Area Advisory Groups
The aim of an Area Advisory Group (AAG) is to contribute to and assist the river basin planning process within their area. River basin planning will be overseen by the National Advisory Group (NAG).
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There are eight Area Advisory Groups in the Scotland River Basin District and two for the Solway Tweed RBD (see map).
Click on the map for detailed information on those Area Advisory Groups that interest you.
The Area Advisory Groups will:
- work together to produce the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for their River Basin District (RBD);
- provide the detailed geographic information for their area necessary to produce the Plan.
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The River Basin Management Plan will set out:
- the characteristics of the River Basin District (pressures and impacts, protected areas and economic information);
- environmental objectives with timescales for their achievement;
- a Programme of Measures to achieve these objectives (including who will do what and when);
- monitoring networks and programmes;
- consultation/participation opportunities for interested parties.
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Scotland RBD Area Advisory Groups – roles and remit
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The main role of the Area Advisory Groups in the Scotland River Basin District is to assist and contribute to river basin management planning in the district. They will be responsible for producing Area Management Plans as required by Section 15 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. These Area Management Plans will form the ‘geographic chapters’ of the RBMP for the River Basin District.
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The Area Advisory Groups will advise on and support:
- the development of river basin planning in the area;
- the preparation, delivery and implementation of the Area Management Plan for the area ;
- the identification of priorities for environmental improvement and protection;
- the measures required to deliver environmental improvement and protection within the area;
- the setting of environmental objectives for the area;
- SEPA and the National Advisory Group as required.
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The Area Advisory Groups will seek to:
- coordinate and integrate major regional and non-statutory plans and policies for the area with the Area Management Plan;
- ensure participation, co-operation and consensus of important regional and local stakeholders in river basin planning for the area;
- ensure the consultation and participation of the wider public in the river basin planning process;
- identify the need for more detailed plans and programmes and facilitate their implementation.
Click on the map above or follow this link for more information on the work of the Area Advisory Groups in the Solway Tweed RBD.
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Area Advisory Groups – structure
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SEPA developed a structured approach (21k pdf) to identify members of Area Advisory Groups appropriate to each area. Membership of each Area Advisory Group is limited to a number considered suitable to ensure practical and efficient working. This number will vary between areas to reflect the local situation.
Area Advisory Groups include representatives from:
- organisations confirmed as ‘responsible authorities’ by the Scottish Executive;
- sectors identified by the pressure and impact assessments as having a major role to play in delivering river basin management planning and in particular in improving water bodies.
In order to keep the AAG working in a practicable and efficient manner the membership of the AAG will be limited. Numbers of members serving on the AAG will vary between areas to reflect the local situation.
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Area Advisory Group - chair and secretariat
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All the Area Advisory Groups will be chaired by SEPA during the preparation of the first River Basin Management Plan. The chair will be supported by a River Basin Planning Coordinator provided by SEPA. The Area Advisory Group can select a vice-chair to support the chair and to convene meetings in the absence of the chair.
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Area Advisory Group - meetings
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Area Advisory Groups will meet regularly. Their meetings will provide a mechanism for consulting with responsible authorities and interested parties to:
- reach consensus;
- support the production of a River Basin Management Plan for the RBD and its co-ordination with other plans and programmes;
- identify priorities for river basin planning and Water Framework Directive (WFD) related matters.
The work of the Area Advisory Groups will help SEPA and other responsible authorities to carry out their duties and obligations under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 and associated regulations.
Click on the map above or the links below to obtain agendas and minutes of the meetings of different Area Advisory Groups.
