Chris Smith has form - corruption within the Environment Agency
Harry Beckhough
tony at cultureshop.org.uk
Wed Feb 5 13:14:53 GMT 2014
On Monday, 3 February 2014, 18:21,
A question I would add to this is that I am lead
to understand that ALL of the dredging equipment
was scrapped for almost zero value by the EA when
they took over some 20 years ago.
If true then this MUST be investigated and those
responsible prosecuted for malfeasance or theft from the public purse.
As usual, Mr Walker, I won't hold my breath
waiting for you to get your thumbs out of your
rectum to do something about this and the
appalling revelations below about the EA, as I
know you are scared stiff of any confrontation
and actually looking after your constituent's
concerns, and will avoid effecting any meaningful
work at all costs. Just look at the relative
figures in the table and then at the performance of this huge army!
National EA Land Area (km2) Coastline (km) Population Staff Budget
England (exc Wales/Scotland) 130,395 12,429 53 million 11,200 £1.2B
United States EPA 9,826,675 19,924 313.9 million 15,913 £4.8B
Canadian EA 9,984,670 202,080 34.9 million 6,800 £0.52B
Below 5 EU EAs COMBINED 1,608,777 17,774 169.9 million 3,677 £0.82B
Maybe it is time YOU were Tim Yeo'd by the constituency!
Nicholas K. Chance
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/>Inside
the Environment Agency - Experiences from EA Insiders
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/>Home
Environment Agency Insiders
* Henry
* Exposing the internal waste of tax payer
and licence payer funds, abuse of working/flexi
time and annual leave by staff members,
mismanagement by senior and line managers, and
the victimisation and harassment of licence holders and operators.
Last posts
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=48>Quote
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=28>Environment
Agency One of Biggest in the World?
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=32>Environment
Officers still abusing working/flexi time and annual leave
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=47>More
Environment Agency Staff Experiences #4
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=46>Environment
Agency's ~7,000 Vehicles
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=45>Environment
Agency blamed over floods
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=44>Word
on the grapevine inside the EA
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=43>EA
Alert Given AFTER Flooding Had Commenced
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=42>Another
Environment Agency Whistleblower
*
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=41>Environment
Agency Denying Abuses
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
We'd like to encourage all to leave their
comments - we already have hundreds of comments
from serving and ex-EA staff, members of the
public and even some media folk. Take your time
to browse the posts (38+ last count) detailing
the true internal workings of the Environment
Agency. Click the top left icon for about and to
explore past posts. Follow us @EnvAgencyAbuse - Blog stats: 927,392 hits
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=48>Permalink
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=environment>environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=agency>agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=jobs>jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=defra>defra
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=28>Environment
Agency One of Biggest in the World?
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
National EA Land Area (km2) Coastline (km) Population Staff Budget
England (exc Wales/Scotland) 130,395 12,429 53 million 11,200 £1.2B
United States EPA 9,826,675 19,924 313.9 million 15,913 £4.8B
Canadian EA 9,984,670 202,080 34.9 million 6,800 £0.52B
Below 5 EU EAs COMBINED 1,608,777 17,774 169.9 million 3,677 £0.82B
Denmark 43,094 7,314 5.6 million 450 £103m
France 674,843 4,853 65 million 820 £540m
Germany 357,021 2,389 81 million 1,400 £84m
Sweden 449,964 3,218 9.5 million 530 £33m
Austria 83,855 0 8.5 million 477 £36m
Although not a perfect like-for-like comparison,
it does put the size of our Environment Agency in
perspective - so what choices are you talking
about Lord Smith, because it appears you receive
more than enough to carry out the duties you have
been given. Maybe if you took care of the large
scale abuse/waste by staff, and the mismanagement
by senior and line managers, you might find you
have more than enough to protect "town and country".
References below - all Environment Agencies have
very similar duties: environmental protection,
water resource management, severe weather
monitoring, ecology, sustainable development,
climate change adaptation, waste regulations,
environmental planning, air quality and
pollution, general pollution monitoring and
enforcement, fisheries, navigation, flood and
coastal management and major industry regulation.
Some, like the French, US and Canadian EAs have
additional duties such as management of energy
industry, which in the UK falls under DECC.
In the UK, as in other countries, there are also
other bodies responsible for flood management,
including the local councils and emergency
services -
<https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=do+councils+deal+with+flooding&oq=do+councils+deal+with+flooding>Do
councils deal with flooding?
England's EA is almost the size of the Canadian,
Danish, French, German, Swedish and Austrian EAs
COMBINED! Going by these statistics, it would
appear that the Environment Agency is overstaffed
by around 9,000 and has a budget that appears to be £0.5-1 billion too much.
This, along with what I and others have
experienced, highlights the dire need for an
indepth analysis and review of the
<http://www.eea.europa.eu/>Environment Agency
with the aim of restructuring the body to ensure
that tax payer money is being spent effectively.
References:
<http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc04/0497/0497.pdf>English
Environment Agency |
<http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/de>German
Federal Environment Agency |
<http://www2.ademe.fr/servlet/KBaseShow?sort=-1&cid=96&m=3&catid=17614>French
Energy & Environment Agency |
<http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/se>Swedish
EPA |
<http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/en_aboutus/fakten_zahlen/>Austrian
EA |
<http://www.mst.dk/English/About+the+Danish+EPA/simplification_of_rules/>Danish
EPA |
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_length_of_coastline>List
of countries by length of coastline |
<http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/budget>US EPA|
<http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=BD3CE17D-1>Environment Canada
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=28>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=28#comment_form>Comments
(47)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=32>Environment
Officers still abusing working/flexi time and annual leave
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Thanks to my very loyal colleague who still works
inside the
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.u,/>Environment
Agency (although also disillusioned by it all), I
now have a copy of the annual leave record cards
used by staff. This is kept by the staff member,
completed by the staff member and signed by the
line manager. As exposed in an earlier post, this
system is regularly abused by significant numbers
of staff members, including line management.
Despite staff only being entitled to 25 to 30
days annual leave (plus additional flexi days -
if they put in the hours), I have witnessed, and
my loyal internal friends still attest to, many
staff taking far in excess of these entitlements
- as many as three months in some instances.
