Corporate report

Environment Agency corporate scorecard 2021 to 2022 - quarter four

Published 30 June 2022

Applies to England

1. Corporate scorecard summary page

The Environment Agency use a red, amber, green system to see how we are performing at a glance. They are:

• green which means we are performing at or above the target(s) set
• amber which means we are falling slightly short of the target
• red which means there are improvements to be made

This table shows the red, amber, green scores for the 13 measures plus the actual and target figures.

1.1 A nation resilient to climate change

By 2025 we (the Environment Agency) will have created more climate resilient places and infrastructure, by ensuring the nation is prepared for flooding, coastal change and drought

Measure title	Units	Q4 actual	Q4 target	Year end target	Q4 status
We reduce the risk of flooding for more properties	Number of properties better protected	32,908	45,000	45,000	Red
We maintain our flood and costal risk management assets at or above the target condition	% of high risk assets at target condition	91.8%	98%	98%	Red

By 2025 we will be a stronger leader on climate adaptation and resilience, encouraging others to act now on the climate emergency

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
We will deliver our strategic adaptation actions to tackle the climate emergency	Actions	78%	90%	90% minimum	Red

By 2025 we will be a recognised and trusted incident management organisation responding rapidly to environmental emergencies to protect people and the environment

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
We have a first class incident response capability - proportion of trained staff employed in core incident roles	Number of people	77%	80%	80%	Amber

1.2 Healthy air, land and water

By 2025 our air will be cleaner and healthier

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
Air quality is improving - Monitor the reductions across 5 priority pollutants: NOX (oxides of nitrogen), SOX (oxides of sulphur), NMVOC (non-methane volatile organic compound), NH3 (Ammonia) and particulates in the refineries sector	% reduction grams per tonne	414 SOX/ 237 NOX	<431 SOX / <203 NOX	<431 SOX / <203 NOX	Amber

By 2025 our rivers, lakes, groundwater and coasts will have better water quality and will be better places for people and wildlife

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
Our rivers and coasts have better water quality and are better places for wildlife.	Kilometres (km)	1,528	1,650	1,650	Green

By 2025 our air, land and water is better protected and enhanced

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
We increase biodiversity and encourage an environmental net gain by creating more and better habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife	Hectares (ha) created and habitat restored	1,111	620	620 Hectares total	Green

1.3 Green growth and a sustainable future

By 2025 we will achieve cleaner growth by supporting businesses and communities to make good choices, through our roles as a regulator, adviser, operator and enabler

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
We successfully influence planning decisions by local authorities	% decision notices successfully influenced	98.2%	97%	97%	Green

By 2025 we Will have cut waste crime and helped develop a circular economy

Measure title	Units	Q4 actual	Q4 target	Year end target	Year end forecast	Q4 status
We reduce the number of high risk illegal waste sites	Number of high waste sites	194	200	200	Red	Green

By 2025 we will be on track to deliver our sustainable business commitments, including to be net zero by 2030

Measure title	Units	Q4 actual	Q4 target	Year end target	Q4 status
A carbon net zero organisation by 2030	Tonnes of carbon dioxide	20,485	27,342	27,342	Green

1.4 Enabling outcomes: life enhancing organisation - how we will deliver our actions: our people and our values

Measure title	Units	Q4 year to date actual	Q4 year to date target	Year end target	Q4 year to date status
We manage our money efficiently	% spend on budget	100%	100%	100%	Green
We have a diverse workforce: a) The proportion of our staff are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME)	% of workforce	4.6%	14%	14%	Red
We have a diverse workforce: b) The proportion of our executive managers who are female	% of executive manager workforce	43%	50%	50%	Red
We have the lowest possible lost time incident (LTI) frequency rate	LTI frequency rate per 100,000 hours	0.05	0.11	0.11	Green

2. We reduce the risk from flooding for more properties.

Actual	Cumulative target	Year end target	Q4 Status
32,908	45,000	45,000	Red

Commentary

The first year of a new 6 year FCRM capital programme started in 2021 to 2022. It’s aim is to better protect hundreds of thousands of properties from flooding and coastal erosion, through investment of £5.2 billion in government funding in around 2,000 schemes.

