/20	3,147	1,280
2020/21	1,897	1,200
2021/22	1,111	620

9. We protect people and the environment through effective regulation

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Green	97%

Commentary

As an organisation we have reaffirmed our commitment to be a trusted and respected regulator and the priority given for our regulatory activity. This measure will provide an indication of how well the environment and our communities are protected from pollution, caused by regulated sites as it measures compliance with permit conditions.

In 2021, the total number of waste and installation permitted sites was 13,842. We carried out 19,151 compliance assessments at 9,643 permitted sites:

• 70% of all sites were assessed
• 10,412 (54%) were physical inspections - auditing, monitoring and inspecting sites
• 6,589 (34%) desktop
• 2,150 (11%) remote assessments

During COVID-19 we adopted innovative ways to carry out regulatory work and completed 8,739 (35%) compliance assessments remotely. We continue to develop our ability to regulate remotely to ensure greater compliance in future.

For 2022 to 2023, we have set the priority to increase our regulatory compliance activities in line with risk and funding.

There will always be poor performing and complex sites that are difficult to manage which have an effect on our resources and take time to resolve. We will continue to operate in an open and transparent way. This is so those we regulate understand what is expected of them and the public can see the results of our regulation, recognising those going beyond compliance.

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Programme to improve regulatory officer skills and development.	Senior Advisor, Operations Regulation, Monitoring Customer (ORMC)	31/03/2023
Strategic resourcing regulatory officer recruitment campaigns.	Strategic Resourcing, Chief Operating Officer (COO)	31/03/2023
Technical service review programme.	Senior Advisor, Operations Regulation, Monitoring Customer (ORMC)	31/03/2023
Strength in Place - regulatory workstream.	Director Operations (Regulation)	31/03/2023

10. We successfully influence planning decisions by local planning authorities

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	96.2%	97%	Green	97%

Commentary

The year to date status is marginally below the 97% target and is amber. However the performance in quarter 3 was green with 97.7% against a target of 97%. This is the second quarter where performance has increased (quarter one performance was 93.8% and quarter 2 was 96.6%) and it is expected that overall performance for the year will be green.

During quarter 3 there were:

• 15 decisions that weren’t in line with our advice
• 9 where we had raised an objection
• 6 where a condition we had requested wasn’t included in the final decision

All the objections were on flood risk grounds. There were 8 out of the 9 objections made based on no, or inadequate, flood risk assessments or the development type being incompatible with the flood zone. The one remaining objection related to the proximity of the development to the adjacent main river and the adverse effects this would have for future maintenance and/or improvement of the watercourse.

All these applications were for minor developments, which if implemented would create an additional 18 dwellings that could be at risk from flooding. The conditions that weren’t included in the final decision covered flooding and water quality and pollution control issues.

Most planning decisions are made in line with our advice, but where we do have to raise objection, we work hard with developers and the local planning authorities to try to resolve issues. Of the decisions recorded in quarter 3 we raised initial objections to 204 planning applications - but by engaging with developers we managed to resolve all but 9 of these. This facilitatied the creation of 5,905 new residential units (should all these planning permissions be implemented).

These residential developments, once built, will help contribute over £1 billion to UK economic output. Recognising that we are one of several consultees who provide planning advice, this represents an excellent return on the Environment Agency’s £2.4 million quarterly spend on this vital work.

Quarter	Total
2020/21	97.8%
Q1 2021/22	98%
Q2 2021/22	98.6%
Q3 2021/22	98.7%
Q4 2021/22	98.2%
Q1 2022/23	93.9%
Q2 2022/23	95.4%
Q3 2022/23	96.2%

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
The recent campaign to recruit 29 entry level roles into Area Sustainable Places teams has been completed. These new recruits will now need training to ensure the collation of decision notices, and other important work, can be carried out.	Area Sustainable Places Team Leaders	31/03/2023

11. We reduce the number of high risk illegal waste sites

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	190	185	Amber	180

Commentary

In quarter 3 the number of active high risk illegal waste sites increased by 10 from quarter 2 giving a total of 190. With a ceiling target of 185 the quarter ends with an amber status, having previously been green for several quarters.