Working hours are similarly logged on a simple
spreadsheet and updated to the IBIS system by the
staff members themselves (there has been
discussions about the money wasted on this
archaic system in the news). Apparently, abuse of
this system is also continuing, despite the
recent announcement of cuts. Again, as mentioned
in earlier posts, I have witnessed staff come in
at 10am and go home at 3pm and still record that
they worked 9am to 5pm (7am to 3pm, 10am to 6pm,
etc). Other abuses still apparently continue,
such as field staff (especially Environment
Officers) claiming to carry out site/incident
visits, but in actual fact going home, going
shopping and carrying out other domestic
activities whilst claiming to be working, staff
with home working privileges who do anything but,
as well as claiming back higher mileage expenses
than what they actually incur - I remember one
Officer who claimed to be making an additional
£90-100 per month through logging extra mileage.
Hopefully, this blog will continue to paint a
picture of the actual internal workings of the
Environment Agency. It should help illustrate the
amount of waste and mismanagement taking place.
This is, of course, leaving out the bullying and
harassment of staff members who don't tow the
line and of operators who question our decisions.
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=32>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=32#comment_form>Comments
(22)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=47>More
Environment Agency Staff Experiences #4
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
In addition to the dozens of
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/>Environment
Agency staff experiences posted previously on
this blog (see More Environment Agency Staff
Experiences #1, 2 & 3), here are even more that
have come in over the past few weeks:
Rick Blade: I will never forget my team leader
saying he "didnt really know how many team
members he had as some had been on maternity
leave so long, it had literally been years since he had seen them."
Rick Blade: My sympathies were always with the
older guys marking time till their retirement,
and hating every hour of form-filling, and
desk-work-procedures that their river supervision
job had been reduced to. One old timer said sadly
to me once " See.. that gully there overflows now
and then and needs keeping clean, or those houses
will flood. When I`m gone no one will remember or
will do it, on them dark nights." "Certainly not
them lot" and he waved his hand, office-ward,
toward the banks of new generation children sitting at their PCs, in the warm."
Rachel: Completely agree with everything on
here. I'm fed up of people saying they're
stressed, not paid enough and too much to do,
they don't know the meaning of the word stressed,
are paid more than enough for what they do and
can't possibly have too much to do if they only
work 37 hours a week! This blog needs to go to
the papers so the country can see where their
money really goes. 1700 job cuts, the agency
could manage perfectly well with half the staff
if people actually worked a full week. Claiming a
12 day for sitting on a train and having dinner
paid for is disgusting. I know people who work in
a different office twice a week and claim for
travel time, they do not work on the train so
effectively work a four day week. Not even that
as they have enough flexi to finish at 3 on a
Friday. We need to change this! I appreciate not
all staff are like this but too many are.
Steve: Fact since the NRA was merged with others
the flood defence / operational side of the EA
has been over policed by the tree huggers from
with in. fact water voles have more rights than
people or property. Leaving rivers to self clean
is absolute rubbish rivers need to be maintained
and dredged to maintain / increase the amount of
water contained hence eleviating the risk of out
of bank flooding. As for not having enough money
to carry out works there is more than enough as
often at the end of year money is wasted on
anything just to get it out of the door because
if it's not spent you will have your budget
slashed next year. its a joke the EA IS TOP HEAVY
and does not have enough operatives on the coal
face and those who are are demotivated and lazy.
I my self has witnessed operational staff
painting offices booking their time to an
emergency flood defence code. Overtime being
booked and not worked. I could write a book on
what I,ve seen from with in and one final point
how many flood defences could of been built with
the amount and cost of change projects over the years!!
EO: 2 years ive been working here and everything
you say on this blog rings true for me. it is soo
demotivating watching others come in late and
leave early but always have enough for flexidays.
i hope things get sorted soon or ill be looking
for a new job with more motivated people. good job henry for bringing out.
Stuck: Speaking as an insider myself I share the
same concerns BUT where else can one get a job
with these perks. As much as I hate the wasteful
culture its tolerable for the perks. Wish I had
never joined that way I would never have been
indoctrinated and wouldn't know about these
privileges. Morals or money? With bills, I choose the money.
Ariston: "Make no mistake - the abuse of
flexi-time and working from home (a misnomer if
ever I heard one) is just as prevalent in regions
other than those you've mentioned. And that's
coming from someone who's been there for only a
short time. As you have pointed out, the majority
of staff are hard-working and dedicated to their
jobs, yet like anything, it is those staff that
abuse their position that are conspicuous.
Disgusting. And I too experienced discrimination
in my interview yet somehow was offered the job.
A very strange apple is the EA - and one that's perhaps rotten to the core."
Wasteman: "I worked for the EA for just under 2
years after leaving university. I completely
agree with this post; I found it exasperating
watching other members of my team flouting the
flexitime 'rules'. With regard to working from
home, I would also question exactly how much work
can be done when some staff in my office would
work at home with their young children. My
opinion of the recently announced staff cuts is
that they should provide an incentive to the
work-shy officers and staff of the EA to increase
their efforts. The EA has a difficult job to do
in many areas, and this is made harder and more
galling when members of teams so openly abuse
their benefits. I was lucky enough to work in a
team with some excellent officers who would work
until the job was done rather than until they had
completed 37.5 hours in a week. However, more
often than not this meant that they would end up
working harder to account for the shortcomings of their colleagues."
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=47#comment_form>Comments
(7)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=46>Environment
Agency's ~7,000 Vehicles
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Interesting trivia on number of
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/>Environment
Agency vehicles from the
<http://avoncliffmills.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/more-ea-disaster.html>Avoncliff
Blog, which even I didn't know: "To carry out its
field duties, the EA operates a fleet of
<http://www.hitachicapitalvehiclesolutions.co.uk/docs/pdfs/case-studies/ea.pdf>4,747
company cars funded on contract hire with full
maintenance (at high expense, along with the
documented abuse of the mileage claim back system
highlighted in this blog), with an additional
1,920 badged 4x4s. That's nearly 7,000 vehicles
(plus trucks) - that's more than one official
vehicle for every two employees... which does seem quite high - no?"
"Drivers of leased vehicles at the EA are paid a
mileage rate and are not issued with fuel cards.