In quarter 4 of 2021 to 2022, 15,746 properties were better protected including the following projects:

• Team 2100 Programme - Thames Delivery (3,218)
• Pevensey Bay Sea Defences (3,101)
• Exmouth Tidal defence scheme (1,417)
• Deal Beach management (1,035)

This takes the total for 2021 to 2022 up to 32,908 properties better protected. This is below the 45,000 properties target. The main reasons for being behind are:

• continued effects of COVID-19, 2020 to 2021 winter flood events and Storm Arwen
• supply chain disruption, inflation and cost pressures across the construction sector
• challenges on resources for both the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities (linked to recruitment and retention issues and in certain cases, supplier capacity)
• delays in obtaining approvals (such as Marine Management Organisation approvals where we are now engaging positively at various levels)
• a more complex programme consisting of projects that are more complicated and marginal grant in aid (GIA) funding, leading to a greater reliance on securing partnership funding

The 45,000 corporate target relates to the original programme that is being reprofiled into future years as agreed with HM Treasury. Properties protected delayed from 2021 to 2022 will remain in the 6 year programme and still count towards our corporate target, but in future years following reprofiling.

In 2022 to 2023 additional properties better protected from increased flood risk levels will be retrospectively recorded by the Programme Management Office. This will focus on increased flood risk from climate change by 2040 that are not in the current claims.

Properties protected

2021 to 2022 programme cumulative target = 45,000

Quarter	Total
Q1 2021 to 2022	7,198
Q2 2021 to 2022	10,679
Q3 2021 to 2022	17,162
Q4 2021 to 2022	32,908

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Integration of new properties reporting into AIMS:PD (Asset Information Management System: Programme Delivery)	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2027
Working with delivery Managers / programme specialists to derive the best method for measuring properties better protected to 2040 (for example effects of climate change)	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2027
Continued National Priority Programme (NPP) calls and a re-affirmation of the risks, issues and opportunities group alongside local Integrated Delivery Teams support	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2027
Developing dashboards to measure various risks against the 6 year programme	Flood and Coastal Risk Management Manager	31/03/2027

3. We maintain our flood and coastal risk management assets at or above the target condition

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 Status
91.8	98%	98%	Red

Commentary

In quarter 4 the reported figure is 91.8%. This figure reflects some errors resulting from the transition to a new asset system including the effect of the backlog of inspections meaning some assets having out of date condition data.

Where assets are below their required condition this means that work is required. This does not mean that they have structurally failed or that performance in a flood is compromised. If the performance of an asset is reduced, we will take action to ensure that flood risk is effectively managed until the asset is fully repaired or replaced. We are continuing to take a precautionary approach as to whether the asset condition figure is an accurate representation due to the errors identified above. We anticipate that once these are addressed the figure will be closer to 94%. The current reported status has improved as improvements continue to be addressed.

Asset condition is directly related to maintenance funding, which is currently stretched. While it is sufficient to maintain most of our assets in their current condition, it is not currently enough to restore them to our 98% target. Getting and maintaining our assets at the required condition is compounded by:

• an ageing asset stock
• the increasing frequency and severity of loading
• increased deterioration rates
• the increasing number of assets to be maintained

We have prioritised the maintenance and repair of the highest risk assets. Where needed, we have risk mitigation measures and contingency plans in place to manage any risk until any necessary repairs and maintenance are complete.

Quarter	% Actual (rounded)	% Target
Q2 18/19	96.9%	97.5%
Q3 18/19	96.8%	97.5%
Q4 18/19	97.9%	97.5%
Q1 19/20	97.2%	97.5%
Q2 19/20	96.9%	97.5%
Q3 19/20	96.2%	98%
Q4 19/20	96.1%	98%
Q1 20/21	95.8%	98%
Q2 20/21	95.2%	98%
Q3 20/21	95%	98%
Q4 20/21	94.5	98%
Q1 21/22	94.3	98%
Q2 21/22	95.4%	98%
Q3 21/22		98%
Q4 21/22	91.8	98%

Number of high consequence assets passing

At or above required target condition (Environment Agency)	Below required target condition (Environment Agency)
32,576	2,924

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Repairing and maintaining flood defence assets remain a corporate priority following the pandemic.	Deputy Director, Asset Performance and Engineering	31/03/2023
Ensuring mitigation measures are in place for below required condition (BRC ) assets to manage risk pending repairs.	Deputy Director, Asset Management Operations	31/03/2023
Reducing the backlog of asset repair assessments	Deputy Director, Asset Management Operations	31/03/2023

