Flood water management_act_2010

Lucy Shepherd Flood and Water Management Team

April 2013

Flood and Water Management Act 2010 What it means for Essex

Presentation Summary

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Introduction to Lead Local Flood Authorities - What must we do?

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy - How are we doing it?

• Flood Investigations

• Watercourse Regulation

• Sustainable Drainage Approval Body (?)

• Communications

Surface Water Management Plans

Detailed Assessment and Local Feasibility Studies

Why a Lead Local Flood Authorities?

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Where do we fit in?

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‘Local’ Flood Risk Surface Water Runoff

Groundwater

Ordinary Watercourses

What must we do as LLFAs?

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Produce the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment by 22 Dec 2011

Develop, maintain, apply and monitor a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for their area

Flood Hazard Maps published by 22 Dec 2013

Flood Risk Management Plans by 22 Dec 2015

Duty to Investigate Flood Incidents when necessary or appropriate

Maintain an Asset Register for significant flood risk assets

Duty to Co-operate with other Flood Risk Management Authorities

Sustainable Drainage Approval Body (April 2014?)

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

for Essex

What must our Strategy specify?

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a) the risk management authorities in the authority's area, b) the flood and coastal erosion risk management functions that may be

exercised by those authorities in relation to the area, c) the objectives for managing local flood risk d) the measures proposed to achieve those objectives, e) how and when the measures are expected to be implemented, f) the costs and benefits of those measures, and how they are to be paid for, g) the assessment of local flood risk for the purpose of the strategy, h) how and when the strategy is to be reviewed, and i) how the strategy contributes to the achievement of wider environmental

objectives

Essex Objectives

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1. To provide a clear explanation of all stakeholder’s responsibilities in flooding issues

2. To develop a clearer understanding of the risks of flooding from surface runoff, groundwater and ordinary watercourses and to consider how best to communicate and share the information that becomes available

3. To define and explain the criteria by which areas at risk of flooding from surface runoff, groundwater and ordinary watercourses are assessed and resources are prioritised.

4. To state how risk management authorities will share information and resources

5. To set out clear and consistent plans for risk management so that communities and businesses can make informed decisions about the management of the residual risk

Essex Objectives

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6. To ensure that planning decisions are properly informed by flooding issues and the impact future planning may have.

7. To encourage innovative management of flood and coastal erosion risks, taking account of the needs of communities and the natural and built environment

8. To ensure that emergency plans and responses to flood incidents are effective and that communities are able to respond properly to flood warnings

9. To highlight where information regarding other forms of flooding can be found

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County Wide Strategic Actions

Site Specific Actions

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Flood Partnerships Manager

Lucy Shepherd

Flood Data Management Engineer

Jo Carrington

Flood Investigation Engineer

Danny Jennings

Flood Risk Management Trainee

Ed Clarke

Watercourse Regulation Engineer (South)

Lee Sencier

Watercourse Regulation Engineer (North) Dave Chapman

SUDS and Estate Design Manager

Phil Callow

SUDS Approval Officer Kathryn Goodyear

Flood and Water Management Essex County Council November 2012

• Surface Water Management Plans

• Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA)

• Flood Investigations

• Property Protection

• Watercourse Regulation

• SUDS Approval Body

Flood Investigation Reports

Flood Investigations

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Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010

“On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority must, to the extent that it considers it necessary or appropriate, investigate….”

Essex Local Criteria

Where there is ambiguity surrounding the source or responsibility of a flood incident; AND

Internal flooding of one property on more than one occasion; OR

Internal flooding of five properties during one flood incident; OR

Where there is a risk to life as a result of flooding.

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Receive report of flooding

1. Desktop Exercise;

• EA Susceptibility and Flood Maps for Surface Water

• Check of drainage infrastructure – Anglian Water, Thames Water, Essex Highways, Environment Agency

• Consultation with RMA’s – any known flood history?

• Local consultation – residents and/or Parish Council

2. Site Inspection;

• Inspection of area, record asset details, photos

Flood Investigation Process

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• www.essex.gov.uk/flooding

The Published Reports

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• Limitation of Flood Investigations;

1) If incident doesn’t meet Essex criteria do we ignore it?

2) Outcomes of an investigation – legal obligation and further recommendations – limitations on data understanding which define solutions and provide evidence for funding bids

3) Solutions – do we progress Property Level Protection or pursue grander physical solutions? A community decision.

Limitations

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• Scoping Exercises – to assist those who have been flooded and define whether a published S19 FIR is required.

• Hydraulic Models – to enhance understanding of a flooding problem to feed solution recommendation and evidence for funding.

• Property Surveys – undertake Property Level Protection surveys of a property to understand viability and likely cost.