This makes it very difficult for the EA to
capture and analyse mileage data on each vehicle
at the end of its contract, as it is recorded on
a driver basis, rather than a vehicle basis" -
resulting in abuse of the mileage system when
staff over-report business mileage primarily by
claiming expenses on personal trips/exaggerating business miles.
More money seems to be spent on high staff
salaries, inefficient systems, unnecessary
vehicles and toys, lost work time from system
abuses, and excess number of managers/"specialists" than on flood defences!
Alan Blenkhorn makes a good point in the
comments: "The Environment Agency was formed in
1996, so less than 20 years old. In almost every
one of those years, the agency has been mired in
controversy - the short flight debacle, flood
defence failings, management bonuses, ad
infinitum. The agency just does not work, so why
won't this government do the right thing and reform it?"
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=46#comment_form>Comments
(19)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=45>Environment
Agency blamed over floods
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
With recent "revelations" into the mismanagement
of rivers in the South-east, which has no doubt
exacerbated the flooding situation there, it
would be prudent for MPs, local communities and
businesses to take this opportunity to heed the
insider experiences raised by numerous ex and
current serving Environment Agency staff here,
and elsewhere. These issues concerning
mismanagement, poor training, questionable staff
practices, etc. are far more interwoven in all
areas of the organisation, but seldom come to
light because of the fear, by good staff,
operators and others affected, of the negative backlash.
As "we" continue to point out, a thorough review
into the organisation, right down to the
day-to-day operations and activities of
individual teams is essential to identify,
isolate and correct these ever growing problems.
This has yet to be done since its inception -
that is, the haphazard integration aka slamming
together of the original bodies that now hold the name of "Environment Agency"
The historical and current performance of the
Environment Agency has proven that it's current
structure, management and operational activities
are not fit for purpose, and will continue to be
a blackhole for public funds, as well as a drag
on economic activities that the organisation
regulates/protects - from flooding all the way
through to the numerous activities it regulates.
This needs to be dealt with before it drops back
under the radar, where these problems will lurk,
until another catastrophe reveals these failings again!
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25908098>BBC News -
Environment Agency blamed over floods
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2546712/Environment-Secretary-Paterson-arrives-face-music-South-West-faces-flooding.html>'They
found £31million for a BIRD SANCTUARY but won't
pay £5million to dredge the river'
<http://waterbriefing.org/home/flooding/item/8631-environment-agency-flood-response-criticised-by-mps>Environment
Agency flood response criticised by MPs
<http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/MP-blasts-pathetic-Environment-Agency-Somerset/story-20505482-detail/story.html>MP
blasts 'pathetic' Environment Agency over flooding chaos on Somerset Levels
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/10601169/Dredging-will-ease-flooding-in-Somerset-Levels-admits-Environment-Agency-boss.html>Dredging
will ease flooding in Somerset Levels, admits Environment Agency boss
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=45>Permalink
·
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=45#comment_form>Comments
(14)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=44>Word
on the grapevine inside the EA
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Sources have informed me that the most senior of
management inside the
<http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/>Environment
Agency have now begun an investigation into the
issues raised here, and by others elsewhere
(including from former and current serving
Environment Agency staff). I can only hope that
these issues are thoroughly exposed and dealt
with. This is the very least that can be expected
from a publicly funded organisation.
Whether this will fully resolve these issues, only time will tell!
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=44>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=44#comment_form>Comments
(16)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=43>EA
Alert Given AFTER Flooding Had Commenced
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
I recently posted about the slow response from
the Environment Agency during December's floods -
seems I was onto something:
<http://www.guildford-dragon.com/2013/12/28/environment-agency-confirm-flood-alert-given-flooding-commenced/>Environment
Agency Confirms Alert Was Given After Flooding
Had Commenced. Could problems with flood level
monitoring equipment have happened elsewhere
during the floods, subsequently reducing
residents preparedness and impacting potential
responses? Why weren't the Flood Officers aware
of this issue and why did the
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/>Environment
Agency not act accordingly to this information?
It would be good to hear from people affected to
see what they thought of the Environment Agency's
response to the recent floods - it appears to me,
and many others observing the news, that other
emergency and council services were already on
the ball at least a day or two before the Environment Agency.
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=43>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=43#comment_form>Comments
(11)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permit>Permit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&a
ction=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=map>map<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=uk>uk<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=warnings>warnings<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=flood>flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=officers>officers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=42>Another
Environment Agency Whistleblower
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Even more
<https://twitter.com/ChrisCr999/status/419229670580576256/photo/1>Environment
Agency Whistleblowers blowing the lid:
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=42>Permalink
·
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=42#comment_form>Comments
(0)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentPermit>EnvironmentPermit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironme
ntagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=41>Environment
Agency Denying Abuses
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
It is becoming clear from news reports into these
issues at the Environment Agency that they have
decided to use the denial strategy. I spent the
last six months of my employment within the EA
raising these issues to senior management who
found it more convenient to sweep it under the
carpet - the EA is VERY cautious about it's PR.
Even earlier than this I questioned these
practices (abuse of flexi time/holiday system,
the lack of oversight/action by team leaders,
along with the questionable practices by a number
of Environment Officers - racial profiling,
boosting of incidents rates and regulatory
tactics that amounted to bullying/harassment of operators).
Since that time, friends still inside have
commented that these practices are still
continuing unabated. Why? Others have finally
come out in support and given their experiences.
These issues are predominantly in front-line
positions - Environmental Management (Environment
Officers/Team leaders) and in the Flood
Management (Flood Officers/Team leaders) teams.
There is practically NO oversight of the
activities of individuals in these areas. There
is EXCESSIVE POWERS and FREEDOM to do whatever
they feel, which has resulted in this astonishing abuse and waste.
I need not mention the CUSHY Grade 5 jobbers
earning £31k-40k+ with lots of extras on top, but
exclaim how easy they have it with little real
work to do, absolutely ZERO oversight (even
compared to grade 3/4 EOs and FOs) and with little frontline duties.
<http://test.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/work/136354.aspx>In
total, the Environment Agencys current profile
contains 11,915 staff. Grades 4 and 5 comprise
the majority of Environment Agency staff with 52%
of staff between them. Only 1.2% of staff is in
the highest grade group (Executive Managers). The
EA bulges at the middle with staff that claim to
be specialists who are unable to actually work on
the frontline - I and many others have
experienced this and continue to expose this fundamental weakness.