While this may appear as a decline in performance since last quarter, it is likely that, as previously anticipated, the data is starting to catch up with the situation ‘on the ground’.

The continued concentration on risk based field work, coupled with recruitment of additional officers, has resulted in an increase in the number of substantiated high risk illegal waste sites.

However there remains a significant backlog of reports of illegal waste sites that have yet to be substantiated, so the real number of illegal waste sites is likely to be even higher than recorded here.

While recruitment is ongoing, a considerable amount of knowledge and experience has been lost in the turnover of staff. The relative inexperience of new staff combined with the increasing complexity of cases has resulted in a reduction in the number of sites being stopped.

These figures should continue to be treated with caution as the ongoing resource pressures and backlog of reported sites means that the reported numbers are still likely to be an underestimate.

Quarter	Total	Ceiling target
Baseline 19/20	233	233
Q1 20/21	250	233
Q2 20/21	237	227
Q3 20/21	218	222
Q4 20/21	206	216
Q1 21/22	201	216
Q2 21/22	208	211
Q3 21/22	201	205
Q4 21/22	194	200
Q1 22/23	188	195
Q2 22/23	180	190
Q3 22/23	190	185

12. A net zero organisation by 2030 (total carbon)

Q3 status	Actual	Ceiling target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Red	181,032	163,823	Red	218,431

Commentary

At the end of quarter 3 2022 to 2023 we were at 110.5% of the quarter 3 net zero carbon target and at 82.8% of the annual target. As forecast in quarter one and quarter 2, our overall status remains red, as we are over our target for the construction category and the cars category. These other categories remain green:

• computers
• commuting
• pumping
• other direct
• other indirect

We are still red in the construction category for this quarter. We are building more, and this is using up our carbon budget. The top 3% of projects, by spend, account for 65% of our construction carbon footprint. This top 3% includes the Thames Weir refurbishment and the Thames Estuary programme, which have a combined spend of £41 million. No construction projects reported using low carbon concrete in their data returns in quarter 2 or quarter 3 and we continue to explore the reason for this nil return with local operations colleagues.

• our cars category also remains red rated the total number of overall cars (of all fuel types) has reduced by 78 cars in quarter 3 - even with adding 56 new electric cars in quarter 3
• for quarter 3 - we are under target for total travel at 87% - there is an increasing trend of more travel (as teams meet face to face again, post pandemic)
• in quarter 3 embodied carbon from 900 laptops (worth circa 250 tonnes of carbon) previously missing from reporting - was included in the computers category reporting - despite the inclusion of this new data, the computers category remains green
• for the pumping category -there has been a large increase in pumping activities this quarter - more than doubling from 500 tonnes in quarter 2 to 1,200 tonnes in quarter 3 - over 65% of this influence is Kennett pump which is part of the Shropshire ground water scheme

All other direct and indirect sources of emissions are green and on target.

Encouragingly, carbon literacy rates continue to grow across the Environment Agency. We achieved silver carbon literacy accreditation in quarter 3, with 5000 Environment Agency employees fully certified by the end of December 2022 (note: we subsequently reached gold accreditation at the start of quarter 4 in January, the first government body to do so and we aim to become platinum accredited by financial year end).

Quarter	Total
2018/19	30,930
Q1 19/20	8,529
Q2 19/20	14,019
Q3 19/20	22,297
Q4 19/20	31,217
Q1 20/21	5,078
Q2 20/21	4,243
Q3 20/21	4,748
Q4 20/21	5,558
Q1 21/22	5,558
Q2 21/22	4,082
Q3 21/22	14,724
Q4 21/22	20,485
Q1 22/23	53,901
Q2 22/23	121,056
Q3 22/23	181,032

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Leading - provide direction to ensure that the need to achieve our flood programme in a net zero way does not get lost in messaging around achieving goals and spend.	Executive directors, directors and deputy directors.	31/03/2023
Reporting - low carbon concrete is being used on some projects but not yet being reported. Carbon data returns from construction projects needs to continue to improve.	Executive directors, directors and deputy directors.	31/03/2023
Learning - continue to encourage colleagues to complete carbon literacy training and submit applications (SBT supporting Carbon Literacy Trust to improve certification speed).	Executive directors, directors and deputy directors.	30/04/2023
Investing - continue to seek options to fund carbon reduction plans using in year underspend where possible, whilst making strategic plans for future years.	Executive directors, directors, area directors and deputy directors.	30/04/2023

