Corporate report

Environment Agency corporate scorecard 2023 to 2024 - quarter one

Updated 15 August 2024

Applies to England

The corporate scorecard 2023 to 2024 quarter one (Q1) starts 1 April 2023 and ends 30 June 2023. The year end is 31 March 2024.

These tables show the red, amber and green scores for the 15 measures, plus the actual and target figures.

1. We reduce the risk from flooding for more properties

Q1 Status	Actual	Cumulative target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Green	61,228	60,000	Green	87,351

Commentary

During quarter one of 2023 to 2024, 1,877 properties were better protected from flooding and coastal erosion by 6 schemes including:

• Middle Tame - Perry Barr and Witton (West Midlands Area): 1,790 properties
• Appleby pumping station (Cumbria and Lancashire Area): 38 properties
• Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Trash Screen Programme: 32 properties

This takes the cumulative total since April 2021 to 61,228 properties. We currently forecast the cumulative total to reach the target of 87,351 by end of March 2024.

Properties protected

2023 to 2024 programme cumulative target = 87,351

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
Q4 2022 to 2023	59,351
Q1 2023 to 2024	61,228

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Managing construction inflationary cost pressures in line with central guidance provided.	All project executives and managers	31/03/2027
Implement results of the annual ‘refresh’ of the programme, with funding re-allocation decisions, and scrutinise the approach through the Delivery Portfolio Board.	Programme Senior Responsible Officer	31/03/2024
Determining the consequences for the programme of a change in accounting for capital works expensed in year. A material amount of expenditure that has until now been classified as capital spend, now needing to be classified as resource spend.	Programme Senior Responsible Officer	31/03/2024
By agreement with Defra, undertake reset of capital programme considering the effects of inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic.	Programme Senior Responsible Officer	31/03/2024
Provide further support to other risk management authorities on their management of projects within the programme.	All project executives and managers	31/03/2024
Implement changes approved by the board to the Environment Agency’s assurance and approval process.	All project executives and managers	31/03/2024

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

Q1 Status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	93.8%	94.5%	Green	94.5%

Commentary

Our reported asset condition for quarter one is 93.8%, a reduction from 94.5% at the end of 2022 to 2023. An increasing number of below required condition assets have been identified from our asset inspections.

Asset condition is directly related to maintenance funding. With an extra £25 million in the current financial year agreed by the Secretary of State, which offsets the effect of inflation in our programme, we should be able to reach our interim target of between 94% to 95% at year end. It should be noted the current level of maintenance funding is not enough to restore asset condition to our previous target of 98%. For this reason, it has been agreed we will adjust the target to 94.5% for this year.

We have prioritised the maintenance and repair of the highest risk assets. Where needed, we have risk mitigation measures and 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%
Q4 22/23	94.5%	98%
Q1 23/24	93.8%	94.5%

Number of high consequence assets passing

At or above required target condition (Environment Agency)	Below required target condition (Environment Agency)
34,475	2,288

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Make achievable plans to invest £25 million more than initially funded maintenance, following a funding switch from capital to resource to that end agreed with Defra and His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT).	Area Directors	31/03/2024
Ensuring mitigation measures are in place for below required condition (BRC) assets to manage risk pending repairs.	Deputy Director, Local Operations	31/03/2024
Reducing the backlog of asset repair assessments.	Deputy Director - Local Operations	31/03/2024

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

Q1 Status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year-end target
Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	Green	90%

Commentary

This measure is divided into the preparing for climate impacts plan and the UK net zero plan. Both plans consist of actions owned by senior responsible officers from across the business. Milestones have been set for quarter 2 and quarter 4 for each action.

We will report as:

• green if 90% or more of the milestones are met
• amber if more than 80%, but less than 90% of the milestones are met
• red if less than 80% of the milestones are met

For this year’s preparing for climate impacts plan, the actions have been refreshed so that they are more clearly working towards adaptation outcomes. These outcomes have been developed through workshops run by the adaptation team and attended by relevant technical leads. The use of the outcomes in the refresh has meant that the actions now have enabled us to identify a greater number of actions to report on in the plan.

The total number of actions has increased from 49 to 69, including the number of FCERM actions increasing from 7 to 21 and the number of asset management actions increasing from 0 to 3.

The enabling UK net zero plan (2023 to 2026) has been updated, signed off by Environment and Business, business board, and quarter 2 and quarter Q4 milestones set for 2023 to 2024.

There are now 25 actions, up from 18 in last year’s plan.