4. We will deliver our strategic adaptation actions to tackle the climate emergency

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 status
78%	90%	90%	Red

Commentary

Reporting this quarter is against actions within our third adaptation report, published in October 2021. Overall 78% (42) of our actions are complete or on track. This is a slight increase from previous quarters, but still below our target. Activity that was delayed or amended accounted for 22% (12) of our actions and was in most parts due to:

• staff shortages
• high workloads
• a delay in work as a different approach was needed than first thought

There were some notable successes across the business including:

• providing Natural Capital training to water companies and Environment Agency teams
• a suite of notable publications including:
  • the blue carbon restoration handbooks
  • enhanced appraisal guidance for flooding and coastal change projects
  • launch of the Pensions Fund led international report on managing physical risk in investments

We continue to improve our own processes to better consider climate adaptation, for example developing a process to embed public health and inequality considerations into major projects.

Quarter	% Actual	% Target
Q4 2019/20	76	90
Q2 2020/21	70	90
Q4 2020/21	72	90
Q4 2021/22	78	90

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Update corporate climate impacts plan with actions and milestones for Q2 and Q4	Senior Responsible Officers	30/06/2022
Strengthen delivery arrangements for actions in the preparing for climate impacts plan, as part of the climate challenge set by executive directors.	Director of Sustainable Business and Development	30/06/2022

5. We have a first class incident response capability

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 status
77%	80%	80%	Amber

Commentary

Over the past 12 months there have been 3,440 trained staff who have responded to flood and other environmental emergencies in core out of hours roles for command and control, first and escalated response.

This is 77% of the total pool trained to carry out these roles that provide a critical service to reduce the effects of environmental incidents each year. The reduction in the proportion of trained incident staff used in core incident roles may reflect a reduction in the number of incidents. The roles that form this measure are the main command and control roles.

There have been less category 1 and 2 National Incident Recording System (NIRS) incidents recorded this quarter. We know there have been limited major incidents this winter meaning the opportunities for the larger numbers of staff to be involved in our response have reduced.

We will track across the next quarter and see if this trend continues and further consider what the data may be revealing.

We continue to ensure all staff on incident rosters can work flexibly and feel supported and confident to volunteer particularly during escalated response periods.

Proportion of trained staff utilised in core incident roles

Quarter	Number
2021 Apr – June	85%
2021 Jul – Sep	83%
2021 Oct – Dec	82%
2022 Dec – Mar	77%

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
We are establishing a future incident response framework to ensure availability of our essential services (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year) and establish reliable and resilient core and surge incident response arrangements.	Director Incident Management and Resilience	31/12/2023
The reduction in the proportion of trained incident staff used in core incident roles may reflect a reduction in the number of incidents. We will track across the next quarter and see if this trend continues and further consider what the data may be revealing.	Deputy Director Strategy Service and Investment	30/06/2023

6. Air quality is improving

6.1 Monitor the reductions across 5 priority pollutants: NOX, SOX, NMVOC, NH3 and particulates in the refineries sector (Defra)

Actual	Target (grams per tonne)	Year end target	Q4 status
414 SOX & 237 NOX	<431 target SOX & <203 target NOX	<431 target SOX & <203 target NOX	Amber

Commentary

Total emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are trending below the 2017 baseline and have reduced due to revised limits in environmental permits during 2018.

Emissions of sulphur dioxide per tonne of oil processed have met the target.

Although the total mass of nitrogen oxide emissions has reduced, relative to the quantity of crude oil processed this has not significantly changed. The complexity of oil refineries means that they perform best at steady state, particularly in relation to nitrogen oxide emissions. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for petroleum fuels has led to a period of 2 years of instability as demand has fluctuated across successive lockdowns. Some nitrogen oxides reduction capital projects have also been delayed due to equipment supply and lack of available personnel, also caused by the pandemic.

Limitations on access to data and availability of personnel, caused by the pandemic, have meant that our audit programme on these emissions has been pushed back into 2022 to 2023.

