Recommendations & Conclusions
35 items
1
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We welcome the doubling of investment in flood defences announced at Budget 2020, amounting to £5.2 billion over the next six years. It is vital that measures to address the growing, long-term, flood and coastal risk in the face of climate change are adequately resourced. The Government should therefore keep …
Government response. Since 2010 the Government has significantly increased its investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management and has just begun a new six-year capital investment programme, investing a record £5.2 billion in delivering around 2,000 schemes to better protect 336,000 …
2
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We welcome the steps taken thus far to improve the partnership funding formula, to better take account of climate change and the wider impacts of flooding. However, it is disappointing that the Government’s call for evidence on further changes to the formula has only just been launched, and will not …
Government response. The Government’s investment programme is based on risk mitigation and where the greatest benefit to people and property can be achieved. The Environment Agency use a consistent set of criteria to prioritise funding for schemes proposed by all risk management …
3
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Flooding
We share the concern of our predecessor Committee about the apparent stalling of private sector contributions under the partnership funding model. The recent National Audit Office report shows the Government faces an uphill struggle to reverse the decline in private sector contributions. We welcome the steps the Government is taking …
Government response. The Government’s partnership funding approach is designed to ensure that funding contributions can be secured from a range of sources. It also ensures a consistent national approach to allocating the investment programme, prioritising those schemes that secure the greatest benefits …
4
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
While we acknowledge the great value of partnership contributions from public sources, it is obvious that private sector investment is too low (as the Government has implicitly accepted), and this could contribute to uncertainty about whether schemes will be deliverable. The Government should explain how it will monitor whether the …
Government response. The Government’s partnership funding approach is designed to ensure that funding contributions can be secured from a range of sources. It also ensures a consistent national approach to allocating the investment programme, prioritising those schemes that secure the greatest benefits …
5
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Environment Agency should facilitate this by keeping a record of schemes that are unable to proceed due to being unable to secure adequate partnership contributions, including a quantification of the losses in flood resilience that result.
Government response. The Government’s partnership funding approach is designed to ensure that funding contributions can be secured from a range of sources. It also ensures a consistent national approach to allocating the investment programme, prioritising those schemes that secure the greatest benefits …
6
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
It is critical that the considerable outlay of public money through the Government’s £5.2 billion capital investment in flood defences is not wasted through a failure to adequately resource the maintenance of new and existing assets. We are concerned Flooding 47 by the evidence we have received about existing shortcomings …
Government response. The Government’s Policy Statement sets out a holistic approach to maintain the network of flood and coastal erosion risk management assets across England, through a comb– ation of investment and action by risk management authorities, Government, riparian owners and wider …
7
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government’s refusal to set a national standard for resilience to flooding means there is uncertainty about the level of its ambition. We would expect the Government to show leadership in the face of severe and growing risk by setting out its long- term objective. We are not convinced by …
Government response. The Government has considered the National Infrastructure Commission’s work on resilience and set out its response in July 2020. This addressed the difficulty of a ‘one size fits all’ approach that tries to express as a national standard, the right …
8
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
Climate change poses a grave threat to the flood resilience of communities, with the Climate Change Committee warning that warming of 4°C or more implies inevitable increases in flood risk even in the most ambitious adaptation scenarios considered. The Government needs to be frank about the level of risk it …
Government response. Risks from flooding and coastal erosion are recognised in the Government’s UK Climate Change Risk Assessment and are a key part of the UK National Risk Register, ensuring Government plans effectively for a reasonable worst-case scenario for flood risk. Critical …
9
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We welcome the focus on protecting not just homes, but also other properties. It is crucial that the success or otherwise of flood risk management interventions is closely monitored, in order to demonstrate progress toward strategic objectives and ensure value for money. We are particularly concerned that the Environment Agency …
Government response. The Government has considered the National Infrastructure Commission’s work on resilience and set out its response in July 2020. This addressed the difficulty of a ‘one size fits all’ approach that tries to express as a national standard, the right …
10
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government must provide leadership to ensure that the division of flood risk responsibilities among various organisations does not result in local communities experiencing a less efficient and responsive approach to flood risk management than if all responsibilities were brought under one roof. We cautiously welcome the Government’s commitment to …
Government response. The Government has committed to transform the current approach to local flood and coastal erosion risk planning so that every area of England will have a more strategic and comprehensive plan by 2026 that drives long-term local action and investment. …
11
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Flooding
The responsibility of riparian owners to maintain watercourses so as not to increase flood risk to others is well established in common law. Obviously, individuals must first know whether they are riparian owners, and their responsibilities, if they are to be expected to discharge them. Risk management authorities also need …
Government response. Everyone has a role to play in mitigating flood and coastal erosion risk and making the country more resilient. This includes risk management authorities and riparian owners who play an important role in maintaining assets and watercourses. The Government has …
12
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
Local authorities will be a key delivery partner for the Government’s new flooding policies, so we are very concerned by evidence of inconsistency and shortcomings in capacity. While it is for local authorities to take local decisions, central Government must ensure that they are properly resourced to implement their existing …
Government response. Local authorities are resourced to carry out their flood risk management duties and the Government will carefully consider any impacts of future reforms on local authorities.