We now have a net zero risk on the Environment and Business - business board risk register. We are further developing:

• governance to support plan and risk management
• our approach to evaluation

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
Q4 2022/23	93	90

4. We have a first class incident response capability

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	84%	96%	Amber	96%

Commentary

This is a new metric for quarter one 2023 to 2024, designed to provide more meaningful insight. The previous metric reported on number of staff used in incident work as a proportion of numbers trained, over a previous 12 month period. The new metric reports on the number of staff used as a proportion of numbers needed, over a previous 6 month period. It also covers a smaller number of incident roles, concentrating on the principal roles required for incident response and excluding some of the more specialist roles that are less often required to respond.

We have presented historical data in the graph to show what the metric would have reported, if it had been in use in previous years.

The metric suggests that we are falling short of filling all the principal roles required in our incident management service planning. There are fluctuations both from one geographical area to another and from role to role. Some of these hit 100% and others much lower, leading to the 84% average figure overall. Stakeholders tell us that there are pressures in filling rosters for some specific roles. We are aware of potentially significant gaps in utilisation data, meaning utilisation figures are lower than what we know to be true, resulting in a lower metric score. This is due to internal process and practice around time recording, and we are currently exploring solutions to this.

We continue to ensure all staff on incident rosters can work flexibly and 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.

We make sure coverage of critical roles and essential services during industrial action. Industrial action is unlikely to have affected this specific metric and thus its effect on our staff and service is hidden. Industrial action has affected our workforce, areas and volunteers have had to surge and assume additional risk, to mitigate effects on incident management provision.

Proportion of trained staff utilised in principal incident roles

Quarter	Number
Q1 22/23	82%
Q2 22/23	79%
Q3 22/23	83%
Q4 22/23	86%
Q1 23/24	84%

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Continuing investigation and exploration of solutions into internal process and practice around time recording to determine how we can reduce gaps in utilisation data.	Deputy Director Service Strategy and Investment	31/12/2023

5. Air quality is improving

5.1 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.

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target (tonnes)	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Green	4 out of 4 pollutants showing a reduction

Commentary

The air quality measure for 2023 to 2024 reports 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 and ferrous)
• large combustion plant (LCP)

A fifth key pollutant, ammonia, is not included as its emissions from the selected sectors are relatively small.

Data for the air quality measure is reported yearly, based on annual returns from the industries being monitored. For 2022 to 2023, the measure reported overall decreases in emissions of all 4 pollutants, for the sectors identified. During quarter one 2023 to 2024, we have not been aware of any major change in activities within the 4 industry sectors considered. We therefore expect trends to continue as currently, namely continued decreases in pollutant emissions. We are forecasting the measure to be green for year end. We do not anticipate the same pressures on energy supply as last winter. Therefore we do not foresee the need for extensive fuel switching, for example more coal use, which could result in peaks in air emissions. However, a severe winter or a prolonged period of extreme heat in late summer, increasing air condition demand, could alter this picture.

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

Q1 status	Q1 Actual (km)	Q1 Target (km)	Year end forecast	Year end target (km)
Red	809	1,380	Amber	2,130

Commentary

For 2023 to 2024 reporting, we set an ambitious target of enhancing 2,127 km, based on forecasts, plus an additional ‘stretch’.

In the first quarter, we achieved 809 km enhanced against the target of 1,380km (59%).

In addition, we protected a further 1,148 km. These figures reflect the water industry natural environment programme (WINEP). Our environment programme and conservation database as well as local data submitted by area teams.

We normally expect to report the km enhanced through our flood risk management programmes in quarter one. This has been delayed and will now be reported in quarter 2.

The area environment programme contributed to over half of the total reported, with 451 km of enhancements recorded. This includes 39 km enhanced from the construction of a fish pass at Bridgetown Weir near Dulverton in Devon. This was the first fish pass installed under the ‘Strategic Exe Weirs’ project, which reconnects Exmoor and tributaries with the downstream catchment. This project will also keep water in the river helping support a sustainable fish community and wider wildlife benefits. WINEP also provided 189 km of enhancements, including a scheme at Carlisle sewage treatment works which contributed 56 km enhanced.

WINEP provided over 580 km and the environment programme over 520 km of the 1148 km protected, with conservation projects and locally submitted data contributing the rest. This includes an estimated 91 km protected through a land management project that worked with:

• landowners
• farming businesses
• agronomists

This covers 100,000 hectares in Devon and Cornwall.

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
Q4 2022/23	2,300	2,058
Q1 2023/24	809	1,380

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
Q4 2022/23	15,271	10,058
Q1 2023/24	16,079	12,188

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Performance is red this quarter due to delays in our flood risk management programmes. This will be reported next quarter.	Advisor - Strategic Environment Planning	01/10/2023

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

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Red	1,350 hectares (ha)

Commentary

We have set a more ambitious target for 2023 to 2024, recognising our 2030 corporate ambition.

