CIWEM-CMS: Future One Day Conferences – Your Views - Market Research –Autumn/Winter 2009-2010

We are investigating those topics that are most important to cover in our autumn/winter 2009 conference programme of one day events. Given the current economic constraints - please select those that you feel will be of highest importance to you - must attend events; three votes maximum - simply list the topic numbers. Please return your votes to bob.earll@coastms.co.uk by return. Thanks for your support - Bob Earll

1. Planning at the coast - Revising PPS20 There have been considerable changes since the last Policy and Planning Guidance for the coast was issued. Development and regeneration pressures, and most importantly the long term consequences of climate change are now better understood. This event would be run in conjunction with DCLG and would scope how planning policies need to adapt to this changed understanding.

2. Water Framework Directive- next steps The WFD has been the focus for major bodies of work over the last few years which will culminate in the publication of the first round of River Basin Management plans. This conference for stakeholders will look at the implications in practice and what lessons can be learnt for the next round of plans.

3. Wildlife and Water CIWEM have run a successful series of meetings under the World Wetland theme for the last six years. It is clear that the challenges facing water based wildlife need to be thought about in an integrated and holistic way - from frogs to bogs - and a way that recognises both small (million ponds) and large scale catchment and landscape scale interventions. This meeting would further this integrated thinking.

4. Water in the Flooding and Water Management Bill (FWMB) The need for a comprehensive water bill has become apparent from the discussions on Bill consultation; legislation is widely regarded as long overdue. The Walker and Cave review results will only become widely known in the autumn. This meeting would consider the water elements of the proposed F&WM Bill in the context of the demands and incentives placed on the water industry.

5. Flooding risk management and the F&WM Bill It is possible that the F&WMB will be introduced to Parliament in the late autumn. This meeting would consider the detailed provisions of the bill in the light of the current consultation in relation to flooding.

6. Rural land use and water management There are a wide number of high profile and long standing issues driving the rural land use and water management agenda, from diffuse pollution and water quality, bacterial contamination, soil condition and erosion and the loss of wildlife and fisheries. External agendas including food security, energy (fertiliser cost) and climate change are also changing significantly. Food and Water policy collide in this issue and this meeting would scope the future direction of the policy and management response including the need for integrated water management.

7. Cost benefit analysis - is it fit for purpose? CBA has been placed at the heart of both PR09 and the River Basin District planning process and whilst it is often stressed that it is just a part of the decision making process many commentators have raised serious doubts about how it is being applied and the consistency and utility of methodologies. It seems particularly poor at resolving issues of multiple benefits. This meeting would cast of critical eye on the current application of CBA.

8. Tidal energy from the Severn The political realities of climate change and energy, not to mention the economic regeneration possibilities of a large scale infrastructure project on this scale are attractive. The Government are now working through a detailed assessment process. This meeting would look how the interests of energy, water and environment were being developed and their implications.