Appointment details

Four Regional Flood and Coastal Committees RFCC Chairs for the Anglian (Northern), Trent, Wessex and Yorkshire regions

Summary

• Organisation: Regional Flood and Coastal Committees
• Sponsor department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Environment, Agriculture & Fishing
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Business, Commercial, Communication, Media, Major Projects, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 4
• Time commitment: 5 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £18,927 per annum
• Length of term: 4 years - Reappointment is possible, subject to a good performance assessment and at the discretion of Ministers. RFCC Chairs can serve a maximum of 10 years. It is anticipated that all of the posts will start on 1 July 2025.
• Application deadline: Midday on 28 March 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   28 February 2025

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 28 March 2025

3. Sifting date

   31 March 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   28 April 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Could you be the next dedicated and impact focused leader to help deliver local ambitions to tackle flooding and coastal erosion? Do you have the combination of excellent chairing skills, strong strategic thinking and effective leadership across different organisations at a senior level?

If so, this is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in working with other bodies to make a more resilient future. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is looking to appoint Chairs to the Anglian (Northern), Trent, Wessex and Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs).

Appointment description

RFCCs are an important part of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) community, providing a link between government, risk management authorities and the communities they serve.

The four RFCCs we are appointing Chairs for are: Anglian (Northern), Trent, Wessex and Yorkshire.

The Anglian (Northern) RFCC covers Greater Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, the South Humber, Welland, Nene and Witham catchments and the Fens, Wash and Lincolnshire coastline. The Committee area is one of the most diverse parts of the U.K. The Wash is an internationally-protected Ramsar site, as well as a Special Area of Conservation, highlighting the significance of this area for its ecological importance. The principal urban areas include Lincoln, Grimsby, Boston, Peterborough, Spalding, Kettering, Corby and Northampton.

The Committee area also contains a significant length of coastline which is at risk of coastal erosion and sea/tidal flooding. As well as beach resorts, such as Skegness, the Humber in the North of the area is a focus for business regeneration and investment in flood defence schemes. In the south, Northampton has benefited from measures to reduce flood risk, and the Northampton Washlands project aims to direct development away from floodplains and to promote flood storage areas.

Agriculture is essential to the area with over 80% of agricultural land classed as grade 1 and 2. In our towns and cities there is a rapidly-developing hi-tech industry and an increasing population. These varied landscapes and industries are vital to the livelihoods of the people who live and work in the Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire area communities, within this Anglian Northern RFCC area.

The Trent RFCC covers an area of approximately 10,500 km2. Land use within the catchment is dominated by agriculture which accounts for roughly 63%. However, it is also home to approximately 6.9 million people and contains many major urban centres namely Birmingham (and the wider West Midlands conurbation), Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham.

There is great variation in the physical characteristics of the area, from low lying ground, such as the broad flat flood plains of the Tame and Trent, to steep dramatic landscapes, such as those found in the Peak District National Park. As a result, the response to rainfall and the mechanism of flooding differs significantly throughout the catchment. For these reasons, the Trent RFCC champions Innovation and Natural Flood Management with two dedicated sub-groups to support and explore new ways of working.

We’re committed to reducing flood risk in our area, making communities more resilient and adapting to the challenges of a changing climate, which is ever more critical with Storms such as Babet, Ciaran and Henk causing significant flooding and record-breaking river levels across the Trent Catchment.

In the East Midlands alone, the Environment Agency is working on 52 flood risk projects to return assets to the condition they were before the storms last winter, and in the West Midlands area flood defences protected 8000 properties from flooding in Burton and Tamworth in January 2025, this is in conjunction with flood defence schemes in construction, such as projects in Stoke on Trent to both protect existing homes and businesses and help regeneration in the heart of the City.

The Wessex RFCC covers the eastern part of England’s southwest peninsula. It includes the Bristol and English channels, and covers the counties of, or parts thereof, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire. With a mix of rural and urban areas it includes the major conurbations of Bristol, Bournemouth, Poole, Bath and Weston-Super-Mare. The natural environment in Wessex is very special with a diverse range of habitats supporting a varied biodiversity.  The marine environment is equally special with around a third of its coastal waters in marine protected areas.

The natural environment in Wessex is very special with a diverse range of habitats supporting a varied biodiversity.  The marine environment is equally special with around a third of its coastal waters in marine protected areas.

Its coastlines vary greatly, and its wide range of drainage basins and rivers mean that Wessex is subject to coastal, fluvial, surface water and groundwater flooding. Multiple causes of flooding affect many locations in both urban and rural areas.

The Yorkshire RFCC runs along the North Sea coast from Whitby to Kingston upon Hull and stretches inland as far as Skipton.

Yorkshire covers a diverse geography with over 5 million residents and a makes a substantial contribution to the national economy. At the same time, it is vulnerable to the risk of flooding from many sources – rivers, surface water, tidal, groundwater – and includes some of Europe’s fastest eroding coastline. The impact of our changing climate is evident across the region with rising sea levels, increased storm frequency and changing wave patterns, meaning that managing coastal change will become an ever-increasing and important challenge. 

As Chair of one of these RFCCs you will play a key role in working with local authority representatives, water companies and other committee members, helping to steer multi-million-pound investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management for the benefit of homes, businesses and local communities.

You will work in partnership to ensure that national policies and approaches are implemented whilst taking account of local circumstances and needs. Skilled in bringing together different voices and opinions, you will play a pivotal role in approving capital and revenue investment programmes, raising local levies, securing external contributions and ensuring effective community engagement.

To succeed in this challenging role, you will need strong strategic leadership, chairing and communication skills which bring together different voices, balance competing interests and embrace equality, diversity and inclusion. You will have also have a good understanding of how flood and coastal erosion risks affect local communities, and experience working closely with the public and private sectors to deliver results.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Provide effective leadership to the Committee, bringing together different voices and balancing competing interests, embracing equality, diversity and inclusion and demonstrating high standards of public accountability.
• Demonstrate clear and effective communication skills, including working effectively in partnership at a senior level, to inspire, empower and lead co-ordinated action.
• Able to make, and understand the implication of, effective strategic decisions (i.e. prioritising local FCERM schemes) at a senior level, taking into account economic, environmental, political and social factors, alongside financial and value for money considerations.
• Have a good understanding of an integrated approach to flood and water management and the catchment approach, including awareness of the government’s flood and water priorities, and the wide range of key bodies that need to work in partnership to contribute towards delivery of key flood and water policies in your RFCC region.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel Chair 

Laura Lutkoski

Departmental Official

Floods and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Deputy Director

Political Activity - No

Panel Chair - Yes

Panel Member 2

Caroline Douglas

Representative of Organisation

Environment Agency, Executive Director for FCRM

Political Activity - No 

Panel Member 3

Jacqui Francis

Independent panel member

Political Activity - No

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact : publicappts@defra.gov.uk 

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the Public Appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappts@defra.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Contact details

To support prospective candidates we will be holding a virtual event (via MS Teams) with speakers from Defra, the Environment Agency and a current RFCC Chair.

We will give an introduction on flood and coastal erosion risk in England, the different roles that Defra, the Environment Agency and RFCCs undertake, the appointment process and will answer any questions. These events will be held at 9 am to 10 am on 17March 2025 . If you wish to attend, please e-mail: rfcc-correspondence@defra.gov.uk, copying in kilie.mpopo@defra.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about the appointments process, please contact the Public Appointments Team: publicappts@defra.gov.uk

Attachments

• RFCC Candidate Pack

• Public Appointments Guidance Notes for Applicants

• Public Appointments Privacy Note