INTRODUCTION

  1.  The relationship between Sport England and the Environment Agency is focused on the sphere of water related sport and recreation. This Memorandum seeks to explain the links which exist and indentifies a number of matters which the sub-committee may wish to consider in it's examination of the work of the Agency in this area.

BACKGROUND

  2.  The links between Sport England and the Environment Agency (hereafter referred to as the Agency) are focused on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (attached at Annex 1) and an associated Action Plan which is updated on a six monthly basis. The other party to the Memorandum is the Countryside Commission (now the Countryside Agency). The Memorandum is still being used to direct the links between the three bodies although it is currently under review and it is intended to be updated to reflect the new responsibilities of the Countryside Agency with a timescale of September 2000 being established for a relaunch.

  3.  The MoU was prepared following the House of Commons Environment Committee Report The Environmental Impact of Leisure Activities (1) and Government Response (2) which encouraged agencies to co-operate in discharging their responsibilites. The MoU was formally agreed by the Chairmen of the three bodies and published in April 1998, the principle of which was to encourage co-operation in areas of mutual interest and to avoid duplication of effort.

  4.  Sport England (formerly the English Sports Council) is an independent non departmental public body established by Royal Charter which receives grant in aid from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The role of Sport England is set out in Annex 2.

CO -OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO AGENCIES

  5.  Sport England welcomes the work of the Agency in the sphere of water related sport and recreation. The Ahency makes a significant contribution to assisting Sport England in fulfilling its aims and objectives. Approximately 25 per cent of the sports recognised by Sport England rely on access to water and associated land as the basis for participation and the development of standards of performance in the activities concerned. Sport England would like to see the Agency devote more resources to this area of work and would encourage the Agency to take a more active role as a facilitator of sustainable water based recreation. As the statutory body with responsibilities in this area the Agency has the potential to be the body which seeks to balance the interest of sport in the countryside with other environmental and conservation interests. In the view of Sport England the Agency has the opportunity to play a key role in the development and promotion of best practice in the provision and management of sustainable sport and recreation. Its multi-functional expertise makes it ideally placed to be a leader in reconciling conflicts of interest in this field. It should be aiming to show how people's quality of life could be enhanced by leisure activity within the natural environment, without damage to the environment and in ways in which it can be accommodated with other interests and land uses. Whilst the Agency does undertake much valuable work in this area it would appear that limitations on staff resources at national and particularly regional level inhibit its potential.

  6.  An area in which Sport England considers the Agency has particular potential to enhance opportunities for sport is in the implementation of the recently published Facilities Strategies of the British Canoe Union (3) and Amateur Rowing Association (4). The Agency already plays a valuable role in the management of rivers, particularly the Thames where World Class rowers train and compete. We welcome the constructive work that has been undertaken by the Agency as the co-ordinator of the Angling and Canoeing Liaison Group which has published the Canoe Access Guide (5) to help facilitate voluntary access agreements on non-navigable rivers. Although there is much work to be done the Agency is playing an important role at national level which with additional resources could be usefully replicated in the English Regions.

  7.  Sport England welcomes the way that the Agency manages its navigations for a wide range of recreational and sporting activities, together with access to the banks. Sport England particularly welcomes initiatives where facilities for white water canoeing have been developed at Agency weir sites and we would encourage further initiatives in this area in accordance with the British Canoe Union facilities strategy referred to above.

  8.  Sport England considers that the Agency could play a key role in reconciling the conflicts between recreational users on Lake Windermere where a public right of navigation exists. The Lake District National Park Authority has advocated a blanket 10 mph speed limit but the Agency has supported a management solution. A Management Plan has been developed by the principal parties opposed to the Speed Limit (British Waterski Federation, Royal Yachting Association, Windermere Commercial Lake Users, Group and Sport England) and the Agency could use its multi-functional expertise to lead the implementation of the plan when the outcome of the decision of the Public Inquiry which is currently being considered by the Secretary of State is known.

  9.  Areas which remain unclear concern the extent to which the Agency is able to use its expertise in reconciling conflicts between land-based sport and recreation activities and the environment and a clearer understanding of how it interprets its definition to be involved with those activities which are "associated with water". Similarly there is uncertainty regarding the extent to which the Agency currently fulfils its role in relation to the promotion of recreation at the coast and on coastal waters. It is clear that the Agency has a major flood defence role of the coast but it does not seem that the recreational function is always taken into account.

