Consultation on future engagement arrangements for EPACs and RLFACs

This consultation details proposals, subject to passage of the Public Bodies Bill, on future arrangements for the role of Environment Agency’s statutory Environment Protection Advisory Committees (EPACs) and Regional and Local Fisheries Advisory Committees (RLFACs) in England.

The Committees have provided a valuable service since they were established in the Environment Act 1995. Environmental challenges and opportunities evolve and it is important that the approaches we have to engage with and address them are flexible, innovative and local. Sixteen years on from the Environment Act it is important that we revisit these arrangements and look at the future engagement framework we need to best deliver outcomes for the environment.

Views were sought on:

1. Whether consultees agree with the principle of abolition of the Environment Agency’s statutory Environment Protection Advisory Committees and Regional and Local Fisheries Advisory Committees and the establishment of flexible non-statutory arrangements?
2. Whether consultees agree with the proposed high level principles against which to design future stakeholder engagement? And are there any gaps?
3. Whether consultees support the more flexible and region specific engagement models being developed that to allow more engagement at the local level. And are there any gaps?