Dame Glenys Stacey to chair environmental watchdog

The OEP will monitor the government’s progress towards improving the natural environment and will investigate complaints regarding failures of public bodies to comply with environmental law (see letsrecycle.com story). It will have the power to run its own independent investigations.

The new regulator is needed in light of the UK’s departure from the European Union. Previously the European Commission would have taken action against the UK if, for example, it had failed to achieve statutory EU recycling targets. In future this task will sit with the OEP.

George Eustice, the secretary of state for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), confirmed the decision on 9 December. A statement published by Defra reads: “Following a rigorous process conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments, Dame Glenys has been selected as the preferred candidate to chair the new independent body.”

A panel of five assessed each candidate for the role prior to consideration by the secretary of state.

Select committees

Mr Eustice has invited both the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and Environmental Audit Committee to hold a joint pre-appointment hearing and to report on the suitability of Dame Glenys for the post.

Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a select committee to take evidence from a minister’s preferred candidate before they are appointed. The select committee will then publish a report setting out their views on the candidate’s suitability for the post.

The Environmental Audit Committee and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a public evidence session with Dame Glenys on 15 December.

Dame Glenys

Defra began the recruitment process for the inaugural chair of the OEP on 10 August (see letsrecycle.com story).

Until 31 December, Dame Glenys is acting chief regulator at Ofqual, the government department that regulates qualifications, exams and tests in England. She re-joined the department in late August 2020 following the resignation of Sally Collier in connection with the GCSE and A-Level grading controversy.

Dame Glenys has previously served as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation and as chief executive at Animal Health. A solicitor by profession, she has a wealth of CEO and regulatory experience.