The Deben Estuary Partnership (DEP) was formed in 2008 with the support of the Environment Agency to bring together local interests on flood risk management and of other estuarine matters.
Purpose: ‘to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of all aspects of the river Deben Estuary in Suffolk with particular emphasis on the physical and natural environment and the provision of sea and river flood defence’
Partnership: we were created and continue to be a management partnership of all interested parties, especially local communities, working together so that future generations may continue to benefit.
Planning: we develop and maintain the Deben Estuary Plan, an integrated management plan that reflected the concerns and aspirations of our diverse members
The DEP includes representatives from: institutional stakeholders such as Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, the Environment Agency, and Natural England; membership organisations such as National Trust and Suffolk Wildlife Trust; special interest groups such as yacht clubs and wildlife organisations; and local residents, businesses and landowners. A vital founding partner was the River Deben Association, a river catchment and estuary user group actively supporting the environmental protection and enhancement of the River Deben through education, information and communication.
The first estuary plan was published by the DEP in April 2015. With the issue of flood risk management as its point of departure, this plan widened its remit to provide an integrated approach to the management of the broader estuary, valley and immediate coastal zone. The 2015 Estuary Plan was approved by the Environment Agency and accepted as Planning Guidance by the planning department of Suffolk Coastal District Council (now East Suffolk Council).
The DEP are now in the process of developing a revised and updated Deben Estuary Plan, which will build on the previous work but with a specific focus on ‘Change – climate, community and culture’
The executive team are:
- Robert Bellfield – Acting-Chair
- Colin Nicholson – Vice-Chair
- Simon Read – Co-opted
- Dee McLeavy – Administrator
Here is a link to the DEP’s Constitution and description of our management arrangements, which was reviewed by the DEP Steering Group and adopted on 21 September 2023: Constitution and Management Arrangements
Deben Estuary Partnership Limited (DEPL)
Deben Estuary Partnership Limited (DEPL) is a Charitable Company, registered with both Companies House (Company number 07800072) and the Charity Commission (Charity number: 1150643).
DEPL manages the financial affairs as a charitable ‘umbrella’ of the Deben Estuary Partnership (DEP), ensuring the integrity of the sources of funds and the expenditure of them. In the process Trustees must ensure that, prior to approval, every expenditure proposal contributes to the achievement of the DEPL Articles which state: –
“to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of all aspects of the river Deben Estuary in Suffolk with particular emphasis on the of the physical and natural environment and the provision of sea and river flood defences”.
From the DEPL Articles, 27 Sept 2012
The trustees of DEPL are:
- Graham Kill – Chair
- John Cole – Treasurer
- Malcolm Hodd
- Simon Read