Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 48
48
Paragraph: 237
There is nevertheless no reason not to seek rapid and sustained action towards achieving the...
Recommendation
There is nevertheless no reason not to seek rapid and sustained action towards achieving the Act’s requirement for progressive reductions in discharges, through incorporating capital projects into a whole-systems approach which seeks to reduce the overall pressures being placed on aging infrastructure. The Thames Tideway demonstrates that substantial capital projects can be secured without unaffordable bill increases. We recommend that Ministers publish their assessment of every possible option to reduce system pressures on existing infrastructure, while also examining the case for significant capital works, when preparing the statutory report on elimination of storm overflows due by September 2022.
Paragraph Reference:
237
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Through the Comprehensive Spending Review in November 2021 and subsequent budget determination process, Defra has reviewed the Environment Agency’s Grant-in-Aid water quality budget. Defra has maintained Grant-in-Aid funding for catchment partnerships and will continue to evaluate funding sources to enable coordination of all stakeholders across river catchments. The main strength of Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Partnerships is their ‘convening power’, working through consensus and building social capital to deliver environmental improvements. CaBA funding reaches beyond Government support and this is part of its success. Because of the variety of stakeholders and interests represented, Catchment Partnerships attract a range of funds, multiplying the core monies they receive from Government. For every £1 of Defra investment has received, CaBA catchment partnerships have raised £2.20 from non-Government sources for local place-based implementation. Environment Agency support for CaBA ensures that its Government funding is nationally coordinated and locally implemented through its collaborative, partner led ‘Environment Programme’. This delivery mechanism helps to secure external funding through CaBA with support from EA’s dedicated national network of catchment coordinators.