Introduction. Legislation, Government Policy, and the Flood and Water Management Act Story so far Key changes in the New Act:

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1 3 September 1 FRM1 3 September 1 Dr Jean Venables CBE FREng Legislation, Government Policy, and the Flood and Water Management Act 1 Photograph: Phil Brewin, Somerset Drainage Board Consortium Introduction Story so far Key changes in the New Act: o Strategies o Reservoirs o Sustainable Drainage o Consortia Powers o Land Drainage Act 1991 Defra Ministers What s next? 1

2 3 September 1 The Story so far... 7 June/July 7 Floods submerge parts of England and Wales April 8 ADA Response to Pitt Review: Interim Report published 7-8 Pitt Review Final Report Published 5 June 8 May 8 Government announces Floods and water bill in Green Paper December 8 Government Respond to Pitt Review and accept all 9Recs. October 8 ADA outline submission to Bill drafting team 9 The Story so far... April 9 draft Flood and Water Management Bill and consultation questions published July 9 ADA Response to draft Bill Consultation published June 9 Government announces short Floods Bill in Green Paper 9 May 9 ADA respond to Efra pre-legislative scrutiny of draft Bill May 9 ADA conduct IDB Consultation Workshop Outcomes published online November 9 Flood and Water Management Bill included in Queen s Speech 1

3 3 September 1 The Story so far... 9 January 1 ADA give evidence to House of Commons Bill Scrutiny Committee December 9 ADA and IDB community publishes A Vision for Internal Drainage Boards April 1 Flood and Water Management Act receives Royal Assent February 1 Bill completes scrutiny in House of Commons and progresses to House of Lords May 1 General Election 11? F&WM Act 1 Commencement Order 1 1 Key Changes in the New Act 3

4 3 September 1 National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Strategy: England Environment Agency must develop, maintain, apply and monitor Must consult Secretary of State lays it before Parliament Local Flood Risk Management Strategy: England Lead Local Flood Authorities must develop, maintain, apply and monitor these strategies must be consistent with National strategy must consult Partnerships are key 4

5 3 September 1 Reservoirs Size limit brought down to 1, cubic metres Risk is probability and consequence RFCCs Regional Flood Defence Committees (RFDC) Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCC) Expanded remit Coastal role for first time Changes to committee membership Will need new volunteers 5

6 3 September 1 Sustainable Drainage Need guidance document to exclude IDB watercourses from the definition of SuDs given in Act Need access for maintenance IDBs did not have an express power to share support services Many IDBs work within consortia Encouraged by Defra Now express power to provide administrative, professional or technical services removes legal ambiguity Consortia Powers 6

7 3 September 1 Land Drainage Act 1991 amendments ADA has produced an electronic copy of the LDA 1991 with all the amendments made to it from 1991 to 1 Available to all ADA members New Defra Ministers Caroline Spelman MP Secretary of State Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Richard Benyon MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary Natural Environment and Fisheries (inc. flooding and water) Lord Henley Parliamentary Under-Secretary (House of Lords) Jim Paice MP Minister of State Agriculture & Food 7

8 3 September 1 Welsh Assembly Government Minister Jane Davidson AM Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing Including lead on Climate Change and Sustainability What s next? Policy Funding Potential Consequences? 8

9 3 September 1 What s next? Policy Coalition Government Natural environment White Paper to be published Spring 11 Water White Paper to be published Summer 11 Future Water Bill in next Parliamentary Session 1? ABI/Government Statement of Principles Post-13 What s next? Funding Defra identified for 16 million cuts (5.5%) in % cut by Comprehensive spending review October 1 9

10 3 September 1 Potential Consequences? Reduced Funding Coalition Government Reduced EA maintenance on low-priority main river Localism and Big Society De-maining Handover to IDBs and other competent authorities Creation of New IDBs (e.g. Cumbria) Thank you Photo: Cliff Carson, Middle Level Commissioners Dr Jean Venables CBE FREng Chief Executive Association of Drainage Authorities 3 September 1 1