These issues have been raised to the relevant MPs
and Executives, yet even these most senior of
people still have not taken this as an
opportunity to review these areas and confirm for
themselves, or they have chosen to ignore the
issues in order to avoid embarrassment.
How can one raise formal complaints (as happened
internally), if it is the very same people who
are in close cahoots with the perpetrators, and
ultimately responsible for the current system that is being abused?
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=41>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=41#comment_form>Comments
(23)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EA>EA<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentOfficers>EnvironmentOfficers<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=FloodOfficers>FloodOfficers<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentManagement>EnvironmentManagement<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Abuse>Abuse<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=PublicMoney>PublicMoney<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Taxpayers>Taxpayers
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=38>More
Environment Agency Staff Experiences #3
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
We have even more EA staff members posting their experiences:
Waterman comments: "25 years in flood risk and
drainage with EA and predecessors and I recognise
many of the administrative failings. As a
manager,to challenge staff abuse of systems is
often such an HR struggle due to the complex
process with little prospect of an effective
outcome. As a result lazy so and so's continue to
get away with it. As a TL in Devon I took on a
team where I was told by my staff that I couldn't
make them go on standby, they had a right to
their 13 flexi days. Didn't have to let me know
where they were or what they were doing, claimed
harassment when I rang to contact them for
operational needs and bullied more compliant
colleagues. The organisation is tick box and
process obsessed to the point where it is not
possible to make common sense decisions. Someone
needs to tell the emperor that he is naked!"
Waster comments: "I was an EA officer for 10
years and during that time no-one ever verified
my time recording - it was an admin task that was
bodged together every fortnight . The IBIS system
was painful to use and on ocasion took a couple
of hours to populate with useless data. All so
someone in a higher paid position could analyse
the useless data for useless reporting? Similarly
no -one ever verified my mileage claims or
compared it against the time recording . In the
'good old days' when you were allowed to use your
own vehicle and reclaim mileage it would have
been easy to rack up significant extra mileage
claims - payback on lease car rates would make
£90-£100 per month very difficult
though.....seems doubtful. The flexible working
regime is something i do miss - and with no real
monitoring of comings and goings it was ripe for
abuse(should you be so inclined) . For those of
us who worked hard it was soul destroying
watching some of the staff cruise in and out at
will and still take their allocation of 13 days
flexi per year - despite never managing a 37.5 hr
week.. What isnt mentioned is the Working From
Home phenomena that is supported by the EA. Some
staff are literally raising families while
supposedly WFH. Attending the office 1 day a week
(sometimes) while working at home with 2 under
5's for the other 3/4 days. Staff unable to
attend incidents at regulated sites because they
cant be contacted - as they at school with the
kids or in the shops... yep. There are great,
hard-working and commited people at the EA- some
are fantastic - and i guess you would find this
in any organisation of this size. But all the
above is common knowledge/ a joke within the
organisation and change is required."
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=38>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=38#comment_form>Comments
(3)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentPermit>EnvironmentPermit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironme
ntagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=40>Future
Environment Agency Review
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
The recent
<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/triennial-review-of-the-environment-agency-ea-and-natural-england-ne>review
into the Environment Agency and Natural England
concluded that both bodies should be retained as
separate public bodies with separate purposes and
functions; however, it also concluded that both
bodies should continue to reform how they deliver
their services to their customers and drive further efficiencies.
My experience of working within the EA, which has
also been corroborated by other ex-EA staff here
and elsewhere, has left me feeling that at
present (still early), these efficiencies have
failed to materialise. Two of the primary issues
identified by many working inside the EA and many
who have regular dealings with the EA is that of
poor staff oversight/questionable working
practices and lack of consistency from one region
to another, and even one area office to another.
Any future reviews should concentrate on these
man management issues - improving management
oversight, reducing abuse of the flexi and
holiday system, which currently lacks any audit
trails, oversight or consistency, the way in
which manpower is put to use, particularly Flood
and Environment Officers, and finally the
consistency in information and processes from one region to another.
With the increasing frequency of flood incidents
and reduced funding for key operations, it is
more essential now than ever, that staff abuses
of the current working system be brought back
under control, and that such efforts be
transparent to the general public. One must ask
the question of whether the impact of recent
floods could have been managed better had these
issues been taken care of earlier.
EDIT: I would like to emphasis that my working
experience inside the Environment Agency, and
that of others posting similar experiences, is
solely exclusive to the Environment Management
(specifically Environment Officers/Team Leaders)
and Flood Management (specifically Flood
Officers/Team Leaders) in the North West,
Yorkshire & North East, Anglian and Midlands
Region of the EA. This is where the
flexitime/holiday abuse is and where
irregularities/mismanagement occur. I have
limited experiences within other functions.