Local teams currently have programmes of projects that will create or restore between 200 and 400 hectares of priority habitats. This early in the year there are many variables around funding, timing, and partners, so confidence in achieving the higher target figure is low. We do expect the forecast numbers to improve when the budgets for this year’s environment programme are finalised. It should also be noted that we exceeded last year’s, albeit lower, target despite similar concerns at the beginning of the year. Furthermore, 2 operational areas were unable to report their figures in 2022 to 2023.

This data will be reported in 2023 to 2024, supporting this year’s programme and adding to our 2023 to 2024 figures.

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
2022/23	823	660

8. We protect people and the environment through effective regulation

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Reports at Q4	Green	97%

Commentary

We are dedicated to being a trusted and respected regulator. Monitoring permit compliance shows how effectively the environment, and our communities are protected from pollution caused by regulated sites.

In 2022 we assessed 97% of waste and installation permitted sites to be in the top 3 compliance bands using GOV UK compliance rating guidance. These sites include a range of:

• sectors
• chemicals
• combustion
• metals
• biowaste
• intensive farming
• incineration

We continue to ensure greater compliance whilst further developing our ability to regulate remotely, reducing our carbon footprint and achieving our target to be a net zero organisation.

We will increase our regulatory compliance activities in line with risk and funding. We make full use of our resources and legal powers to deal with the issues citizens care about, such as stopping waste crime, water pollution and Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH).

We are reviewing our operating model to increase our efficiency and effectiveness and have begun a programme to update water industry regulation and a programme to improve wider regulation.

We work in an open and transparent way with those we regulate so they understand what’s expected of them. We help them embrace eco-design, circular economy and implement innovative technologies. Permits are reviewed according to statutory guidelines to ensure they are up to date with the latest legislation and standards. Our regulation ensures businesses take responsibility for their effect on the environment and communities.

There are recognised challenges with recruitment, retention, training and development across almost all regimes and parts of the business that deal with regulation. We have recruited 230 new officers and are completing a programme to improve skills through our technical development framework.

We are investing in digital systems and technology, so that:

• our staff have the tools they need
• it’s easier for businesses to deal with us
• it’s easier for the public to find out about their environment

Quarter	Actual	Target
Q4 2022/23	97.6%	97%

9. We reduce the number of serious environmental incidents from permitted sites and activities and sources we regulate directly

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	167	164	Red	151

Commentary

This serious environmental incidents KPI concentrates on activities we receive funding to do, permit and regulatory compliance, with a watch over incidents from remaining sources.

Overall serious environmental incidents from permitted sources are holding steady at between 130 and 160 incidents per year.

The highest number of incidents over the last 10 years, has been metals recycling and non-hazardous waste treatment. over the last 12 months. The other permitted sectors include incidents from:

• the service sector
• biowaste use
• domestic and residential
• transport
• illegal waste management
• natural sources
• unidentified sources

Each of these sectors individually have caused low numbers of incidents in recent years.

9.1 Metals recycling

There’s a significant number of noise incidents originating from 3 sites in Yorkshire. The sites are being monitored and regulated as high risk. There is also an increase in fires, especially at lithium-ion battery processing operations. Work is ongoing to raise awareness and write guidance to reduce risks.

Non-hazadous waste treatment

Fires, odour and noise are the most common incidents from this sector. With some sites causing multiple incidents.

Water companies

Work is ongoing to target water company incidents with a view to trending towards zero incidents from permitted sites and activities. Our water industry transformation programme is embedding an intelligence led approach. We are tracking how the water company pollution incident reduction plan is making progress and will shortly publish the environmental performance assessment (EPA) report about water company performance.

Landfill Incident

Numbers are trending downwards. One site, Walleys quarry landfill is the only site with multiple incidents. We have significantly increased our compliance activity and enforcement action at this site and the number of reports is falling.

Food and drink

We’ve targeted problematic sites, ensuring area officers have technical support, especially for odour and noise issues. This has resulted in reduced incident numbers.

Biowaste treatment

Incident numbers are usually seasonal with odour complaints increasing in warmer weather. One site is causing higher incident numbers, we’re working with the area team to develop intervention options.

Agriculture

Incident numbers from permitted agriculture are low. We’re working with the pig and poultry trade bodies to highlight permit compliance and the more frequent areas of noncompliance to help raise awareness.