13
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We recognise and pay tribute to the substantial effort undertaken by all emergency responders, as well as local communities and the armed services, in responding to the severe flooding over the autumn and winter of 2019–20. However, we are concerned by ongoing indications of resourcing issues for those bodies undertaking …
Government response. The Government recognises the crucial and valuable role of the third sector, flood action groups, community leaders and volunteers, in enabling communities to become more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risks. Community engagement is therefore part of the Government’s …
14
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
It is welcome that the Government has now put in place a package of support measures for households and businesses impacted by severe flooding. While it is right that local authorities will usually be best placed to deliver these measures in their areas, it is concerning that some appear to …
Government response. The Government recognises the crucial and valuable role of the third sector, flood action groups, community leaders and volunteers, in enabling communities to become more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risks. Community engagement is therefore part of the Government’s …
15
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Flooding
Our engagement with local communities at risk of flooding has highlighted the significant long-term challenges that result from a flood. In particular, the mental health impacts of flooding have been vividly described to us. This includes both the initial trauma of having one’s home flooded, and the resultant anxiety whenever …
Government response. The Government recognises the crucial and valuable role of the third sector, flood action groups, community leaders and volunteers, in enabling communities to become more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risks. Community engagement is therefore part of the Government’s …
16
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government should supplement its July 2020 policy statement with an additional action plan, developed with local partners, for the long-term physical, economic, and psychological recovery of communities impacted by flooding. This should include a clear explanation of which national and local actors should be responsible for key aspects of …
Government response. The Government should supplement its July 2020 policy statement with an additional action plan, developed with local partners, for the long-term physical, economic, and psychological recovery of communities impacted by flooding. This should include a clear explanation of which national …
17
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
It is widely recognised that inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding represents a serious threat to flood resilience, particularly as the scale of the risk is 50 Flooding likely to increase with climate change. Defra must do more to integrate its approach to flood resilience across the whole …
Government response. The Government recognises that inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding represents a serious threat to flood resilience, particularly as the scale of the risk is likely to increase with climate change. Paragraph 167 of the National Planning Policy …
18
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We are concerned that the words on flood risk in national planning policy still do not always translate into actions. We are encouraged by the Government’s proposal that planning applications approved against flood risk advice could in future be subject to call-in by the Secretary of State. The Government should …
Government response. The Government recognises that local planning authorities are best placed to make decisions on planning applications and considers that planning conditions are generally best determined and monitored at the local level. Government supports local planning authorities and the Environment Agency …
19
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
While we welcome the commitment to consider improving transparency for flood risk advice, the Government must ensure that any development which still goes ahead against advice is clearly communicated to prospective homebuyers. The Government should ensure that information on development against flood risk advice is published in a clear and …
Government response. The Government recognises the importance of transparency in the planning process and the need for prospective homebuyers to be able to make informed decisions about purchasing a property. The Government has made considerable improvements to household flood risk information in …
20
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
It is clear that planning and risk management authorities must be empowered and resourced to effectively monitor and enforce the fulfilment of planning conditions in areas at risk of flooding. The Government should urgently review whether planning conditions to mitigate flood risk are being fulfilled. The Government should then bring …
Government response. The Government’s planning policy is clear that local planning authorities are responsible for determining whether planning conditions are being fulfilled. Local planning authorities have a range of enforcement powers at their disposal and must determine which is the most appropriate …
21
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We welcome the Government’s commitment to act upon our recommendations regarding the cumulative impact on flood risk of smaller developments. While we recognise that national planning policy does refer to cumulative impacts, this has clearly not allayed concerns that these impacts are not given due regard when planning decisions are …
Government response. The Government recognises the potential impact of cumulative impacts from development and that these need to be carefully managed. Paragraph 169 of the National Planning Policy Framework18 sets out that plans should apply a sequential, risk-based approach to determining the …
22
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We are very concerned that local planning authorities lack the skills base and resources to effectively factor the impacts of climate change into development decisions. While plans and individual decisions are rightly made at a local level, it is the duty of Government to provide leadership to local authorities facing …
Government response. The Government recognises that local planning authorities need to have access to the most up to date information on current and future flood risk, and that they need the necessary skills and resources to properly assess flood risk and take …
23
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The engagement of communities in the development of local plans is already inadequate, and the proposed reforms to the planning system must not compound this problem. Greater community involvement in planning decisions in many areas at flood risk would have the twin benefits of building trust and contributing valuable technical …
Government response. Engaging with local communities on the development of local plans is an important part of the process and that is why the Planning for the Future White Paper proposes that local planning authorities radically and profoundly re-invent the ambition, depth …
24