Proposed Activities

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• Undertake initial assessment of flooding incident

• Liaison with other Risk Management Authorities – valuable input

• Site inspection – valuable exercise

• Scoping exercise recommendations – full S19 FIR required, possible solutions, raise the issue with relevant RMA, watercourse regulation

Scoping Exercise

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• Local Studies

• Identify gaps in asset data

• Demonstrate catchment area data

• Flow rates

• Flow depths

• Critical flow paths

• Identifying the worst-case scenario

Hydraulic Models

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Case Study

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Property-Level Flood Protection

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Scheme complete for three properties in Bowers Gifford, on-going in Rawreth and Little Waltham.

Valuable form of flood risk management where the cost/benefit of a capital scheme is not justifiable.

We trust that homeowners implement the protection measures in response to imminent flooding.

Watercourse Regulation

Land Drainage Act Changes

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Enforcement Action

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Sustainable Drainage Approval Body

(SAB)

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What are SUDS?

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• Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act (not yet enacted – although proposed for April 2014) names the County Council the SuDS Approval Body (SAB) responsible for:

– Approving SuDS applications for all developments which have

drainage implications (to be phased in). Proposals must accord with forthcoming National Standards

– Adopting and maintaining all SuDS systems that serve more than

one property

The Legislation

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SuDS Approval

• SAB approval will to be required for any development with drainage implications: structure >100m2 (even Permitted Development!)

• Phasing: initially only proposed for major development in years 1-3, needed for all development year 4 onwards.

• There will be an application fee payable:

– These are set by Defra for the first 3 years after which we can review the charges

– Fee structure is similar to planning fees

• SAB can attach conditions to and SuDS approval

SUDS Approval, Fees and Conditions

SUDS Design and Adoption Guide

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Communications and Engagement

How we will communicate

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The Public

• Develop informative website, signposting to relevant organisations

• District Council website links

• Press and media

• District Council newsletter/e-newsletter

• Twitter

• Mechanism to feedback local knowledge

How we will communicate

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Elected Members

• Member demonstration introducing website

• Member training about flooding

• Members given information about individual hot spots within their area

• Briefing notes

• Mechanism to feedback local knowledge i.e SWMP steering group.

Surface Water Management Plans

(SWMPs)

What is a SWMP?

• the primary vehicle to manage surface water flooding in England • be developed in areas of high surface water flood risk ‘Study undertaken in consultation with key partners to understand the cause and effects of surface water flooding and agree the most cost effective way of managing surface water flooding in the long term’. A SWMP will investigate local flooding issues that occurs as a result of heavy rainfall from: • Runoff from land • Groundwater • Sewers/drains • Small watercourses/ditches (Ordinary watercourses)

Why complete a SWMP?

• Develop a thorough understanding of surface water flood risk – taking account of

population, demographic change & urbanisation • Develop (in partnership) a long-term action plan to manage surface water flooding that will

influence: • capital investment • maintenance (i.e. highways/water companies) • emergency planning • land-use planning/future developments (LDF)

• Engage with public and raise awareness and understanding of surface water flooding

• Identify flood risk assets

The first national picture- AStSW

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Second generation - FMfSW

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Locally specific - SWMPs

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Where is Essex?

Prioritising ‘Tier 1’ areas throughout Essex based on Environment Agency ‘blue square’ maps.

1. South Essex

2. Harlow

3. Colchester

4. Chelmsford

5. Maldon

6. Brentwood

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SE SWMP Area

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There are four key phases to a SWMP:

1. Preparation

2. Risk Assessment

3. Options

4. Implementation & Review

SWMP Process

• Vital to integrate & align SWMP with other local & regional delivery plans & processes. The Planning System – a key tool 3 key avenues that SWMP can influence planning process: • SFRAs • Local Development Plan documents • Site Allocations • Informing planning applications • CIL?

Fitting with other Policy and Plans

Fitting with other policy and plans

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Hockley ‘Critical Drainage Area’ Proposed Development Site

Emergency Planning • Community Risk Registers • Multi-Agency Flood Plans • SWMP should seek to align with other investment activities occurring locally:

• capital investment/improvements • maintenance • refurbishment of public spaces • housing/commercial developments

Other studies and policy

Colchester Town SWMP Chelmsford City SWMP Brentwood Town SWMP

Where are we now?

Maldon & Heybridge SWMP

Where are we now?

Harlow Town SWMP - Review SWMP - Review Action Plan

Where are we now?

South Essex SWMP • 4a SWMP including Action Plan • 4b Implementation – underway • publication / adoption • Communication Strategy • Website

Where are we now?

The programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management works for all risk management authorities (including Essex County Council) during 2013/14 and beyond can be viewed at the Environment Agency website via this link. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/118129.aspx

Medium Term Plan

Questions or comments please? Lucy Shepherd Flood Partnerships Manager Flood and Water Management Team web: www.essex.gov.uk/flooding email: [email protected] tel: 01245 433 181