Sulphur Dioxide Emissions grams per tonne

Quarter	Actual	Target
Q4 2019/20	420.85	431
Q4 2020/21	421.56	431
Q4 2021/22	414.21	431

Nitrogen Oxides Emissions grams per tonne

Quarter	Actual	Target
Q4 2019/20	222.26	203
Q4 2020/21	236.24	203
Q4 2021/22	236.55	203

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Coordinate an audit campaign to gain a deeper understanding of why the target for sulphur dioxide emissions has been met, whereas the target for emissions of nitrogen oxides has not.	Refineries and Fuel Sector Lead, Environment and Business	31/03/2023

7. Our rivers and coasts have better water quality and are better places for wildlife

Actual (km)	Target (km)	Year end target (km)	Q4 status
1,528	1,650	1,650	Green

Commentary

In quarter 4, 181 km of English rivers were enhanced. Collaborative working between Environment Agency environment officers and local landowners has brought 85 km of enhancements. This follows improvements made to farm infrastructure, reducing point and diffuse source pollution. Notable enhancements have also been recorded in:

• drinking water protected areas - in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire recorded enhancements as the equivalent of 17 km of lakes (including Rutland water) have benefited from reduced metaldehyde levels
• Brighton
• the Aquifer Partnership worked with local children to build a rain garden, enhancing local groundwaters, which include a chalk aquifer drinking water protected areas.

Additionally:

• 116 km of groundwaters and rivers were protected from deterioration
• measures to control Floating Pennywort (an invasive non-native species) have protected 53 km on the river Witham, near Lincoln
• in Watford, Thames Water worked to connect misconnected properties up to the sewerage network, ensuring wastewater is treated appropriately and ensuring better water quality to prevent future deterioration
• Environment Agency Land and Water and Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology teams have been developing positive relationships with water companies to encourage better monitoring and providing advice and guidance - which has helped prevent potential deterioration in 59 km of rivers and groundwaters

Quarter 4 sees the last reports for kilometres enhanced for 2021 to 2022. We have achieved 93% of our 2021 to 2022 target to enhance 1,650 km of waterbodies, enhancing a total of 1,528kms across the year. This is equivalent to enhancing 4 times the length of the river Thames.

Kilometres of rivers, lakes and coastal waters enhanced this year

Quarter	Actual km	Target km
Q1 2020/21	31	100
Q2 2020/21	4,193	1,509
Q3 2020/21	4,230	3,445
Q4 2020/21	4,551	3,900
Q1 2021/22	822	883
Q2 2021/22	1,245	1,272
Q3 2021/22	1,347	1,650
Q4 2021/22	1,528	1,650

Insight cumulative totals

Quarter	Actual km	Target km
Q2 2020/21	10,967	8,000
Q3 2020/21	11,004	8,000
Q4 2020/21	11,292	8,000
Q1 2021/22	12,167	8,000
Q2 2021/22	12,590	8,000
Q3 2021/22	12,799	8,000
Q4 2021/22	12,980	8,000

8. We increase biodiversity and promote an environmental net gain by creating more and better habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 status
1,111	620	620 hectares (ha)	Green

Commentary

We created 629 ha and restored 482 ha of priority habitat. The total of 1,111 ha, equivalent to over 1,600 football pitches, greatly exceeding our target of 620 ha. This was largely due to partners confirming larger areas of blanket bog restoration and creation than expected in Yorkshire and the North East. We also planted over 248,000 trees. The creation, restoration and maintenance of peatland, along with the creation of saltmarsh and broadleaved woodland will remove an additional 6,099 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. This is valued at £27 million over 40 years at present value.

The overall reduction in air pollutants by sequestration is a consequence of creating freshwater and fen andmarsh habitats, which remove lower amounts of NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (Sulphur dioxide), O3 (Ozone) but greater amounts of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter).

An additional 150,561 visits per year are predicted. The estimated value of recreation from these visits over 40 years at present value is £21 million.

Quarter	Hectares created	Target
2018/19	460	410
2019/20	3,147	1,280
2020/21	1,897	1,200
2021/22	1,111	620

9. We successfully influence planning decisions by local planning authorities

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 status
98.2%	97%	97%	Green

Commentary

Performance in quarter 4 was 97.3% against a target of 97%. Over the year we successfully influenced 98.2% of planning decisions where we were notified of the outcome of the planning applications. In quarter 4 there were 14 decisions that weren’t in line with our advice - 7 where we had raised an objection and 7 where a condition we had requested wasn’t included in the final decision. There were 6 out of the 7 objections were made on the basis of inadequate flood risk assessments. Fortunately, all these applications were for minor developments and if implemented would only create an additional 5 dwellings that could be at risk from flooding. The conditions that were not included in the final decision covered flooding, land contamination, biodiversity water quality and pollution control issues.