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We recognise the concerns of several stakeholders about site-specific Flood Risk Assessments, and the Government should use its reform of the planning system as an opportunity to investigate this issue further. The Government’s standardisation of technical supporting information should include an evaluation of the current arrangements for the preparation and …
Government response. The Planning for the Future White Paper proposes reforms to streamline the planning application process including “greater standardisation of technical supporting information”, including flood risk, with “clear national data standards and templates developed in conjunction with statutory consultees”. Currently the …
25
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
A step change is needed in promoting the uptake of appropriate property flood resilience measures. It is important that reforms to Flood Re to incentivise PFR form part of wider work aimed at encouraging people to improve the flood resilience of their own property. We welcome the Government’s call for …
Government response. The Government recognises that further action is needed on property flood resilience measures and has identified several barriers to the uptake of these measures and matching enablers to overcome them. There are a wide range of stakeholders who have a …
26
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
It is essential that the Government works with Flood Re and the insurance industry to identify and address continuing obstacles to the uptake of insurance among people at risk from flooding. The Government should set out what further research will be undertaken, building on the Blanc review of insurance in …
Government response. The Flood Re Scheme is a joint Government and industry initiative aimed at improving the availability and affordability of flood insurance for UK households at high flood risk. Since its launch in 2016 more than 300,000 households have benefitted with …
27
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We understand the Government’s argument that businesses are in a different position compared to households in respect of flood insurance cover. However, we are concerned about the position of small and medium-sized enterprises, which do not benefit from any Government-backed initiative, equivalent to Flood Re, that would smooth the transition …
Government response. The Flood Re Scheme is a joint Government and industry initiative aimed at improving the availability and affordability of flood insurance for UK households at high flood risk. Since its launch in 2016 more than 300,000 households have benefitted with …
28
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
It is essential that work is done to improve understanding of the scale of surface water flood risk at a national and local level. In particular, we are concerned to hear evidence of surface and foul water flooding caused or exacerbated by the failure to adequately maintain drainage systems. It …
Government response. Mitigating the impacts from all forms of flood and coastal erosion risk is a priority and this includes surface water (pluvial) flooding, which is the most widespread in England and affects around 3.2 million properties. In 2020 the Government amended …
29
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
Water and sewerage companies have an important role to play in managing flood risk and we welcome moves to put drainage planning by companies on a statutory footing. It will be necessary for other Risk Management Authorities and owners of drainage assets to be involved in preparing and maintaining these …
Government response. Effective drainage and sewerage networks contribute towards local flood risk mitigation and are crucial in ensuring surface water can be removed from the environment. Water and sewerage companies do have an important role and, following the 2019 Price Review, will …
30
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Flooding
While the uptake of sustainable drainage systems has improved in recent years, we are concerned that the installation of high-quality SuDS features delivering multiple environmental benefits may still be insufficiently incentivised. The evidence we have received clearly shows that the non-statutory approach to promoting SuDS, coupled with the persistence of …
Government response. The Government’s planning policy is clear that Sustainable Drainage Systems are to be provided in all major, new developments, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate, and that they should be given priority in new developments in …
31
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government should explain how it will promote the retrofitting of SuDS and an integrated approach to water management through measures such as rainwater harvesting.
Government response. The Government has committed to delivering an integrated approach to managing water, that will help better protect communities from flooding, making them more resilient, and provide wider benefits for water resources management and the environment. Whilst Sustainable Drainage Systems and …
32
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
Working with natural processes is an important part of a holistic approach to flood risk management. There are several initiatives that could serve as delivery vehicles for natural flood management, including the new Environmental Land Management scheme, and a catchment-based approach requires join-up between these policies to ensure that natural …
Government response. The Government is committed to natural flood management. As with all flood and coastal erosion risk management measures, this is subject to robust analysis and modelling to ensure that the right measures are in the right places. To support this, …
33
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government has been clear that paying farmers for measures such as floodwater storage forms a key part of its plans. Any measures which call on farmers and land managers to allow their land to be used in this way must ensure proper recognition for the public goods provided. The …
Government response. The Government is committed to natural flood management. As with all flood and coastal erosion risk management measures, this is subject to robust analysis and modelling to ensure that the right measures are in the right places. To support this, …
34
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
We have listened with great concern to evidence that local communities feel disengaged and ignored in decisions relevant to flood risk. It is clear that, where risk management authorities do engage with local people, this engagement is often not perceived as meaningful or impactful. Communities must not be treated as …
Government response. The Government recognises the crucial and valuable role of the third sector, flood action groups, community leaders and volunteers, in enabling communities to become more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risks. Community engagement is therefore part of the Government’s …
35
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government should review the institutional arrangements for community engagement in flood risk management, to identify best practice and opportunities for more effective approaches. The Government should also commit to ensuring that risk management authorities are resourced and supported to carry out meaningful engagement, including making funding available to the …
Government response. We welcome the focus on protecting not just homes, but also other properties. It is crucial that the success or otherwise of flood risk management interventions is closely monitored, in order to demonstrate progress toward strategic objectives and ensure value …