Water Management Alliance

Governance – the WMA

Consortium Management Committee

The Members have constituted a representative body to co-ordinate oversee and direct the administration of the Member Boards called the Consortium Management Committee (CMC) with the terms of reference powers and duties expressed in a Consortium Agreement dated 15 May 2008.

Consortium Agreement

Each Member Board has agreed to:

1.	Share the costs and responsibilities of employing administrative staff, running the central office and of any other projects which are unanimously considered to be mutually beneficial (the basis of allocation is set out in the Consortium Agreement).
2.	Work together to collectively influence policy makers at a national and regional level for the benefit of the Member Boards, where appropriate.
3.	Strategically position themselves as a group to meet the increasing expectations of a public administration and respond to the challenges advocated by national government.
4.	Appoint the same individual as Chief Executive for each of the Member Boards and the WMA with such duties and responsibilities as the CMC may from time to time determine.
5.	Fully comply with all aspects of applicable law and best practice, and endeavour to provide quality services to stakeholders.

Legal Status

The WMA is not therefore a legal entity and has no power to employ staff or contract with others. It is a ‘Lead Board’ Consortium of IDBs, as defined by DEFRA. King’s Lynn IDB employs all of the shared staff and enters into contracts for the provision of shared services on behalf of the Member Boards. King’s Lynn IDB therefore acts as the ‘Lead Board’.

Financial Reporting

In terms of Financial Reporting the WMA is considered by the Audit Commission to be a JANE (Joint Arrangement Non Entity), which means that the Audit Commission has no power to appoint an auditor to carry out an external audit of the WMAs Financial Statements. The Member Boards therefore decided to have the WMAs Annual Accounts audited by an independent firm of Chartered Accountants, in order to provide each Board in the Alliance and their stakeholders with the assurance that, amongst other things, they are paying their fair share of the costs, as set out in the Consortium Agreement. It is important to note that each Member Board continues to have its own Financial Statements audited by the Audit Commission’s appointed auditor.

Control of the WMA

The WMA is controlled by the Member Boards through the CMC, which meet at least 4 times a year. Each Member Board is entitled to appoint 3 representatives onto the CMC and has equal voting rights.

Member Representation

Representatives from each Member Board mandate their own Board Members before the CMC takes decisions that may bind the Member Boards. Each Member Board has the opportunity to comment and provide valuable feedback on the minutes and various reports considered by the CMC at least every 3 months.

WMA Jurisdiction

The WMA has no power or remit to do any of the following for its Member Boards:

1.	Exercise general supervision over any matter relating to the drainage of land in any Internal Drainage District.
2.	Exercise control of statutory powers and duties, in place of any participating Member Board.
3.	Provide a coordinated response to any relevant consultation process without prior approval from each Member Board.
4.	Take any decision that is reserved to each Member Board, as stated in their Schedule of Reserved Matters.

Exit Strategy

Any Member Board is able to withdraw from the WMA by giving a minimum of 12 months notice to expire on 31 March in any year. Unwinding arrangements are relatively straight forward and are set out in the Consortium Agreement.

Governance – the Boards

Each Member Board has its own governance arrangements in place as required by the Audit Commission. These arrangements can be accessed from this website by selecting the Board’s ‘Governance’ page.

PHIL CAMAMILE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Contact details

During office hours (between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm) :
Tel: +44(0)1553 819600
Fax: +44(0)1553 819639
Email: info@wlma.org.uk

Out of hours

Please contact the Duty Officer on +44(0)7881 581521. Otherwise if you know who you need to contact in an emergency, please refer to the Member Board’s ‘Contact us’ webpage on this site for their out of hours contact details.

Using this website

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