The majority of planning decisions are made in line with our advice. Where we do have to raise an objection, we work hard with developers and the local planning authorities to try and resolve issues. In quarter 4 we raised initial objections to 98 planning applications, but by engaging with developers we managed to resolve these issues. This facilitated the creation of 3,847 new residential units should all these planning permissions be implemented. These residential developments, once built, will help contribute over £66m^{[footnote 1]} to UK economic output. Whilst recognising that we are one of several consultees who provide planning advice, this suggests an excellent economic return on the Environment Agency’s £2.4 million quarterly spend on this vital work.

Quarter	Total
2020/21	97.8%
Q1 2021/22	98%
Q2 2021/22	98.6%
Q3 2021/22	98.7%
Q4 2021/22	98.2%

10. We reduce the number of high risk illegal waste sites

Q4 status	Actual	Target	Year end target
Green	194	200	200

Commentary

The number of high risk illegal waste sites decreased by 7 in quarter 4 to 194 and remains below the ceiling target.

The number of illegal waste sites has fallen by 36 in quarter 4 to 421 which is the lowest reported since at least 2012 to 2013. Whilst the performance status remains green, we continue to be cautious about these results because of the ongoing transition out of the pandemic, which has effected reporting levels and site substantiation. The true number of illegal sites is likely to be greater and we anticipate it to increase over the coming year.

Quarter	Total	Ceiling target
Baseline 19/20	233	233
Q1 20/21	250	233
Q2 20/21	237	227
Q3 20/21	218	222
Q4 20/21	206	216
Q1 21/22	201	216
Q2 21/22	208	211
Q3 21/22	201	205
Q4 21/22	194	200

11. A carbon net zero organisation by 2030 (Defra)

Q4 status	Actual	Ceiling target	Year end target
Green	20,485	27,342	27,342

Commentary

At the end of quarter 4 we are at 75% of the annual threshold. There was a 4% reduction in overall carbon emissions compared to 2020 to 2021. All 14 areas were green for their end of year carbon targets. The 2021 to 2022 year has seen coronavirus restrictions ease and staff starting to return to offices, so carbon from travel has increased from last year by 36%. Train travel is showing an increasing trend and other travel types have remained at a steady level. We will need to continue to embrace and encourage hybrid working, to prevent a significant bounce-back in travel emissions in 2022 to 2023.

We have seen a 40% decrease in our emissions from operational electricity compared to last year. This was due to less usage requirement by groundwater schemes and field assets (flood risk and water resources) electricity reduced by 48%.

Carbon emissions from our National Labs remain similar to last year, with a slight increase of 6%. Our operational fuel use increased at the Labs whilst heating repairs were carried out. Both the National Laboratory Service and facilities management reported major fluorinated gas releases this year due to a cold store failure and pipe maintenance failure.

Buildings related carbon has slightly reduced compared to last year. We have continued to deliver on the government Property Agency net zero programme. Light emitting diode (LED) lighting was installed throughout Blandford, Ceres House, Scots Float, Chichester, Teesdale and Chippenham. Feasibility studies were completed for rooftop solar at Teesdale, Chichester, Iceni and Ceres. Planning permission was granted in March for the proposed 2 mega watts Lea Marston solar farm, with careful consideration going into the supply chain.

From quarter one 2022 to 2023, as agreed, we will be reporting total carbon, for example in future reports, we will now be including the scope 3 - indirect (supply chain) emissions which make up 84% of our baseline footprint.

Quarter	Total
2018/19	30,930
Q1 19/20	8,529
Q2 19/20	14,019
Q3 19/20	22,297
Q4 19/20	31,217
Q1 20/21	5,078
Q2 20/21	4,243
Q3 20/21	4,748
Q4 20/21	5,558
Q1 21/22	5,558
Q2 21/22	4,082
Q3 21/22	14,724
Q4 21/22	20,485

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
This year the Sustainable Business team (SBT) is evolving our corporate carbon reporting for the future. As agreed with executive directors team (EDT) in January 2021, the SBT is tracking the actions in the net zero roadmap through the relevant business boards. Reporting progress and risks quarterly to the organisational business board (and exceptions to EDT) via a new RAG (red, amber, green) report.
Executive directors team and operational business board oversight. Sustainable Business team, Environment and Business, Flood and Coastal Risk Management and Operations Leadership Team delivery.	31/03/2023