Incident numbers from unpermitted sources continue to outnumber those from a permitted source. In the 12 months to the end of June 2023, there were 404 incidents from an unpermitted source. This is compared to 133 from permitted sites and activities. Incidents from unpermitted sources effect the water environment significantly more than other media. For example, unpermitted agriculture incidents are predominantly silage and slurry liquor spills. By comparison more incidents from permitted sources effect the air.

Quarter	Actual	Target
Q1 2023/24	133	150

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Best available techniques (BAT) requirements are being brought into sector guidance and are being shared with businesses. Or will be reviewed starting this year.	Sector leads for metals recycling - food and drink	31/03/2024
Through the water industry transformation programme, we are significantly expanding and improving the way we regulate. We have additional dedicated officers and are using an intelligence led approach.	Water company sector lead	31/03/2024
Work being taken forward through the environmental incident management (EIM) review and the regulatory improvement plan will also contribute to reduction across sectors.	Incident Management and Resilience (IM&R) / Environment and Business - Business Board (E&B BB)	31/03/2023

10. We successfully influence planning decisions by local planning authorities

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Green	97%	97%	Green	97%

Commentary

Performance in quarter one was 97% and green, maintaining the level of performance from quarter 4 last year. There were 13 decisions that weren’t in line with our advice. There were 12 where we had raised objection and one where a condition we had requested wasn’t included in the final decision.

All the objections were on flood risk grounds, with 7 objections being made because of no, or inadequate, flood risk assessments or the development type being incompatible with the flood zone.

The other 5 raised a concern that the development would be too close to the riverbank and adversely affect the ability to properly maintain or improve the watercourse. Fortunately, all these developments were minor and would only create an additional 23 dwellings that could be at risk from flooding. The condition that wasn’t included in the final decision related to 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 and resolve issues. Of the decisions recorded in quarter one there were 78 planning applications where we’d initially raised objections, but by engaging with developers we managed to resolve our concerns. This would enable the creation of 804 new residential units should all these planning permissions be implemented. These residential developments, once built, will help contribute over £130 million to UK economic output.

While we are one of several consultees who provide planning advice, this appears to represent 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%
Q4 2022/23	96.5%
Q1 2023/24	97%

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

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Amber	167	164	Red	151

Commentary

The number of active high risk illegal waste sites in quarter one decreased by 8 to 167. This falls short of the ceiling target of 164, meaning the quarter ended with an amber status.

There is a backlog of reports of illegal waste sites that are awaiting substantiation and as such, the reported figure is likely to be an underestimate. Recruitment and onboarding activities have limited resource available to deal with the backlog. There are recognised challenges with recruitment, retention, training and development across almost all regimes and parts of the business that deal with regulation. Our Enforcement teams in local operations have a high percentage of staff (17%) with less than one year in service currently. Recruitment to vacancies continues.

Analysis of the national waste crime survey, published in July 2023, will provide a wider context to inform the Environment Agency’s strategy to reduce offending in the waste sector. The national waste crime survey is an independent metric on waste crime and was established to provide a wider understanding of the nature and scale of waste crime.

The 2023 survey gathered over 800 responses from the waste industry, landowners and local government. The Environment Agency will use the findings and insight to shape its strategic approach to stopping waste crime, including high risk illegal waste sites.

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
Q4 22/23	175	180
Q1 23/24	167	164

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
In response to resource pressures, operational teams will continue to prioritise their effort on the offending that poses the greatest threat, risk and harm.	operational teams	30/09/2023

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

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Ceiling target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Red	100,031	73,955	Red	295,820

Commentary

In quarter one 2023 to 2024 we are at 135% of the quarter one target. The overall status on this measure is red and over budget. The largest carbon footprint this quarter is from the construction category, which is red. The cars category is also red this quarter, with the rest of the categories being green and below budget. However, the car category figure is likely to reduce significantly in quarter 2, if a recommended methodology change is approved, as outlined below. This change could significantly improve the measure status in quarter 2.

Construction carbon emissions are above the budget in quarter one, due to the capital programme moving at pace. This year we have introduced carbon budgets and carbon data dashboards for the first time. These budgets and dashboards are being piloted across our areas and will help to drive down future emission reductions, particularly in the dominant construction carbon category.

The Sustainable Business team and FCRM Infrastructure Carbon team worked together at the end of last financial year, to calculate carbon budgets for 2023 to 2024. Unfortunately it appears that construction carbon emissions have exceeded the assigned budget by 14% in quarter one.

On a positive note, operational carbon emissions are below budget this quarter. However, there have been changes in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) carbon conversion factor, resulting in a 7% increase in energy carbon. This is due to higher natural gas use in electricity generation and a decrease in renewable generation in the UK electrical grid. This change may have a more significant bearing in later months, particularly on the pumping category, which is below budget in quarter one. This will be affected by changes in the conversion factor in the second half of the year, when pumping becomes more operationally significant.

