DEFRA HIGH LEVEL TARGETS FOR FLOOD & COASTAL DEFENCE

News Update 7/12/07: DEFRA welcomes Climate Change Initiative

SUMMARY In November,1999 DEFRA (formerly known as MAFF) issued 14 High Level Targets for Operating Authorities. The Operating Authorities include the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, Local Authorities and Maritime Local Authorities and are all responsible for providing coastal defence using differing powers and responsibilities.The new supervisory role for the Environment Agency has been clarified and the Government has set three key objectives in order to achieve its policy aims which are :-

  • To encourage the use of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems,To encourage the provision of adequate, economically, technically and environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures,
  • To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding and coastal erosion.

DEFRA have now produced 14 High Level Targets for Operating Authorities to meet in the near future, some of which require compliance within the next few months. The Targets have been produced in response to the Report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Agriculture that was published in August,1998 following the Easter floods of 1998. Operating authorities include the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, Local Authorities and Maritime Local Authorities and all are responsible for providing flood defence using differing powers and responsibilities.The 14 High Level Targets are summarised below as :-

Target 1; Policy Statements

  • Produce publicly available policy statement setting out plans for delivering the Government's policy aims and objectives by 31st March,2001
  • Establish reporting on implementing progress in achieving the policy statements and collating relevant data

Target 2; Provision of Flood Warnings;

  • developing flood risk categories provision of a flood warning service flood warning service standards
  • report to MAFF on achievement of service standards

Target 3; Emergency Exercises on Emergency Plans;

  • arrange and report upon a programme of flood emergency exercises at National, regional and local levels
  • report to DEFRA the programme of exercises, the results of previous exercises and those areas without plans

Target 4; National Flood and Coastal Defence Database;

  • develop and maintain a National Flood and Coastal Defence Database that will include information on all flood and coastal defence assets equip the Environment Agency with information on flood and coastal defence assets in agreed format, regularly maintained and updated identify private defences
  • as appropriate provide information from the database

Target 5; Flood Defence Inspections and Assessment of Flood Risk;

  • implement a risk based programme of regular inspections of flood defence assets included in the NFCDD in Target 4 and main rivers and critical ordinary watercourses
  • report to DEFRA on the assessment of the risk of flooding and any proposed action

Target 6; Coast Protection Inspections and Assessment of Coastal Erosion Risk;

  • implement a programme of inspection of all coast protection assets including those in private or other ownership
  • report to DEFRA on its assessment of the risk of coastal erosion and required action on an annual basis

Target 7; Expenditure Programmes;

  • provide a prioritised forward programme of capital and maintenance works for the assets on the NFCDD identified in Target 4, including assets in private ownership, to be forwarded to MAFF on an annual basis to cover current year and next three years

Target 8; Shoreline Management Plans;

  • produce programmes for the completion of Strategy Plans to implement current SMP’s, and the processes for updating SMPs in accordance with new MAFF guidance to be issued in 2000

Target 9; Biodiversity;

  • All Operating Authorities must aim to avoid environmental damage, ensure no net loss to habitats covered by Biodiversity Action Plans and seek opportunities for environmental enhancement when carrying out flood and coastal defence works Operating Authorities will be required to report to the Environment Agency on all losses and gains of habitats covered by BAP’s as a result of their flood and coastal defence operations
  • report to MAFF on the collated information from Target 9b

Target 10; Water Level Management Plans (WLMPs);

  • Relevant OA’s in partnership with English Nature are to complete WLMPs prepare a programme for implementing and reviewing WLMPs
  • carry out an annual review of performance against published programmes

Target 11; Coastal Habitat Management Plans (ChaMPs);

  • English Nature, in partnership with EA and other Operating Authorities, is to identify sites where a ChaMP is needed and produce a programme for their completion
  • implementing annual reporting to DEFRA on progress in ChaMP completion

Target 12; Development in Areas at Risk of Flooding;

The EA in partnership with Local Planning Authorities will report annually to DEFRA and Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on :-

  • identifying Local Authority Development Plans which do and do not have flood risk statements or policies
  • the EAs response to planning applications where the Agency sustained objections on flood risk grounds, together with final decisions by the LPA or the DETR on Appeal, either in line or contrary to EA advice

Target 13; Development in Areas at Risk of Coastal Erosion;

  • Coast Protection Authorities will in future report to DEFRA and DETR on LA Development Plans containing coastal erosion statements reflecting the assessed risk of coastal erosion as reflected in the SMPs
  • in addition, CPAs will have to report upon planning applications where coastal erosion was either a key factor and any conflicts between the final decision, by the LPA or on appeal, with the assessed risks of coastal erosion

Target 14; Internal Drainage Board Administration and Membership;

The Association of Drainage Authorities in conjunction with DEFRA, EA and the Local Government Association will produce and distribute guidance on :-

  • improvements in efficiency by means of amalgamations and consortia
  • ensuring that appropriate interests are reflected in Board membership ADA will be reporting to MAFF annually on progress in achieving above guidance

Implementation Programme