12. We manage our money efficiently

Actual - £million	Budget - £million	Year end target	Q4 status
£1,640m	£1,635m	100%	Green

Commentary

The measure is used to report on effective management of our money to achieve our outcomes and is based on the percentage of our full year funding that we have invested. The Environment Agency has a major capital and resource programme of investment projects and conducts a very detailed planning process in order to ensure appropriate prioritisation of these investments. We are subject to a series of strong financial and governance controls that both protect this investment and provide a logistical challenge in programme expenditure delivery. This is considered an appropriate measure, with expenditure being a proxy for delivery of environmental outcomes and this measure is therefore inextricably linked to most of the other scorecard measures.

This measure is also used because any material under spend against available funding for a year means missed opportunities to improve the environment. Meanwhile any over spend could mean Defra breaching its budgetary control totals as sponsoring department, given the Defra group accounts include the Environment Agency accounts. Such a breach would trigger a National Audit Office (NAO) audit qualification.

The Environment Agency has invested £1.6 billion on the environment in 2021 to 2022, a slightly higher amount than invested last financial year. Investment accelerated on programmes as planned in the final quarter, with final spend very close to allocated funding. Actual spend has been delivered slightly above the budget in agreement with Defra, in order to help manage the overall Defra group capital budget position. This is to enable us to deliver more for the environment. The performance is therefore reported as green since the spend beyond funding was wanted by Defra and will help Defra’s own financial investment measures with HM Treasury.

Cumulative expenditure against YTD budget (%)

Quarter	Total
Q4 19/20	100%
Q1 20/21	103%
Q2 20/21	93%
Q3 20/21	96%
Q4 20/21	96%
Q1 21/22	98%
Q2 21/22	95%
Q3 21/22	97%
Q4 21/22	100%

Cumulative expenditure against YTD budget (£million)

Quarter	Planned profiled cumulative expenditure (£million)	Actual cumulative expenditure (£million)
Q4 19/20	£1,305	£1,303
Q1 20/21	£304	£313
Q2 20/21	£707	£654
Q3 20/21	£1,117	£1,073
Q4 20/21	1,630	1,563
Q1 21/22	£321	£316
Q2 21/22	£750	£716
Q3 21/22	£1,182	£1,143
Q4 21/22	£1,635	£1,640

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Annual report and accounts for 2021 to 2022 to be prepared for audit by NAO, sign off by directors and laying before Parliament.	Director of Finance	31/05/2022

13. We have a diverse workforce

The proportion of our staff who are from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background (BAME %)

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 status
4.6%	14%	14%	Red

Commentary

Our current target is that 14% of all employees are Black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME). In quarter 4 the proportion of BAME employees in the Environment Agency stood at 4.6%. In quarter 4, 29 (7%) of our 432 external recruits and 10 (5%) of our 196 leavers were from BAME backgrounds.

In quarter 4, 3 out of 10 (30%) BAME leavers completed an exit interview, compared with 80 out of 89 (90%) white colleagues. Amongst all leavers, the top reason for leaving were:

• lack of advancement and career development opportunities

Additional reasons were:

• low pay
• cost of living

Of those who completed questionnaires, 2 thirds were very positive about flexible working and family friendly policies.

We are developing the race action plan. We will embed actions from the race action plan within the overall equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) plan. We will continue to use learning to ensure wider equality, diversity and inclusion benefits across the organisation. As part of our ‘Big Conversation’ on race, we are continuing to roll out learning bursts which have received positive feedback. We have trained race ambassadors to help and support everyone in the organisation to understand issues by talking more openly about race.

We have wider diversity initiatives, an updated resource library with revamped candidate packs and better resources to support more inclusive recruitment. We will conduct a recruitment pilot to improve the way we recruit especially for people who think and learn in a different way. We will also pilot a program to help us improve our attraction to those from the LGBTQ+ community. We will continue to build and develop a more inclusive culture, increase the diversity of our workforce and ensure equity of opportunity in performance, development, progression and pay. We will improve our ability to confront the climate emergency by increasing our ability to improve and protect the environment for all communities. Work is ongoing to ensure all capability and development frameworks are consistent through a critical review and that we act on the insight from exit interviews. Our current investment in equality, diversity and inclusion resources and action provides positive momentum.