13. We manage our money efficiently

Q3 status	Actual - £million	Budget - £million	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	£1,204m	£1,262m	Green	95%

Commentary

The measure is used to report on effective management of our money to achieve our outcomes and is based on the percentage of our full year funding that we have invested.

The Environment Agency has a major capital and resource programme of investment projects and conducts a very detailed planning process to ensure appropriate prioritisation of these investments. We are subject to a series of strong financial and governance controls that both protect this investment and provide a logistical challenge in providing the programme of expenditure. This is considered an appropriate measure, with expenditure being a proxy for delivery of environmental outcomes and this measure is therefore inextricably linked to most of the other scorecard measures.

The Environment Agency has invested £1,204 million (69% of full year budget) in the first 3 quarters of 2022 to 2023. This is both a higher amount and proportion spent compared to investment at this point last year. This reflects good headway on the capital programme and resource allocation to be achieved this financial year. During the final quarter, Finance is continuing to evaluate forecasts and highlight significant financial risks and issues to executive directors. This is to enable decisions to be implemented to ensure best use of available funds.

Cumulative expenditure against YTD budget (%)

Quarter	Total
Q4 19/20	100%
Q1 20/21	103%
Q2 20/21	93%
Q3 20/21	96%
Q4 20/21	96%
Q1 21/22	98%
Q2 21/22	95%
Q3 21/22	97%
Q4 21/22	100%
Q1 22/23	94%
Q2 22/23	94%
Q3 22/23	95%

Cumulative expenditure against YTD budget (£million)

Quarter	Planned profiled cumulative expenditure (£million)	Actual cumulative expenditure (£million)
Q4 19/20	£1,305	£1,303
Q1 20/21	£304	£313
Q2 20/21	£707	£654
Q3 20/21	£1,117	£1,073
Q4 20/21	1,630	1,563
Q1 21/22	£321	£316
Q2 21/22	£750	£716
Q3 21/22	£1,182	£1,143
Q4 21/22	£1,635	£1,640
Q1 22/23	£348	£326
Q2 22/23	£746	£792
Q3 22/23	1,262	£1,204

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Highlight risks and issues affecting ability to achieve budget to executive directors and Defra, supporting the Environment Agency to make best use of all available funding.	Director of Finance	31/03/2023

14. We have a diverse workforce

The proportion of our staff who are from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background (B.A.M.E %)

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Red	5.1%	14%	Red	14%

Commentary

Our current target is that 14% of all employees are from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic (B.A.M.E) backgrounds. This target is due for review and will increase based on 2021 census data. In quarter 3 the proportion of B.A.M.E. employees in the Environment Agency was 5.06%. This increased from quarter 2 when it was 5.02%. In quarter 3, 7% of new recruits were from B.A.M.E backgrounds compared to 14.1% in quarter 2, when a high number of recruits were interns who have since left the Environment Agency.

In quarter 3, 7.38% (11) of our 149 leavers were from B.A.M.E backgrounds. This increased from 4.8% (7) of our 146 leavers in quarter 2 2021 to 2022. In quarter 3, 6 leavers out of our 11 leavers from a B.A.M.E background (55%) completed an exit questionnaire. The main reasons reported for leaving were the same across leavers from B.A.M.E and white backgrounds:

• salary (39%)
• lack of opportunity (29%)
• lack of progression (26%)

These reasons are broadly consistent with the top 3 in quarter 2.

