Defra appoints new chairs at four regional flood management committees

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has appointed Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) chairs for Anglian (Central), Anglia (Eastern), Severn and Wye and Southern. They are:

• Brian West Stewart as the Chair of the Anglian (Central) RFCC;

• Paul Hayden as the Chair of the Anglian (Eastern) RFCC;

• Shirel Stedman as the Chair of Severn and Wye RFCC; and

• Dr Martin Hurst as the Chair of Southern RFCC.

RFCCs help to provide governance for the Environment Agency (EA) Flood and Coastal Erosion risk management functions and cover all flood risks that are not the responsibility of the water companies.

Brian West Stewart’s appointment runs from 2 January 2018 for three years until 1 January 2021. The remaining appointments will run from 1 July 2018 for three years until 30 June 2021.Defra has also re-appointed chairs for another four RFCCs each running three three years from when their current terms end on 30 June 2018. They are:

• Eddy Poll as the Chair of Anglian (Northern) RFCC

• Vij Randeniya as the Chair of Trent RFCC

• David Jenkins as the Chair of Wessex RFCC

• Colin Mellors as the Chair of Yorkshire RFCC

They have three main purposes:

• to ensure there are coherent plans for identifying, communicating and managing flood and coastal erosion risks in catchments and shorelines;

• to promote efficient, risk-based investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management; and

• to bring on understanding of flood and coastal erosion risks on their locality among the EA, Lead Local Flood Authorities, and other relevant bodies.

Chairs are paid £17,503 for five days per month.