Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 44
The Government must provide leadership to ensure that the division of flood risk responsibilities among...
Recommendation
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 reform flood risk planning, but it must effectively address the concerns we have heard about lack of integration, and not simply place unnecessary new bureaucracy or burdens on risk management authorities. The Government should provide further detail on its plans to reform local flood risk planning, including which bodies will be expected to lead and co-operate, and how these plans will relate to existing plans and a cross-Government approach to climate adaptation. The Government should draw on best practice from Shoreline Management Plans and Catchment Partnerships in this process. The Government should also ensure that local authorities and other partners receive any additional funding required for this work.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government commits to transforming local flood risk planning by 2026 and will consult on changes, including providing further detail on responsibilities and integration; however, it states local authorities are already resourced and will only carefully consider future funding impacts.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
44
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
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. We will consult on changes to ensure that future plans are clearer and more ambitious, taking account of current and future risks, and provide a framework for action and investment in 10 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-strategy- for-england--2 11 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-and-coastal-risk-management-in-england-long-term- investment local areas. This will include providing further detail on which bodies will be responsible for planning and how we expect to achieve greater integration between local planning across a range of areas including land, water and the natural environment. The Government agrees that future reforms to local flood risk management planning should draw on existing best practice. 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. Conclusion and Recommendation 11: 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 to be properly enabled and resourced to identify and communicate the right management approaches for riparian assets and enforce maintenance where necessary. The Government’s review of statutory responsibilities for asset maintenance should include reviewing the powers and resources of risk management authorities to communicate appropriate riparian management options, and effectively enforce responsibilities by riparian owners.
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