B.A.M.E staff as % of all staff

2022 to 2023 target = 14%

Quarter	Total
Q1 2020/21	4.4%
Q2 2020/21	4.5%
Q3 2020/21	4.4%
Q4 2020/21	4.5%
Q1 2021/22	4.4%
Q2 2021/22	4.5%
Q3 2021/22	4.5%
Q4 2021/22	4.6%
Q1 2022/23	4.7%
Q2 2022/23	5%
Q3 2022/23	5.1%

The proportion of our executive managers who are female

Q3 status	Actual	Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	45%	50%	Amber	50%

Commentary

We have a target for 50% of executive managers to be female. In quarter 3 the percentage of executive managers (EMs) who are female was 45.45% (49). The proportion of female EMs has remained static over the past 2 ½ years.

In quarter 3 the percentage of grade 7 managers who are female was 40% (230), an increase from 36% (195) from quarter 2 2021 to 2022. This is encouraging evidence of an increase in the internal talent pipeline for women into executive manager roles.

The equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan includes commitments to help improve diversity in our employee population, including executive managers. This includes advertising vacancies for roles lasting 6 or more months externally and internally and ensuring that recruitment to all grade 7 roles and above are conducted by diverse shortlisting and interview panels.

We are now exploring how we ascertain compliance rates and how to better support recruiting managers. For grade 7 female employees, the growth trend is positive. There has been a slow, but steady increase over the last 2.½ years. More emphasis needs to be on how to ensure that this pipeline is better linked to the EM opportunities.

Proportion of executive managers (EMs) who are female %

2022 to 2023 target = 50%

Quarter	Total
Q1 2020/21	44%
Q2 2020/21	42%
Q3 2020/21	43%
Q4 2020/21	44%
Q1 2021/22	44%
Q2 2021/22	45%
Q3 2021/22	45%
Q4 2021/22	43%
Q1 2022/23	45%
Q2 2022/23	43%
Q3 2022/23	45%

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Pay gap report for 2021 to 2022.	Chief operating officer	31/03/2023
Targeted inclusive recruitment improvements.	Chief operating officer	30/04/2023
Equality Impact Assessment for pay flex transformation business case.	Chief operating officer	30/06/2023

15. We have the lowest possible lost time incident (LTI) frequency rate

Q3 status	Actual	Ceiling rate	Year end forecast	Year end target
Green	0.08	0.11	Green	0.11

Commentary

Lost time incident frequency rate (LTIFR) is a universally accepted indicator of health and safety performance. We define lost time incidents as work related injuries resulting in a day or more lost time. This conservative definition, plus a very low ceiling of 0.11 injuries per 100,000 hours worked, sets a challenging ambition.

For 4 consecutive quarters we have experienced relatively few lost time incidents, as our risk mitigation programme continues to provide improvements across a range of higher risk activities. As we review risks and introduce improved risk controls, we are identifying strong health, safety and wellbeing culture and behaviours which has a positive effect on the rate of incidents. We expect this to increase further as we implement more awareness campaigns, training, and assurance activities.

This quarter area/directorate level scorecards have been trialled with:

• Operations Regulation
• Monitoring and Customer directorate
• Solent and South Downs area

to provide them with local data in a similar format to the national scorecard. A business analytics platform QLIK (Quality Learning Interaction Knowledge) shall be available for all areas directorates as a trial run at the end of quarter 4 2022 to 2023, going fully live in the new financial year.

Lost time incident frequency rate

12 month rolling average

Quarter	Number
October 2020	0.08
November 2020	0.07
December 2020	0.08
January 2021	0.10
February 2021	0.10
March 2021	0.10
April 2021	0.10
May 2021	0.11
June 2021	0.11
July 2021	0.09
August 2021	0.09
September 2021	0.08
October 2021	0.07
November 2021	0.06
December 2021	0.06
January 2022	0.07
February 2022	0.06
March 2022	0.05
April 2022	0.05
May 2022	0.04
June 2022	0.05
July 2022	0.05
August 2022	0.05
September 2022	0.06
October 2022	0.06
November 2022	0.08
December 2022	0.08

Number of LTIs

Quarter	Number
Q1 2020/21	1
Q2 2020/21	9
Q3 2020/21	3
Q4 2020/21	8
Q1 2021/22	3
Q2 2021/22	4
Q3 2021/22	3
Q4 2021/22	0
Q1 2022/23	4
Q2 2022/23	3
Q3 2022/23	8