The cars category is above budget in quarter one, due to the need to evolve the existing methodology this year. In quarter one we have continued to use the 2019 baseline methodology to calculate the effect of cars within the budget. Under this existing methodology, the embodied carbon effect of cars is based on the entire fleet held by the Environment Agency. This is rather than on the vehicles purchased in year. Once we apply the evolved and more accurate approach to calculate cars emissions (using better data) performance in this category will be 99% (instead of 135%). Given the significance of this change in methodology, we will seek EDT approval for this change when we provide the next development update in September. The delivery of electric vehicles has been delayed due to market pressures. However, Fleet colleagues expect a decrease in average emissions as part of the lease car eligibility review.

Commuting carbon emissions are below budget in quarter one. Hire car travel has experienced a substantial increase of 50% compared to quarter one of the previous year.

Alongside this significant increase in hire car travel; air; train and badged travel have experienced declines in comparison to quarter one of the previous year. Badged travel has decreased by 16% since quarter one of the previous year, with little fluctuation since the previous quarter. During quarter one of last year there were a total of 15 flights. In quarter one this year there were 13 flights, with 73% of them taking place within Europe. Lease car casual mileage is 16% higher than in quarter one of the previous year and there has been a 10% rise in business travel, compared to quarter one of the previous year.

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
Q4 22/23	295,832
Q1 23/24	100,031

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Reporting - continue to improve timeliness and accuracy of carbon data returns and start to use new carbon budgets and dashboards in 2023 to 2024.	executive directors/ directors/deputy directors	31/03/2024
Learning - continue to encourage all colleagues to complete carbon literacy training and to champion hybrid working, and other best practice, for carbon reduction.	executive directors/directors/deputy directors	31/03/2024
Investment - continue to seek options to fund carbon reduction plans, using in year underspend, whilst making more strategic budgeting plans for future years.	all directors	31/03/2024

13. We manage our money effectively to deliver our outcomes

Q1 status	Q1 Actual - £million	Q1 Budget - £million	Year end forecast	Year end target
Red	£338m	£364 m	Amber	100%

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. These controls both protect this investment and provide a logistical challenge in managing the programme of expenditure. This is considered an appropriate measure, with expenditure being connected to achieving our environmental outcomes. This measure is therefore inextricably linked to most of the other scorecard measures.

The Environment Agency has invested £338 million in the first quarter of 2023 to 2024, a little behind the budget profile at this early stage of the year. Following the completion of the budget allocation process, Finance is supporting directors and budget holders to evaluate the latest forecast position and managing their programmes of work. This is to ensure the best use of all available funding. During quarter 2, Finance will present a report to executive directors, detailing any significant financial risks and issues that need to be managed over the remainder of the year.

The 93% quarter one position, indicates a risk of material capital expenditure underspend. This is resulting from challenges to achieve the 6 year flood risk management capital programme, using what was considered possible when the funding was doubled in 2020. This reflects several factors such as:

• the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic
• supply chain capacity challenges
• retention issues in our project manager community

Cumulative expenditure against YTD budget (%)

Quarter	Total
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%
Q4 22/23	100%
Q1 23/24	93%

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
Q4 22/23	£1,755	£1,747
Q1 23/24	£338	£364

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Conduct a mid year financial review to be presented to Environment Agency executive directors.	Director of Finance	31/10/2023
Manage the consequences of a change in project spend classification, where more spend needs to be classified as resource expenditure, and less as capital expenditure.	Director of Finance	31/03/2024

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 %)

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	18%

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%
Q4 2022/23	5.3 %

The proportion of our executive managers who are female

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Target	Year end forecast	Year end target
Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	Reports at Q2 and Q4	50%

Proportion of executive managers (EMs) who are female %

2022/23 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%
Q4 2022/23	48%

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

Q1 status	Q1 Actual	Q1 Ceiling rate	Year end forecast	Year end target
Green	0.09	0.11	Green	0.11

Commentary

The LTI frequency rate continues to be below the ceiling rate. We have sustained this performance for over 2 years and despite a slight increase over the winter and spring, the rate nonetheless remains relatively low. Analysis of trends has not identified any specific issues that led to the slight increase. We therefore continue to monitor and review every lost time injury and so we can act if we identify lessons for the business.

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
January 2023	0.10
February 2023	0.10
March 2023	0.10
April 2023	0.09
May 2023	0.10
June 2023	0.09

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
Q4 2022/23	6
Q1 2023/24	3