This group provides NWG with advice, guidance and external assurance on its water environment approach, this includes WINEP Commitments to be delivered through our Bluespaces scheme.
The Bluespaces Governance Group provides NWG with advice, guidance and internal and external assurance. The group helps ensure that the approach taken delivers km of improvements that are justified and of benefit to customers. The Bluespaces Governance Group is also responsible for providing evidence of external assurance to the Environment Agency and Natural England.
The Bluespaces Governance Group, formally the Water Environment Governance Group, covers NWG’s approach to improving bluespaces across its Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water supply and operating areas and beyond (covering the North East and parts of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk).
Water environment improvements are being delivered across 10 management catchments in our areas of interest expanding further than our operating areas to facilitate a regional and catchment based approach.
The Bluespaces Governance Group provides advice on project opportunities and development, approves Candidate Projects (and largescale Feasibility & Maintenance Projects) for the Bluespaces scheme, and signs off km water environment improved through review of project Evidence Packs following delivery and completion. This group has final say on project eligibility.
The aims of the Bluespaces Governance Group are to:
- Bring together key individuals to work together to provide NWG with advice, guidance and internal and external assurance on its Bluespaces scheme, and associated project development and delivery.
- Provide strategic and independent advice and support to NWG’s Integrated Catchment Manager, who has overall responsibility for NWG’s Bluespaces scheme, and NWG’s Bluespaces Team who are responsible for developing and delivering projects.
- Ensure, thorough development of and involvement in due process, that the approach taken by NWG delivers projects which are cost-beneficial, justified and of benefit to customers and improve km of accessible water environment to an appropriate standard.
- Provide a formal link to regional stakeholder groups and through these to other partnerships and partners, demonstrating external assurance and supporting engagement activity which can be of benefit to improving the water environment.
- Provide evidence of external assurance to the Environment Agency and Natural England.
External Members are:
- Group Chair – Richard Powell OBE, Independent Member (also former member of The Water Forum)
- Anna Gerring, The Rivers Trust (also representing the Catchment Based Approach)
- Fiona Morris, Accounts Manager, Environment Agency NW region
- Rebecca O’Connell, Environment Programme Manager, EA, NW region
- Matt Butcher, Catchment Manager (Essex), Environment Programme Team, EA, ESW
- Patrick Walsh, representing Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Natural England, ESW region
- Helen Dangerfield, Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust (host to Bluespaces Delivery Manager and Officer in ESW region)
- Jim Cokill, Durham Wildlife Trust (host to Bluespaces Delivery Manager in NW region)
NWG members are:
- Zoe Frogbrook, Head of Environment & Sustainability
- Jo Matthews, Integrated Catchment Manager
- Clare Deasy, Integrated Catchment Manager
- Clementine Moule, Bluespaces Lead
- Alex Wills, Bluespaces Advisor
- Sian Whitehead, Bluespaces Delivery Manager, NW region (Durham Wildlife Trust)
- Sophie Negus, Bluespaces Delivery Manager, ESW region (Essex & Suffolk Water)
- Emily Baldock, Bluespaces Delivery Manager, ESW region (Essex & Suffolk Water)