This should help the EA avoid these recent
problems (just a small number of issues that have become public):
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-23638998>Siteserv
waste dump trial: Nigel and Phillip England cleared
<http://www.mrw.co.uk/news/ea-criticised-over-last-minute-withdrawal-of-prosecution/8651943.article>EA
criticised for last-minute withdrawal of prosecution against WEEE company
<http://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/paper/ideal-waste-2018thrilled2019-as-agency-drops-export-case>Ideal
Waste thrilled as agency drops export case
<http://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/legislation/agency-drops-export-case-against-atlantic-paper>Agency
drops export case against Atlantic Paper
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-20646432>Environment
Agency's 'rushed' prosecution fails
<http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?section=29&itemid=1668>Environment
Agency Fails to Investigate Fish Kills
<http://avoncliffmills.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/how-much-has-this-debacle-cost.html>Avoncliff
£152 licence that has now cost the taxpayer ~£611,000
<http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/residents-fighting-to-keep-head-above-water-after-devastation-1-6340656#.UsVmSW0vwkQ.twitter>EA
bearing anger about fact defences hadnt been
raised throughout Reedness as Swinefleet which escaped flooding
<http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/10880169.MP_criticises_Environment_Agency_over_management_of_site_in_Potters_Crouch/>St
Albans MP criticises Environment Agency over management of Appspond Lane site
<http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Snubbed-left-outside-organisation-know-inside/story-19577816-detail/story.html>Snubbed
and left outside an organisation I know inside out
<http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/news/bromley_mp_bob_neill_calls_for_review_into_environmental_agency_s_control_over_unsightly_waste4fuel_site_1_2871398>Bromley
MP Bob Neill calls for review into Environmental
Agencys control over unsightly Waste4Fuel site
<http://www.resource.uk.com/article/Waste_Law/Environment_Agency_challenged_over_Barton_permit-2834#.UsnB5PRdV65>Environment
Agency challenged over Barton permit
<http://www.rivertac.org/2013/07/yet-more-hydropower-omnishambles-as-environment-agency-ducks-decision-to-protect-our-rivers/>Yet
more Hydropower omnishambles as Environment
Agency ducks decision to protect our rivers
<http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/2-million-Devon-Environment-Agency-case-ends-fine/story-18031048-detail/story.html>£2
million Devon Environment Agency case ends with fine of just £1,000
<http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/rural-life/farmers-slam-environment-agency-over-flood-protection/52856.article>Farmers
slam Environment Agency over flood protection
<http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Braunton-continues-clean-floods-Environment/story-17807951-detail/story.html>As
Braunton continues to clean up after floods the
Environment Agency defends new flood defence scheme
<http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/MP-speak-Somerset-Levels-flood-defence-failings/story-18266093-detail/story.html>MP
to speak out about Somerset Levels flood defence failings
<http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/whereilive/localheadlines/9610382.Environment_Agency_under_fire_over_River_Cray/r/?ref=twtrec>Crayford
residents and councillors asked Environment
Agency officers questions about the River Cray
<http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Judge-questions-equestrian-tyre-scam-trial/story-18048309-detail/story.html>Judge
questions equestrian tyre 'scam' trial
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=40>Permalink
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<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=40#comment_form>Comments
(9)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentPermit>EnvironmentPermit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironme
ntagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=39>Media
& Unions Sensationalising Job Cuts
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
The media and unions are over sensationalising an
older interview that the ENDS magazine did with
Paul Leinster back in October 2013. There are
still valid points in this post, so I will keep it up.
The Environment Agency has used these terrible
times to make a political statement about the job
cuts announced a few months ago. Having worked
inside the Environment Agency, I understand the
internal workings. Using the devastating floods
and atrocious (abnormal) weather as an
opportunity for political manoeuvring is aberrant
and disgraceful, especially whilst peoples lives
are at risk. This is an arms length body that
SHOULD NOT be making politically loaded
statements. As the original report suggests,
these cuts will likely fall in a number of areas
and DOES NOT have to be in flooding, but flood
"staffing" is one possible area. Considering the
staffing level of the Environment Agency, it
would seem appropriate that funds be
redistributed from non-essential services and
operations to flood defence assets, and that the
organisation becomes much leaner, just as every
other government department must do - any other
course of action will be an act of woeful
dissociation from it's primary duties.
Let us not forget the abhorrent standard of
working practices by a large proportion of staff,
already outlined here by other EA staff members and myself.
I am happy answering media questions by email:
<mailto:henry at insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk>henry at insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25587555>UK
flooding: Environment Agency to cut hundreds of jobs
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(9)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentPermit>EnvironmentPermit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironme
ntagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=37>Environment
Agency Response to Recent Floods - Too Little, Too Late
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
One theme I have been picking up on speaking to
people affected by this month's flooding and from
what I could observe from recent media coverage,
a picture is beginning to emerge that the
Environment Agency acted too little, too late.
Although there was full deployment and immediate
response from other emergency services (as
expected), there was a somewhat absent presence
of Environment Agency staff on the streets during
the early phases, as evidenced by new media
photographs and videos. It was only several hours
after the event that the EA seems to have finally
gotten around to publicly responding to the
incident, and a further day or so until there was
full mobilisation on the streets during the recovery.
This is an organisation whose significant purpose
is dealing with flooding (among more minor
roles), with over 11,200 staff (at current levels
before minimum cuts) and it seems to have been
caught sleeping at the wheel. I could be wrong,
and perhaps the feedback I have received from
people effected is exaggerated, but I don't
believe I that's the case. I am more than aware
of many EA staff who shun standby duties, which
significantly depletes manpower when dealing with
these emergencies - this is something not
tolerated by their emergency service
counterparts, who have higher esteem for doing their duty.
Now that the worst is over, it's not too
surprising to see three, four or more EA staff
standing around to pick up on the afterglow of
positive PR, which should rightfully go to their
emergency service counterparts. It is not too
difficult to see in many news media photographs
several EA staff standing with hands in pockets doing nothing. Why? Publicity.
Of course, for those familiar with this blog and
the experiences I/other ex-EA staff have posted,
you won't be surprised if it turns out that the
Environment Agency has in fact failed to act
promptly in carrying out its duties.
UPDATE 02/01/14: Thanks to Owen Paterson, no
doubt, the EA has finally stepped up its game and
began doing something. As Anne Alkam has
commented, once the floods are over (currently
looking like we haven't faced the worst of it
yet) this should leave the Secretary of State for
the Environment with no other option but to
investigate the management of flood assets and procedures.
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(10)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EA>EA<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Floods>Floods<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=DecemberFloods>DecemberFloods<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=ChristmasFloods>ChristmasFloods
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=36>Environment
Agency Flood Defence Assets - Manipulation of
Figures - Are they fit for purpose?
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
I'd like to extend my thoughts to those who have
been impacted by the devastating floods hitting
our nation over this festive season. My thoughts
especially go out to the brave men and women
working in our emergency services and the "very"
few Environment Agency staff who are actually
doing their job and who are helping to alleviate the impacts
My experiences working in, combined with a recent
comment from a EA staff members, has left me
wondering whether these recent flood incidents
have been exasperated due to mismanagement and
internal abuse, especially by senior managers and
team leaders, of flood assets funded and built to
minimise the effects of these flood incidents - here he states:
"In the Region I work in, over the last 5 - 10
years KPI (key performance indicators - traffic
light system) targets have been met with a green
light, giving the impression to the public and
the Agency bosses / government that all its
assets are in good working order and as the KPI %
increased each year the EA appeared to be doing a
sterling job by improving the condition of its
assets each year. This is however far from what
was really going on. The figures where being
manipulated so bosses could claim to be meeting
there targets / IPP performance and perhaps as a
result of this a promotion / pay rise, actually a
lot of assets that failing where being passed as
fit for purpose. I'm sure the tax paying public a
those relying on these assets would be appalled by this attitude."