  10.  The potential to clarify the role of the Agency in recreation exists via the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation under the Environment Act 1995 and Water Industry Act 1991. As a member of the Standing Committee on the Code of Practice Sport England has strongly supported the preparation of the Code being prepared by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and observations were provided on a draft which was the subject of consultation in May 1999. There is a key role in balancing the interests of wildlife conservation and recreation through the work of the Standing Committee and there is scope for the Agency to lead on integrating the two in a sustainable manner.

  11.  At a regional level the Agency has established Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees and the experience of Sport England has been that these Committees are focused on the needs and interests of fisheries and the angling community often to the detriment of other recreational users. As a result, advice offered to the Agency by these Committees often inadequately reflects the full range of concerns. Whilst appreciating the importance of the Agency's Fisheries duty, perhaps there is a need to re-examine the balance of interests in their memberships.

FUTURE CO -OPERATION BETWEEN SPORT ENGLAND AND THE AGENCY

  12.  There are a number of areas where Sport England will look forward to co-operating with the Agency in the future.

12.1  Countryside Recreation Network (CRN)—Both organisations contribute to the work of the Network which seeks to promote information sharing and joint initiatives between the Agencies of Government involved in this area. The work of the CRN was commended by Government in its response to House of Commons Environment Committee Inquiry on The Environmental Impact of Leisure Activities (2). It is the intention of the Countryside Agency and Sport England with the support of the Environment Agency to promote a Seminar next year on Promoting Good Practice in Sport and Recreation in the Countryside Around Towns, which will be promoted under the CRN banner.

12.2  Sport England Lottery Fund—Following the launch of the new Sport England Lottery Fund Strategy it is intended to update advice to Lottery applicants on countryside and water related projects and a workshop is planned with the Agency and the Countryside Agency to discuss the criteria for assessing applications.

12.3  Staff Seminar—To coincide with the launch of a revised MoU, it is intended to promote a joint Staff Seminar with key staff of the Agency and the Countryside Agency to share experience and explore future areas of co-operation. This is planned for September 2000.

12.4  Joint Research—Agency is leading on a data collection exercise on the supply and demand and participation trend data for water related recreation. Sport England and the Countryside Agency are inputting to phase one of the project with a view to exploring links on subsequent phases.

CONCLUSION

  Sport England welcomes the close co-operation which exists with the Agency but would like to see the Agency taking a more active role as a facilitator of opportunities for water sport and recreation and to use its multi-functional expertise to develop its role in reconciling conflicts of interest between the water users and between sport and recreation activities and other environmental interests.

REFERENCES

  1.  House of Commons Environment Committeee Fourth Report "The Environmental Impact of Leisure Activities" HMSO (1995).

  2.  House of Commons Environment Committee "The Environmental Impact of Leisure Activities" Government Response to the Fourth Report of the Committee in Session 1994-95 HMSO (1995).

  3.  Rowing Facilities Strategy 1999-2005. Amateur Rowing Association Ltd (1999).

  4.  British Canoe Union Facilities Strategy for Canoeing in England 1999-2004 (1999).

  5.  Agreeing Access to Water for Canoeing. Environment Agency (1999).

  1.  Sport England derives its powers from a Royal Charter and receives grant in aid from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to fund its activities. The Charter empowers Sport England amongst other things to:

—  develop and improve the knowledge and practice of sport and physical recreation in England;

—  encourage and develop higher standards of performance and the achievement of excellence;

—  foster, support and undertake the development of facilities;

—  carry out research into sport and physical recreation; and

—  advise, assist and co-operate with other government departments and local authorities.

  2.  Sport England's Mission Statement is to lead the development of sport in England by influencing and serving the public, private and voluntary sectors. Our aim is:

—  more people involved in sport;

—  more places to play sport;

—  more medals through higher standards of performance in sport.

  3.  Sport England's role is two-fold. Primarily it is responsible for developing and maintaining the framework of sport in England. Secondly, it is responsible for distributing National Lottery funds. The work of Sport England in securing "more places" is focused on providing support and advice which enables the development of high quality sports facilities in the right places to meet the needs of all levels of sport and all sectors of the community.

  4.  Sport England has recently introduced three programmes to implement its aims and ensure that sport contributes to wider issues. These are:

—  Active Sports.

—  Active Schools.

—  Active Communities.

  5.  In addition Sport England has a World Class programme to develop and support the county's top athletes.

  6.  Sport England's work in securing "more places" encompasses planning the provision of facilities and helping to ensure that they are fit for purpose and attractive to users. In recent years, it has channelled significant Lottery funds towards the development of high quality facilities that are accessible to everyone. The context for this work is England: The Sporting Nation, the strategy for sport in England, which identifies the ultimate outcomes for all those who have a part to play in the development of English sport. Sport England is committed to the implementation of the strategy.

October 1999