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State of the River Management Partnership (SORM)
[last updated December 19, 2005 3:54 AM]
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General Information
Partnership website(s) |
Expected TimeframeApril 2004 - March 2007 |
Partners
Governments:
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Major Groups:
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| UN System:
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Other intergovernmental organizations:
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Other:
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Thematic Focus
Primary Themes:
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Secondary Themes:
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Geographic Coverage
Geographic Scope: Local
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
National Focal Points
This partnership has made contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved
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Goals and Objectives
Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
The SORM Partnership was established as an innovative partnership-based method of urban river management on the River Aire to fulfil the following strategic objectives:-
- To improve the environment and amenity of the River Aire;
- To support existing groups and organisations already working on the River Aire;
- To improve public perception of the River Aire;
- To increase stakeholder involvement in the management of the River Aire;
- To exchange information on issues affecting the River Aire;
- To develop opportunities for joint working for the benefit of the environment and amenity of the River Aire.
In fulfilling these objectives, the Partnership has a general interest in all water bodies within the metropolitan district of Leeds. For the purposes of this Partnership the River Aire is defined as the 21 miles of the River Aire (and its tributaries, including becks and streams) which flows through the metropolitan district of Leeds.
- To improve the environment and amenity of the River Aire;
- To support existing groups and organisations already working on the River Aire;
- To improve public perception of the River Aire;
- To increase stakeholder involvement in the management of the River Aire;
- To exchange information on issues affecting the River Aire;
- To develop opportunities for joint working for the benefit of the environment and amenity of the River Aire.
In fulfilling these objectives, the Partnership has a general interest in all water bodies within the metropolitan district of Leeds. For the purposes of this Partnership the River Aire is defined as the 21 miles of the River Aire (and its tributaries, including becks and streams) which flows through the metropolitan district of Leeds.
Targets and Progress
Partnership targetsThe key activities of the Partnership Board are to:
- agree and publish an annual action plan (derived from the Partnership objectives); - monitor and review key performance indicators; - agree and publish an annual report; - support and monitor the work of the Accountable Body, the Executive Steering Group and the activities of any sub-groups formed by the Board; - ensure involvement by local people and other stakeholders; - identify any further activities that need to be undertaken |
Progress against targetsThe partnership has signed a formal partnership agreement setting out how the partners will work together. This is important because while a partnership is characterized by a preference for consensus based decision making, there will be occasions when the partners cannot agree. On these occasions an agreement is useful because it sets out the mechanisms for reaching agreement and the checks and balances necessary to ensure that relationships in the partnership remain cordial. The SORM partnership spent a long time assembling the agreement to the satisfaction of all partners. The partnership have now employed a partnership worker (effective July 2005) and have published an action plan that the partnership worker is operating to.
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Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
- Education/building awareness
The partnership aims to improve the environment, amenity and public perception of the River Aire.
Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
The objectives of the SORM partnership are consistent with the implementation of:-
Agenda 21 (18.9) (18.12 n & o) (18.20) (18.59C & D)
Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (34c)
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (25c) (26g) (66c) Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
Agenda 21 (18.9) (18.12 n & o) (18.20) (18.59C & D)
Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (34c)
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (25c) (26g) (66c) Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources
Relevant Sections of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 Sectors and issues
Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
Coordination and Implementation
Coordination Mechanism of the PartnershipThe Partnership is formed by the agencies which have a concern or interest in the River Aire and which wish to contribute to improving partnership working on the River Aire. Enabling legislation is provided by Section 2 (1) of the Local Government Act 2000 which confers significant new powers for local authorities to żdo anything which they consider is likely to achieveż the promotion of improvement of the economic, social and or environmental well-being of their area.
The Partners recognise that the activities of the Partnership are limited to those that are consistent with the objectives of the Partnership. All other existing activities relating to the River Aire remain the responsibility of the existing agencies, unless it is felt appropriate for that activity to become the responsibility of the Partnership. The agencies in the Partnership form a Partnership Board. The Partnership Board is the body responsible for the support and delivery of Projects, securing leverage funding and ensuring that the strategic objectives of the Partnership are achieved. A Steering Group will act as the Executive. |
Implementation Mechanism of the PartnershipThe Project Co-ordinator will report to the Steering Group.