As another EA member put it, "it doesn't help
that 99% of the staff, mostly Environment and
Flood Officers, refuse to do standby or volunteer
to assist with flooding emergencies. This is
despite it being in their contract. It leaves us
undermanned and ill prepared, but managers won't
do anything about but claim they need to employ
more staff. Really, management just want to expand their kingdoms"
I have personal experience of Environment Agency
team leaders and senior managers pressurising
staff to exaggerate incidents and EA mitigation
activities. I have also heard Flood Officers
discuss being pressurised to under report
problems they experience on our flood defence
networks. I think these are key issues that
should be looked into during the next review in
addition to what has already been expressed
previously in this blog and by others.
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(25)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flood>Flood<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=FloodDefence>FloodDefence<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Storms>Storms<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=FloodOfficers>FloodOfficers<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=FloodRisk>FloodRisk
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=35>Environment
Officers Collaborating Statements / Exaggerating Offences
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
It is common practice for Environment Officers to
collaborate their statements when compiling a
case against an offender. Common practice is for
one Environment Officer to take all the notes,
and then allow other Officers present to copy
these notes once back at the office. Another
common practice is for Environment Officers to
write down notes in a normal notepad so that
later a more convincing statement can be written
back at the office that will help lead to a
successful case. These practices should not be
carried out by any law enforcement agency, but
are standard practices in the Environment Agency.
Other practices are the exaggeration of
'environmental crimes' to justify prosecution
cases that are otherwise not in the interests of
the public. This is done by reclassifying
pollutants and/or wastes as different substances
other than present, such as making out hazardous
properties that were not present, or by claiming
a full environmental permit was required whereby
only an exemption would have been needed. Other
exaggerations include overstating financial
benefits obtained, stating environmental impacts
that were not the case and by not including
extenuating circumstances at the time of the
'offence'. Unfortunately, many of the
'environmental offenders' we deal with are small
business/sole operators who have little knowledge
or funds to fight back, and are all too willing
to accept full blame in order to avoid greater penalties.
It is also common for Environment Officers to
fail to follow through on all leads, instead
choosing to allow their prejudgements to decide
on how they conduct investigations, typically
resulting in the cases being built up against the
wrong business/person, which later has to be
dropped when old evidence surfaces. These go
unreported as they do not reach court, but
accounts for a large waste of Environment Agency
resources (time, funds, etc) and an additional
cost to the businesses they regulate.
These are hard for people to prove against,
because they take place back at the office when
the case is being put together so that any
inconsistencies can be 'ironed' out and for
counter evidence to be removed (there are no
processes or oversight on how evidence is stored
and treated during the early stages of an
investigation, we have our own cameras, use
scraps of paper and own storage where we can
decide on what we decide to present in a case).
There have been numerous cases whereby
Environment Officers have entered land without
permission from the landowner and without leaving
a Notice of Powers and Rights when collecting
evidence, but have then later, back in the
office, completed this important document and
destroyed the recipients half. Other times,
Environment Officers leave the Notice where it
can easily be lost, damaged and removed prior to
the landowner seeing it. This leaves the
landowner unaware of what has taken place or of their rights.
These pose significant problems for these people
and businesses, as their legal teams then do not
have the full picture and have to rely on what
the prosecution provides (from the Environment
Agency), which is obviously incomplete. In most
cases, 'offenders' are happy to quickly remediate
problems, but Environment Officers are unlikely
to report this in their cases. As the people and
businesses were unaware or did not anticipate
these exaggerations, they never had the foresight
to gather their own evidence to prove against the accusations.
This is a problem that seldom is highlighted, as
it provides a good source of income and PR for the Environment Agency.
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(15)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentPermit>EnvironmentPermit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironme
ntagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Whistleblower>Whistleblower<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Recruitment>Recruitment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Jobs>Jobs
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=3>Widespread
working time and holiday abuse by Environment Officers
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
I'm sure most people are used to working a
contracted number of hours per week and receiving
x amount of days off per year. There isn't
usually much scope of working less hours without
being paid less, or receiving more time off work without a special reason.
That's true, that is, if you didn't work for the
Environment Agency. Here we are entrusted to log
our own hours without oversight, holidays taken
off are supposed to be recorded on a piece of
card with a signature from management for
approval, but this rarely happens. What does all
this mean? Environment Agency employees
(particularly Environment Officers) regularly
come in later then they log down, leave much
earlier than they report and take many more days
off as annual leave than their entitlement.
I've seen fellow colleagues who have taken off as
much as 8-12 weeks off work, fully paid, not as
sick, but all as annual leave, despite only being
contracted to 27 days plus flexidays. I've seen
colleagues work less than 30 hours per week, who
log down on their time sheets 37-40 hours. But
what about line management I hear you ask? They
never pay attention, and those that do turn a blind eye to it.
On a daily basis, I see fellow Environment Agency
employees putting they work an extra 1-3 hours
per day so that their time sheets match their
contracted hours, so many of us who are
'supposed' to be doing our 37 hours per week are
in fact doing as little as 30 hours per week. Not
only that, but we can just take a day off, get
the wink from our management and claim it as
annual leave or a flexi-day, but in fact, it's
never logged. You just complete your time sheet as if you worked that day.
Better yet, you want to take off 9 days next
month for that holday to Ibiza, but you only have
8 'official' days leave, no probs, log down an
extra hour worked per day (but don't work it) and
hey presto, an extra flexi day off giving you 9.
Don't worry about line management, if they
'somehow' find out, most will overlook it.
This practice is well known internally and
accepted as the norm, but just don't talk about
it, because no-one likes a tell all. I've seen it
raised and the person raising it be shot down and
destroyed. No one wants the party spoiled, so you just join in.
Ask yourself this, as a tax payer or licence
payer whose money pays our salaries, how do you
feel that we not only get better security and
more money than you, but also literally get to
choose how many hours we work and how many days
holiday we can have, and all with minimal
oversight? Don't forget, most of us are
regulatory officers with many powers who tell you
what to do, yet we flout our own rules - it's the
'do as I say, not as I do' syndrome.
