Stakeholder update - February 2012
Contents
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8.
Chairs, Regional Flood and
Coastal Committees
New flood defence schemes
announced Regulation of
activities on ordinary
watercourses
Regulation of Activities on
Ordinary Watercourses
Red Tape Challenge: Water
And Marine Theme
National Audit Office Review
of Flood Risk Management in
England
New publication: Pitt Review
Progress Report Published
New publication: Greater
working with natural
processes in flood and
coastal erosion risk
management
Publication of Catchment
Flood Management Plan
(CFMPs) Annual Report
Oxford Floods - By Kind permission on Nicholas Delerue
1, Chairs, Regional Flood and Coastal Committees
The Secretary of State is looking to appoint Chairs to the Environment Agency’s
Regional Flood and Coastal Committees. Please draw these appointments to the
attention of anyone who you think may be interested. We will be also be publicising
the appointments on twitter @DefraGovUK, Please re-tweet to help us reach a wider
audience.
The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Chair role
This is an exciting opportunity to help reduce the risk of flooding for
thousands of homes and businesses.
£17,503 + travel expenses, 5 days per month
RFCCs bring together local councillors and independent regional
representatives to oversee a multi million pound programme of work. You will
lead the way in setting strategic priorities for managing flood and coastal
erosion risk in partnership with others. Skilled in bringing together different
voices and opinion, you will play a pivotal role in approving regional
programmes, raising local levies, securing external contributions and
ensuring effective community engagement.
As an experienced Chair and leader, you will be able to harmonise diverse
interests and objectives with fairness to ensure this important work is done.
Known for your communication skills and diplomatic approach, you will be
able to act as adviser, sounding-board, critical friend and more. You’ll
understand how flood and coastal risk affects local communities; and
operating at the highest level, you’ll have the credibility to work closely with
the public and private sectors to deliver results. This is highly satisfying work
and an outstanding opportunity for people of very high calibre.
For details of how to apply please visit here and click on ‘Current
Opportunities’.
2, New flood Defence Schemes Announced
On the 9 February Defra published details of flood and coastal erosion risk
management schemes going ahead in the next financial year. In addition to the
continuing construction of over 80 schemes, a total of 60 new schemes will begin
construction in the coming year. When complete these new schemes will give over
25,000 homes a better level of protection from the devastating effects of flooding and
coastal erosion.
The new partnership approach to funding, which has been in operation for nearly a
year, has helped secure £72 million of external contributions for projects over the
next three years. Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, which include local
authority representatives, have worked with local communities to attract flood
defence funding from external sources such as businesses, private investors and
local authorities. We estimate that risk management authorities are on track to
exceed the goal of better protecting 145,000 homes by March 2015.
Link to schemes here
3, Regulation of Activities on Ordinary Watercourses
Defra and Welsh Government have announced that most of the ordinary
watercourse regulation currently undertaken by the Environment Agency in England
would transfer to Lead Local Flood Authorities from 6th April 2012.
Lead Local Flood Authorities will take on the role of consenting and enforcement for
activities on ordinary watercourses except where an Internal Drainage Boards exists,
or where an internal drainage district is operated by the Environment Agency.
To assist Lead Local Flood Authorities in their new role in England the Environment
Agency has produced an advice note and supporting appendices. Further
information is available on the Environment Agency’s website
In Wales, separate guidance will be issued by the Welsh Government in February.
For more information contact Geoff Gibbs
4, Red Tape Challenge: Water and Marine Theme
Water is integral to our daily life, which is why protecting the health of our rivers and
seas, maintaining our aquatic life, and managing our water resources effectively is
such an important challenge. Over 300 regulations are included within the Water and
Marine Red Tape Challenge, covering fish conservation, drinking water quality and
everything in between, including floods. We have to make sure that our policies are
being implemented in the most effective way possible, and that our regulations are
not impacting businesses and individuals with red tape.
The Water and Marine theme of the Government’s Red Tape Challenge will be in the
media spotlight for 5 weeks from 16 February to the 22 March. We want to use the
Red Tape Challenge to hear your thoughts on how our regulations are working in
practice – what works well and what does not. If you can think of a better way of
achieving great environmental results whilst safe guarding important goals, such as
marine conservation, drinking water quality, flood prevention and managing our
waterways, please let us know.
From 16 February please follow this link to get in touch and tell us how we can do
things better or submit a private contribution to our inbox
5, National Audit Office Review of Flood Risk Management in England
As part of an ongoing programme of value for money studies, the National Audit
Office (NAO) undertook an evaluation of flood risk management in England. The
study involved a rigorous and independent evaluation of the way in which public
money has been, and is going to be, spent in achieving flood risk management
outcomes. As well as reaching an overall conclusion on value for money, the NAO
recognised the critical importance of flood risk management and has made
recommendations on how to achieve better value for money in future.
The report itself formed the basis of the hearings for the Committee of Public
Accounts which was held on the 23 November 11. Paul Leinster and David Rooke
of the Environment Agency and Bronwyn Hill of DEFRA gave evidence to the
Committee.
The NAO’s report on Flood Risk Management in England is located on the National
Audit Office website. The Committee of Public accounts report on Flood Risk
Management in England is located on the Committees website. For more information
contact: Steve Williams: 0113 213 4794 or; Aidan Kerr: 0207 664 6902
6, New Publication: Pitt Review Progress Report Published
The final progress report of implementation of the recommendations made by Sir
Michael Pitt was published on the Defra website on 27 January; 91% of the
recommendations have been implemented, completion of the majority of the
remainder is expected by December 2014 here
7, New Publication: Greater Working with Natural Processes in Flood and
Coastal Erosion Risk Management
This partnership report brings together the latest scientific, environmental and
engineering knowledge in response to the Pitt Review and its recommendation 27. It
describes clearly what greater working with natural processes means for managing
the risks of flooding from rivers and the sea. It should underpin future plans for flood
and coastal risk management across England and Wales as well as help partners
work together to protect the public and property from floods effectively. At the same
time it should do more for the environment. The report can be found on the
Environment Agency’s website: For more information contact Duncan Huggett
8, Publication of Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMPs) Annual
Report
The Environment Agency has produced their first annual report on the progress that
has been made in implementing Catchment Flood Management Plans. This is a
single report to reflect progress in England and Wales, side by side. Highlights in the
report include the following:
The Environment Agency is monitoring progress on 5800 actions from the plans;
 Over half the actions in England and Wales are being progressed;
 9 per cent of actions are completed in England and 7 per cent in Wales.
Information on progress implementing Catchment Flood Management Plans will
contribute to Environment Agency reports about flood and coastal risk management
to Defra and Welsh Ministers under Section 18 of the Flood and Water Management
Act. The first Section 18 report for England will be produced in 2012 and Wales in
2014. We will continue to report on Catchment Flood Management Plans progress
in subsequent years. Link for Catchment Flood Management Plans Annual Report:
More information about Catchment Flood Management Plans can be found on the
Environment Agency’s website.