1. Flood & Water Management Act 2010 An Act to make provision about water, including provision about the management of risks in connection with flooding and coastal erosion The Act implements Sir Michael Pitts recommendations requiring urgent legislation, following his review of the 2007 floods. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/part/1

2. Other references London Strategic Flood Framework 2010 DEFRA Strategy – flooding Sept 2011 Environmental Aspects of Integrated Flood Management. World Meteorological Office Geneva 2006 Case Studies (Environment Agency) – Dunwich Heath Case Study.pdf – Lodden Valley Case Study.pdf – Solent Flood Risk Case Study.pdf – Severn Estuary (G A BewdleyRecentflooding.doc) – Humber_Strategy_Summary.pdf

3. Serious flooding can happen any time. Climate projections suggest extreme weather will happen more frequently in the future. This Act is central to reducing the flood risk associated with extreme weather. Source: Defra website

4. National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy – England FWMA 2010 S7 July 2011 provides a national framework for local communities to develop local partnerships and solutions to the flood and coastal erosion risks they face and underpins the partnership approach to funding flood and coastal resilience projects Welsh Assembly Government website Environment Agency website floodwateract@defra.gsi.gov.uk Welsh Assembly Government website Environment Agency floodwateract@defra.gsi.gov.uk

5. FWMA 2010 S7(2) (i) the current and predicted impact of climate change on flood and coastal erosion risk management, and (j) how the strategy contributes towards the achievement of wider environmental objectives.

6. The FWMA provides for better, more comprehensive management of flood risk for people, homes and businesses, helps safeguard community groups from unaffordable rises in surface water drainage charges and protects water supplies to the consumer.

7. Automatic adoption arrangements for new foul sewers and lateral drains and National Build Standards for gravity foul sewers and lateral drains consultation exercise on the proposals to implement the requirements for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new and redeveloped sites in England (Schedule 3) incidental flooding or coastal erosion (s38, 39) allow risk management authorities to manage flooding, water levels and coastal erosion in the interests of nature conservation, the preservation of cultural heritage (s38(8), s39(12))

8. FWMA 2010: S1 Flood and Coastal Erosion (1) Flood includes any case where land not normally covered by water becomes covered by water. (2) It does not matter for the purpose of subsection (1) whether a flood is caused by (a) heavy rainfall, (b) a river overflowing or its banks being breached, (c) a dam overflowing or being breached, (d) tidal waters, (e) groundwater, or (e) anything else (including any combination of factors). (3) But flood does not include (a) a flood from any part of a sewerage system, unless wholly or partly caused by an increase in the volume of rainwater (including snow and other precipitation) entering or otherwise affecting the system, or (b) a flood caused by a burst water main (within the meaning given by section 219 of the Water Industry Act 1991). (4) Coastal erosion means the erosion of the coast of any part of England or Wales.

9. FWMA 2010 S2, S3 Risk & Risk Management (1)Risk means a risk in respect of an occurrence assessed and expressed (as for insurance and scientific purposes) as a combination of the probability of the occurrence with its potential consequences. (2) Flood risk means a risk in respect of flood. (3) Coastal erosion risk means a risk in respect of coastal erosion. (4) In each case the potential harmful consequences to be considered in assessing risk include, in particular, consequences for: (a) human health, (b) the social and economic welfare of individuals and communities, (c) infrastructure, and (d) the environment (including cultural heritage).

10. FWMA S3(3) examples of things that might be done in the course of flood or coastal erosion risk management: (a) planning, erecting, maintaining, altering or removing buildings or other structures (including structures built or used for flood defence purposes), (b) maintaining or restoring natural processes, (c) reducing or increasing the level of water in a place (whether or not it results in a change to the water level in another place), (d) carrying out work in respect of a river or other watercourse (such as taking things out of it or supporting or diverting the banks), (e) moving things onto, off or around a beach, or carrying out other works in respect of the shoreline, (f) using statutory or other powers to permit, require, restrict or prevent activities, (g) making arrangements for financial or other support for action taken by persons in respect of a risk of, or in preparing to manage the consequences of, flooding or coastal erosion, (h) making arrangements for forecasting and warning, (i) preparing, gathering and disseminating maps, plans, surveys and other information, and (j) providing education and giving guidance (including, for example, guidance on changes to land management).

11. FWMA 2010 S27 Sustainable development (1) In exercising a flood or coastal erosion risk management function, an authority listed in subsection (3) must aim to make a contribution towards the achievement of sustainable development. (2) The Minister must issue guidance about how authorities are to discharge the duty under subsection (1) (including guidance about the meaning of sustainable development); and the authorities must have regard to the guidance. (3) The authorities are: (a) lead local flood authorities, (b) district councils, (c) internal drainage boards, and (d) highway authorities.

13. The Governments Response to Sir Michael Pitts Review of the summer 2007 Floods Progress Report December 2009 (Pitt-progress091215.pdf)

14. Contents PART ONE: SUMMARY OF PROGRESS SINCE JUNE 2009................................................... 6 PART TWO: PROGRESS ON LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PITT RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................................. 19 LOCAL AUTHORITY - SUMMARY OF RESPONSES......................................................... 19 LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUMS – SUMMARY OF RESPONSES......................................... 34 PART THREE: PROGRESS AGAINST ALL PITT RECOMMENDATIONS......................... 40 KNOWING WHERE AND WHEN IT WILL FLOOD......................................................... 40 REDUCING THE RISK OF FLOODING AND ITS IMPACT................................................. 48 BEING RESCUED AND CARED FOR DURING AN EMERGENCY...................................... 62 MAINTAIN POWER AND WATER SUPPLIES AND PROTECTING ESSENTIAL SERVICES..................................................................................................................................... 71 BETTER ADVICE AND HELP TO PROTECT FAMILIES AND HOMES................................ 77 RECOVERY...................................................................................................................... 83 ANNEX A: UPDATE ON FUNDING FOR THE PITT REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS......... 91 ANNEX B: LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO RESPONDED TO THE DEFRA/CABINET OFFICE LETTER REPORTING ON LOCAL PROGRESS IMPLEMENTING THE PITT RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................................. 93 ANNEX C: LIST OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUMS WHO RESPONDED TO THE DEFRA/CABINET OFFICE LETTER REPORTING ON LOCAL PROGRESS IMPLEMENTING THE PITT RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................... 95