Mersey Basin Campaign Study 2006 Final Report
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MERSEY BASIN CAMPAIGN STUDY 2006 FINAL REPORT Evaluation Of The Mersey Basin Campaign Final Report Government Office North West July 2006 1 An Evaluation of the Mersey Basin Campaign Contents Page Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................................... 4 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 10 1.1 Background and Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 The Campaign Structure ........................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 The Study.................................................................................................................................................. 11 2 What the Campaign Does....................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Recent Campaign Activity ......................................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Financial Performance .............................................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Quantified Outputs and Outcomes............................................................................................................ 21 2.5 Water Quality Changes in the Mersey Basin Area.................................................................................... 21 2.6 Waterside Regeneration Changes to the Mersey Basin Area................................................................... 26 2.7 Community Engagement in Water Quality and Watersides ...................................................................... 26 2.8 Summary................................................................................................................................................... 27 3 Water Quality and Regeneration Policy Context.................................................................................. 28 3.1 The Changing Context .............................................................................................................................. 28 3.2 International............................................................................................................................................... 29 3.3 European................................................................................................................................................... 30 3.4 National ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 3.5 Regional and Sub-Regional ...................................................................................................................... 31 3.6 Local.......................................................................................................................................................... 32 3.7 Summary................................................................................................................................................... 32 4 The Impact and Added Value of the Campaign .................................................................................... 33 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 33 4.2 Impact of MBC Activity Against Objective 1 – Improving Water Quality.................................................... 33 4.3 Impact of MBC Activity Against Objective 2 – Encouraging Sustainable Waterside Regeneration .......... 36 4.4 Impact of MBC Activity Against Objective 3 – Public Information, Participation and Involvement ............ 39 4.5 The Structure of the Campaign ................................................................................................................. 42 4.6 Impact and Strategic Added Value of Core Government Funding ............................................................ 44 4.7 Summary on Impact and Added Value...................................................................................................... 46 5 Development and Future Role of the Campaign .................................................................................. 48 5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 48 2 EKOS Consulting 2 An Evaluation of the Mersey Basin Campaign 5.2 Rationale For and Against the Continuation of Core Funding to 2010...................................................... 48 5.3 The Role and Activities of the Campaign to 2010 ..................................................................................... 51 5.4 The Role of the Campaign Beyond 2010 .................................................................................................. 57 5.5 Alternative future funding options.............................................................................................................. 60 6 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................... 62 6.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 62 6.2 Conclusions - Impact................................................................................................................................. 62 6.3 Conclusions – Added Value ...................................................................................................................... 63 6.4 Conclusions – Service Delivery................................................................................................................. 64 6.5 Conclusions – Funding and Future Role to 2010...................................................................................... 65 6.6 Conclusions– Funding and Future Role Beyond 2010.............................................................................. 66 6.7 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................... 66 ANNEXES .................................................................................................................................................................. 68 Annex A Bibliography....................................................................................................................................... 68 Annex B List of Consultees .............................................................................................................................. 70 Annex C Yearly Campaign Targets.................................................................................................................. 72 Annex D List of Action Partnerships................................................................................................................. 73 Annex E Performance Against Targets 2004/05.............................................................................................. 75 Annex F Water Quality Improvement Data ...................................................................................................... 77 3 EKOS Consulting 3 An Evaluation of the Mersey Basin Campaign Executive Summary The Study EKOS Consulting was commissioned by the Government Office for the North West (GONW) to undertake an independent evaluation of the past impact, present activities and future role of the Mersey Basin Campaign. The study sought to address the following questions: To what extent is the MBC succeeding in achieving its objectives in relation to the delivery of relevant European, Central Government and Regional Policies? What is the contribution of Government funding to that work? What still needs to be done between now and 2010 and 2015 to achieve European/government/regional policy objectives? What lessons can be learnt from the last twenty years and current approaches and activities to guide GONW in advising ministers on whether a centrally funded MBC is the most cost effective way forward? The study has involved extensive desk based analysis and a consultation process involving a series of face to face consultations and themed workshops. The method was agreed with GONW and the Chair of the Campaign in order to capture, as fully as possible, the quantitative and qualitative benefits arising from the Campaign’s work. The Role of the Campaign Context The Campaign has its origins in the early 1980s when conditions in the River Mersey had become so poor that urgent action was required to address the situation. In recognition of the scale of this task, the Campaign was given a nominal 25 year lifespan. Significant water quality improvements have continued to occur in the Mersey Basin catchment area over recent years across a range of indicators. This has been due in a large extent to the massive investment delivered through Asset Management