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(22)
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentAgency>EnvironmentAgency<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Defra>Defra<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=UK>UK<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Flooding>Flooding<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environmental>Environmental<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Waste>Waste<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=EnvironmentPermit>EnvironmentPermit<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Permitting>Permitting<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Regulation>Regulation<http://www.insidetheenvironme
ntagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Environment>Environment<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=blog&action=view&tag=Agency>Agency
<http://www.insidetheenvironmentagency.co.uk/index.php?controller=post&action=view&id_post=34>More
Environment Agency Staff Experiences #2
Inside the Environment Agency 2014 - Exposing the Waste
Andy "In the Region I work in, over the last 5 -
10 years KPI (key performance indicators -
traffic light system) targets have been met with
a green light, giving the impression to the
public and the Agency bosses / government that
all its assets are in good working order and as
the KPI % increased each year the EA appeared to
be doing a sterling job by improving the
condition of its assets each year. This is
however far from what was really going on. The
figures where being manipulated so bosses could
claim to be meeting there targets / IPP
performance and perhaps as a result of this a
promotion / pay rise, actually a lot of assets
that failing where being passed as fit for
purpose. I'm sure the tax paying public a those
relying on these assets would be appalled by this attitude."
Sickbag "Mark, it is a fair and valid point that
EM in my experience are the worst offenders. The
main issue is that the team leaders and the a lot
of the Senior Management all came through the
ranks. They are all very naïve and afraid to rock
the boat, I remember one of our Grade 4 officers
sat in on a Team Leaders meeting and challenged
the Area Manager about "cooking the books" on HS
figures and near misses. Apparently it made for a
very uncomfortable meeting but afterwards two of
the Team leaders approached the officer and
thanked him for raising these points as they were
"not allowed" to challenge the Area Manager. As
you can imagine that Grade 4 was never invited
back to sit in. As I stated earlier the
government officials and Senior Management are
part and parcel of the problem that exists at the EA."
EO John "It's simply a case of too many staff
chasing too little work. It has been this was at
least since I started in 2003. There is a real
problem of overstaffing and misallocation of
resources. This is why staff take excessive leave and fix time sheets."
Sickbag "Lets not forget the "working at home"
brigade as well, I remember in my time at the EA
it was known as "w*nking at home!". There used to
be officers in my team who would work up to 2
days at home, they would then complete their
timesheets as started work at 08:00 and finished
at 17:30. Management never checked and they were
even allowed to claim flexi-time! When I raised
this with management it was always brushed under
the carpet, I have never seen as much shopping,
parcel collecting from depots, dropping off
duvets to be washed, or early finishes in my
life. For those of us who live and work in the
"real world" just imagine trying to get away with these issues with your boss!"
Sickbag "Mark, the problem is to many of the EA
board and it's cohorts went to the same
University and socialise in the same clubs as
their masters in Government. The organisation is
to big a "monster" for it to undergo any
significant changes. I was speaking to some of my
ex-colleagues the other night who were so happy
about the "storm surge " on the east coast. Let
them cut our budgets now, was the battle cry. As
far as EO john's comments about to many staff
chasing too little work, he obviously never
worked in my EM team. 12 Officers but only three
us would regularly attend NIRS, to convince the
others to leave the office was like trying to
pull teeth. When the management were ever
challenged they would just ring their hands and
plead ignorance or even admit they couldn't do
anything about it as it was the norm! I had
officers not attending fish kills because it was
the weekend and they were out with their friends
at the weekend when they were supposed to be on duty!"
John Green "If the taxpayers knew just how many
millions of pounds the EA has wasted since it
started on opening and shutting offices
throughout the country they would be staggered
.and we are not just talking here about the move
from Rio to Horizon House in Bristol. They would
also be outraged if they found out about the
millions wasted on IT systems that never worked
properly
.and drove staff to distraction trying
to operate them. For example, questions were
asked in parliament about how the IBIS project
was managed. Were the Area Flood Defence
committees scrapped because some of the more
astute members were asking too many penetrating
questions about flood defence schemes that failed
to work properly or were overspent by millions of
pounds? We are talking here about the Jubilee
Channel project on the Thames and many more
besides. Were regional members of committees who
were asking too many pertinent questions quietly
removed ---- those ex-committee members reading
this who were not re-appointed should think back and ask themselves why."
Ian "Good points John. Same up this end. Office
move from Phoenix to Lateral in Leeds didn't save
a penny because of the higher operating costs and
the additional renovation costs of the move
outweighed everything. Even had to pay a private
car lot for staff parking, which wasted a
significant sum. IT systems here are a joke. IBIS
and other new systems have proven to be a failure
with huge sums wasted. Flood defences are a whole
other story. Tens, if not hundreds of millions
wasted on poorly planned schemes that can't do the job they were created for."
Paul "Look around almost any of our offices. See
the covert phone-users, the private emailers, the
game-players, the asleep at their desk sorts - do
as little as you can and get away with it; it's
endemic, part of the national mindset and
culture. Henry, kudos to you for having the guts to come out."
Danny K "Don't expect this blog to change
anything any time soon. Nothing has changed in
the last 10 years I have worked here. Same old
faces, same old tactics and same old mistakes."
Anne Alkham "I hope as many politicians and
journalists as possible will not only read but
also take action in regards to the content of
this excellent site. I also hope that members and
former members of flood defence committees,
RFERACS and REPACS will realise how, in some
instances, the wool has been pulled over their
eyes. The gross abuses of taxpayers money and
bullying which have gone on for far too long are
being exposed for the very first time by the
brave person who instigated this blog
.and who I
should add is not known to me. But in case anyone
should get the wrong opinion many of those who
work for the Environment Agency were - and still
are - some of the finest, most dedicated and
hard-working men and women you could ever hope to
meet. I have stood beside them in some of the
worst weather nature has ever thrown at us and
seen them at great personal cost heroically
struggle time after time to save communities from
floods, pollution and other environmental
hazards. Let us not beat about the bush some lost
their lives and others their health because of
the pressures they were placed under and the
bullying atmosphere they were forced to work in.
They cant speak for themselves but I can speak
on their behalf. As far as management is
concerned so often it has been the case of Lions led by Donkeys."