The Project Co-ordinator and their team will be appointed or employed within one of the organisations of the Partnership Board and as such their terms and conditions of service will apply. The Project Co-ordinator, with reference to the Steering Group will: + undertake the executive role in the management of SORM Partnership programmes and projects; + negotiate and agree management and service agreements with funded projects and bodies; + ensure that outputs and targets are achieved and that action is taken as necessary to make adjustments; + ensure that management systems are robust and effective; + facilitate the work of any sub or working groups established by the Board; + monitor and report progress against requirements of any external systems audits; + identify and ensure training to Partners and projects as needed; + ensure that the annual action plan is prepared and approved; + manage publicity and promotion of the SORM Partnership; + communicate with other partnerships and programmes on and around the River Aire. |
Resources
Funding Currently AvailableAmount in US$: 32000
Source(s): Other
$13,000 dollars pa for 3 years from Leeds City Council $19,000 dollars pa for 3 years from the Environment Agency |
Non-financial resources availableType(s): Computers - Office space - Staff - Other
Source(s):
All partners are contributing staff time to the partnership. British Waterways will be employing a partnership worker on behalf of the partnership and hence will be contributing non-financial resources as indicated above. |
Funding SoughtRequired Amount in US$: 0
Source(s) already approached: None at this stage
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Non-financial resources soughtRequirement(s): None at this stage
Source(s) approached and details:
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Additional Information
Additional Relevant Information
The SORM partnership now employ a partnership worker (effective July 2005) based in British Waterways. The partnership worker is working to an action plan based on partner priorities derived from the objectives of the partnership. The main priorities are:-
To develop improvements to fisheries through management and water quality improvements
To protect and enhance wildlife, biodiversity and the environment
To support litter clean up organisations to tackle litter and flytipping on the river banks and surroundings and reduce and remove rubbish in the waterways
To encourage communities and businesses to steward their local sections of the river
To identify and improve ?problem areas? (e.g. CSOs, areas of public complaint)
To develop educational projects on the river
To involve local communities, volunteer groups, businesses with the main organisations responsible for the river
To advise businesses of their responsibilities towards the river and to encourage their participation in initiatives to improve environmental management affecting the river
To increase understanding of the implications of the Water Framework Directive
To increase understanding of sustainable urban drainage
To develop a protocol for pursuing SORM objectives through the land-use planning process
To align waster quality improvement to meet EU and UK legislation with particular reference to recreational water use
It has been necessary for the partnership worker to spend a considerable amount of time networking between all of the partners in order to identify main players and to raise the profile of the partnership amongst the partners and interested parties.
Clearly for some of these priorities it may be appropriate for some members of the partner to take a leading role in achieving any particular targets as they are more or less consistent with the existing activities of that partner. For other priorities it will clearly be necessary to develop new initiatives and hence to seek funding to achieve them. This too is a role for the project co-ordinator. In many cases it is the role of the project co-ordinator to stimulate and facilitate action between the other partners. In this regard it is important that the project co-ordinator is seen to have the support of the partnership board in taking issues forward which, by the very fact that they are requiring a SORM involvement, may be complex in nature and lack a clear outcome at this stage. Nevertheless it is in the spirit of the SORM partnership that dialogue between partners on these issues is essential if a consensus is to emerge.
To develop improvements to fisheries through management and water quality improvements
To protect and enhance wildlife, biodiversity and the environment
To support litter clean up organisations to tackle litter and flytipping on the river banks and surroundings and reduce and remove rubbish in the waterways
To encourage communities and businesses to steward their local sections of the river
To identify and improve ?problem areas? (e.g. CSOs, areas of public complaint)
To develop educational projects on the river
To involve local communities, volunteer groups, businesses with the main organisations responsible for the river
To advise businesses of their responsibilities towards the river and to encourage their participation in initiatives to improve environmental management affecting the river
To increase understanding of the implications of the Water Framework Directive
To increase understanding of sustainable urban drainage
To develop a protocol for pursuing SORM objectives through the land-use planning process
To align waster quality improvement to meet EU and UK legislation with particular reference to recreational water use
It has been necessary for the partnership worker to spend a considerable amount of time networking between all of the partners in order to identify main players and to raise the profile of the partnership amongst the partners and interested parties.
Clearly for some of these priorities it may be appropriate for some members of the partner to take a leading role in achieving any particular targets as they are more or less consistent with the existing activities of that partner. For other priorities it will clearly be necessary to develop new initiatives and hence to seek funding to achieve them. This too is a role for the project co-ordinator. In many cases it is the role of the project co-ordinator to stimulate and facilitate action between the other partners. In this regard it is important that the project co-ordinator is seen to have the support of the partnership board in taking issues forward which, by the very fact that they are requiring a SORM involvement, may be complex in nature and lack a clear outcome at this stage. Nevertheless it is in the spirit of the SORM partnership that dialogue between partners on these issues is essential if a consensus is to emerge.