River basin planning: working together: Consultation Report
EA: Working together was the first consultation in reviewing and updating the river basin management plans for 2021. It set out the steps and consultation measures that we are required to take in preparation of the updated river basin management plans. It ran for six months between 22 June 2018 and 22 December 2018.
We received 148 responses, from a variety of group and individuals, including the water industry, local authorities, catchment groups, local wildlife groups, and research organisations.
Please use the link below to access our summary report of your responses and how we are going to use this information to help shape this cycle of river basin planning.
Thank you to all those who took the time to respond to this consultation.
Files:
- River basin planning 2021- working together consultation response report for England.pdf, 662.3 KB (PDF document)
Report of the consultation Introduction
EA: We published the current river basin management plans in February 2016. We have now begun the process of reviewing and updating the plans for 2021. This is a statutory process2 and involves three public consultation steps. The statutory deadlines for launching these consultations are by:
- 22 December 2018 for the working together consultation
- 22 December 2019 for the challenges and choices consultation
- 22 December 2020 for the draft updated river basin management plans consultation
We will publish the updated plans in December 2021.
These will reflect our understanding at the time about what can be achieved, how and by when. Working together was the first consultation in the process of reviewing and updating the river basin management plans for 2021. It was launched 6 months before the statutory deadline and ran between 22 June 2018 and 22 December 2018. This consultation set out the steps and measures to be taken, the proposed timetable and the ways that everyone can get involved in preparing the updated plans. It sought views on:
- how other plans and strategies affect, or are affected by, river basin management plans
- the proposed timetable and content of the work programme to review and update the plans
- whether all relevant stakeholders have been identified
- how people can get involved in the review and update of the plans
We sent emails to over 3000 people and organisations inviting them to participate in the consultation. We also placed advertising notices in 10 regional newspapers. The consultation documents were published on our website and we made hard copies available in all our principal offices in each river basin district. We encouraged staff and partners to raise awareness of the consultation, and encouraged all to participate, at existing catchment partnership events. For more information on the river basin planning process see the working together consultation pages.
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