Delta Commissioner's Weblog - week 25 2010
Decision-making comes closer
The theme of the past week was further cohesion now that the 100 percent version of the Delta Programme has been completed. The broad lines for the coming weeks and the Cabinet’s decision-making were set out with the four Director-Generals concerned (Spatial Planning; Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality [LNV]; Water Affairs; Public Works and Water Management) and the Council Advisor to the Prime Minister. Funding was discussed with LNV.
On Tuesday evening, we had organised an evaluation dinner in Diner Thuis. It was attended by the principals including the four Director-Generals and the nine programme directors. It was enjoyable and especially constructive and pleasant. It was also a reward for all the hard work done on the first Delta Programme. And more than adequate compensation for the time spent watching the Netherlands vs. Denmark play their World Cup football match on Monday.
I also had an open and inspiring talk with the chair of the Economic and Social Council of the Netherlands (SER), Alexander Rinnooij Kan. He is very involved in the sustainability agenda which is in good keeping with my work on the Delta.
On Wednesday, we attended a brainstorming session with several regional managers and the Deputy Director-General of Water Affairs about safety standards as treated in the Safety sub-programme. We exchanged views on the current standards, the cost-benefit analysis risks of victims and the form of the standards. It was good and constructive to explore this complex playing field together at such an early stage. We will certainly be doing so more often.
On Thursday, I had a meeting with the chair and secretary of the Advisory Committee on Water (AcW) and the Director-General of Water Affairs. We discussed the involvement of this high-quality advisory committee in the Delta Programme and explored a sound approach. The Delta Programme provides important input for the AcW’s 2011 work programme.
I also spoke to Professor Pier Vellinga and his staff on Thursday regarding the relationship between the knowledge agenda of the Delta Programme and the important work of the Knowledge for Climate programme, into which the government has pumped 50 million euros via FES resources (FES = Economic Structural Reinforcement Fund). We will work closely together to avoid doing the same work twice and to be able to give questions that arise from the Delta Programme their correct place in the research studies of the Knowledge for Climate programme. Several practical work agreements were made to anchor ties with one another – at the regional/area level as well as centrally.
On Friday I was presented with the 75th anniversary book of the Association of Contractors in Dredging and Shore and Bank Protection. A source of pride for the Netherlands for 75 years! I spoke briefly about my work on the Delta. A festive occasion!