Our current target is that 14% of all employees are Black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME). We will review data and intelligence and the need for any changes when new census data is available at the end of March 2022. We aim to complete consultation and secure approval for any needed changes to our current BAME target by December 2022.

BAME staff as % of all staff

2021 to 2022 target = 14%

Quarter	Total
Q1 2020/21	4.4%
Q2 2020/21	4.5%
Q3 2020/21	4.4%
Q4 2020/21	4.5%
Q1 2021/22	4.4%
Q2 2021/22	4.5%
Q3 2021/22	4.5%
Q4 2021/22	4.6%

The proportion of our executive managers who are female

Actual	Target	Year end target	Q4 status
43%	50%	50%	Red

Commentary

We have a target for 50% of executive managers to be female. The percentage of executive managers (EMs) who are female is currently 43%. The percentage of grade 7 employees who are female has risen to 38% (212). This has enabled an increase in the internal talent pipeline for executive manager roles.

The Environment Agency will launch our new EDI strategy and action plan (2022 to 2025) in May. There are 4 objectives looking at:

• inclusive cultures
• increasing the diversity of our workforce
• ensuring equity in pay, progression, development, and performance
• increasing our ability to protect the environment for all communities

These objectives will drive wider equality, diversity and inclusion benefits across the organisation.

Proportion of executive managers (EMs) who are female %

2021/22 target = 50%

Quarter	Total
Q1 2020/21	44%
Q2 2020/21	42%
Q3 2020/21	43%
Q4 2020/21	44%
Q1 2021/22	44%
Q2 2021/22	45%
Q3 2021/22	45%
Q4 2021/22	43%

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Refreshed equity, diversity and inclusion strategy	Chief Operating Officer	11/05/2022
Promote inclusive cultures: ‘Big conversation’ on race	Chief Operating Officer	30/08/2022
Summer diversity internship programme	Chief Operating Officer	30/08/2022
Career development program: focus BAME employees	Chief Operating Officer	30/09/2022

14. We have the lowest possible lost time incident (LTI) frequency rate

Actual	Ceiling rate	Year end target	Q4 status
0.05	0.11	0.11	Green

Commentary

Lost time incident frequency rate (LTIFR) is a universally accepted lagging indicator of health and safety performance. We define lost time incidents as work related injuries, resulting in a day or more lost time. This conservative definition, plus a very low ceiling of 0.11 injuries per 100,000 hours worked, sets a challenging ambition.

In quarter 4 we maintained our downward pressure on health and safety incidents, implementing the lessons from the review into the tragic fatality we experienced in 2021 and wider initiatives. The resonance in the business from the effect of the incident and the action taken to address hazardous activities is having a positive effect on culture and behaviours. The number of LTIs is no longer influenced by COVID-19 safe working since we are undertaking normal levels of activity in the field. We can therefore, compare the data with pre-pandemic data and consider the trends as truly representative of our performance.

Lost time incident frequency rate

12 month rolling average

Quarter	Number
October 2020	0.08
November 2020	0.07
December 2020	0.08
January 2021	0.10
February 2021	0.10
March 2021	0.10
April 2021	0.10
May 2021	0.11
June 2021	0.11
July 2021	0.09
August 2021	0.09
September 2021	0.08
October 2021	0.07
November 2021	0.06
December 2021	0.06
January 2022	0.07
February 2022	0.06
March 2022	0.05

Number of LTIs

Quarter	Number
Q1 2020/21	1
Q2 2020/21	9
Q3 2020/21	3
Q4 2020/21	8
Q1 2021/22	3
Q2 2021/22	4
Q3 2021/22	3
Q4 2021/22	0

Actions

Actions	Owners	Deadlines
Implement the health, safety and wellbeing plan for 2021 to 2022	Chief Operating Officer	31/03/2023
Implement the recommendations from the Shepperton lessons learned review	Chief Operating Officer	31/03/2023

1. Figure based on the findings of the Home Builders Federation (HB F) report ‘The Economic Footprint of House Building in England and Wales - 2018’, which calculated that the 218,400 additional dwellings created across England and Wales in 2016 to 2017 contributed £38 billion to UK economic output. ↩