The Darent Catchment Improvement Group (CIG) is a collaboration of different organisations who represent the various interests on the river and who are working with the purpose of developing and delivering the Catchment Improvement Plans for the river.

Catchment planning aims to explore environmental issues, challenges and opportunities within the river catchment at a local level through stakeholder engagement. Through partnership working, actions for innovative and collaborative solutions can be explored and delivered. This approach will connect existing activities and foster greater local ownership for greater action and engagement.

Whilst the River Basin Management Plans have identified the issues which exist at a wider 'River Basin' level, the Catchment Improvement Plan process will be routed in local actions. This process is designed to be a tool to identify where resources should be directed to deliver priority actions and ensure the approaches used are the best way of meeting the objectives.

The Catchment Improvement Plans will be used to support the second cycle of River Basin Management Planning and these documents will include catchment by catchment summaries. They will also be valuable to feed into local action plans for coordinated delivery with the help of all stakeholders.

The hosting of the CIG will be by the North West Kent Countryside Partnership (NWKCP) whose role is to assist with the facilitation and the administration of the group. The group's primary purpose is the development and delivery of the catchment improvement plan.

The development, consultation, promotion and the delivery of the catchment improvement plan is the collective responsibility of all partners in the Catchment Improvement Group.



• North West Kent Countryside Partnership        
• Environment Agency
• Darent Valley Consortium                              
• Darent River Preservation Society
• Darent and Cray Catchment Consultative       
• Dartford and District Angling and Preservation Society
• Dartford Borough Council
• Sevenoaks District Council
• Farningham Parish Council
• Kent Wildlife Trust



The CIG will be hosting events, workshops and consultations to understand your prioirties for the river. There is opportunity for your views to be raised at the CIG meeting by contacting one of the CIG partners.

However, if you feel your views are not represented by one of the exisitng partners please contact the chair of the group to discuss representing your group/organisation at the CIG or to find other ways to become involved.

Chair: Louise Smith, North West Kent Countryside Partnership

Email: l.smith@nwkcp.org

Telephone: 01322 294 727

Meeting Agenda - 18th of September 2012

 - Catchment Planning and Water Framework Directive (WFD)

Presentation from Angela Gorman, Catchment Co-ordinator on the role of catchment planning, WFD and waterbody status

- North West Kent Countryside Partnership role as river host

An introduction to the role NWKCP will play as 'host'

- Catchment Improvement Group Aims

- Partner Introduction

- Catchment Activities

Discussion on the options for community enegagment and what the main focus of the group will be

Meeting Agenda - 4th of December 2012

 - Groundwater Protection and Priorities in the Darent Catchment

Presentation from Jan Hookey Environment Agency

- Catchment Consultation feedback request

- Discussion on Communication Engagment Plan

- Partner Updates

- Landscape Partnership Scheme

Presentation from Rick Bayne Valley of Vision (Kent Downs AONB unit)

Meeting Agenda - 9th of May 2013

- Context and timeline for the Catcment Improvement Plan

- Terms of Reference for the group

- Representatives on the CIG

- Communication and Engagment Plan

- Consultation options for the Lower Darent