Anne Alkham "I wonder what would happen to the
salaries and bonuses of senior managers and
directors if this were to happen? The Welsh EA
operation has already been hived off, there have
been job cuts and hundreds more to come and yet
senior managers and directors still command huge
salaries and bonuses
.some are earning more than
the Prime Minister. Will we see them also taking
job cuts and 20% reductions in their
salaries?
..I think not. If any do leave the
parachute departure clauses in their contracts
will no doubt ensure they are in clover for the
rest of their lives
unlike staff lower down the
food chain as I have heard them describe it.
Those dedicated staff who have given a lifetime
to the environment and to the Agency and who have
first been humiliated and then robbed of their
rightful redundancy payments before being sent
packing will know what I mean. Those responsible
will not care because they know what they have
been up to
..but younger members of the EA take
note
..it will happen to you one day. Take a look
at this site which shows what directors and
senior managers have been earning
.and ask
yourself are these salaries justified?
<http://data.gov.uk/organogram/environment-agency%22>http://data.gov.uk/organogram/environment-agency"
John Green "The Environment Agency costs so much
because its managers and directors spend
taxpayers money as if it is going out of
fashion
and on anything but the environment. For
example they spent over £30,000 in Birmingham
sponsoring the Gay Pride Festival. Check this out
at:-
<http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/fury-as-environment-agency-hands-70000-240496>www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/fury-as-environment-agency-hands-70000-240496
The MP Norman Baker who is now Home Office
Minister was so concerned about the money being
spent by EA staff and directors visiting the
Henley Regatta and the prestigious Belfry Golf
Hotel in the Midlands that he asked questions in
Parliament. Check this out at:-
<http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070917/text/70917w0012.htm>www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070917/text/70917w0012.htm
What is more they did so with the knowledge of
Civil Servants at MAFF/Defra who are supposed to
be managing the quango from their sunny offices beside the River Thames."
Anne Alkham "When the Environment Agency started
life in 1996 it inherited roughly speaking 35
communications and Public Relations staff from
the National Rivers Authority. They were based
around the regions and in the head offices in
Bristol and London. The NRA had a good media
reputation and for the first few years so did the
EA. But after the Millennium numbers were
expanded rapidly to around 350 a ten-fold
increase. As the numbers of PR staff grew
exponentially the reputation of the EA with the
public & the media plummeted. This is not
surprising because so many of the new recruits
were inexperienced and of very poor quality. As
was the case throughout the public sector at this
time many were recruited more to peddle Labour
party propaganda at the taxpayers expense rather
than to protect the environment
.a scandal which
has never really been properly exposed by the media."
John Green "Some of the problems with the EA have
their roots with the National Rivers Authority.
At privatisation of the industry the water
companies did a dirty deal and hived off most of
the worst managers to the NRA. There many sat
until they were over promoted when the NRA became
the Environment Agency. Most were out of depth
and resorted to bullying of staff because they
knew no other way to manage. This all became an
accepted part of the overall culture as the
bullies recruited even more bullies in the image
of themselves. Over the years that followed many
first class EA employees were lost as they
resigned bruised and battered from the mental beatings they received."
Anne Alkham "I hope those good and dedicated
staff who lose their jobs with the EA in this
latest round of culling ensure they receive what
they are entitled to. Many of those who have been
bullied out their jobs have left with nothing.
Those who were given redundancy payments found
that the amount they were promised was
dramatically reduced at the last minute after
they had agreed to leave and had signed the
paperwork. Is this surprising? Ruth Cornish the
former head of EA HR in Bristol said in a
Guardian newspaper article on 28 May 2011 that
when she worked for the Agency: I was once
incentivised to get rid of people more cheaply
than they were legally entitled to
Those who
managed Ruth are still with the EA to the present
day. There must surely be enough people in
Bristol/London HQ and throughout the regions and
areas who have suffered bullying at the EA for an
enterprising firm of solicitors to consider it
has a strong enough case to bring a class action
against the Agency. This links refer to the
above:
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/may/28/hr-friend-or-foe-human-resources>http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/may/28/hr-friend-or-foe-human-resources
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/formal_objectives_and_targets_fo_2"
John Green "In my time at the EA over 20 close
colleagues were forced to leave because of
bullying. The situation was terrible and there
were tears in the toilets almost every day. Some
of the better managers had breakdowns. But those
responsible for the bullying moved onwards and
upwards within the organisation to take salaries
most taxpayers can only dream about. With the
exception of a few stories in the ENDS report
this is the first time the lid has been lifted on
what has really been going on within the EA. Its
a great site and I hope other present and former
members of the EA will use it to share their
awful experiences. I hope journalists will also
use it to launch an investigation that is long overdue."
Ella "Having left after many years service I
decided to apply for a temporary position, got an
interview which was a surprisingly very positive
experience but didn't get the job. Some inside
information revealed that I was put forward as
first choice but... it was given to the managers
wife. They obviously knew who they would award it
to before the interviews took place, I would have
loved to have made this public knowledge, at
least I can now share thanks to this blog and
join Anne in thanking the originator."
RR "Disgruntled traitor. You didn't belong here, get over it!"
You know who "This is ridiculous. As a trusted
officer, I have too much to do to be worried
about these stupid requests. Its only morons who
have nothing better to do with their lives that send them in. Get over it."
Lisa "We're not all like this. I know it happens
in some regions, but not the Midlands region where I operate from."
Lisa "I work in a water team now, but I agree
that there used to be a problem consistency. I
don't know how much this has changed in the waste
teams now. I've heard problems in other regions,
but not so many in mine (Midlands)."
Anne Alkham "As an ex-employee of the Environment
Agency I can only commend the originator of this
blog for the brave action they are taking in
exposing a situation that has for far too long
been hidden from the public eye. I urge
politicians and all who believe in the
environment to read very carefully what is being
written here. A great deal of what is being said
rings true and is not just the views of one
disaffected employee. In my experience the EA
management encourages a culture where bullying of
staff and the public is rife. Anyone who
complains is treated with total ruthlessness by
the management despite the many years of service
they may have given to the Agency and to the
environment. In 2001 Alan Dalton who was a member
of the Agencys national board sent a 29 page
dossier to Michael Meacher, the environment
minister outlining cases of stress among
employees and poor management practices. In my
experience the situation after that time got
worse and not better and it would seem continues until the present day."
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