FBAG Flood Risk Assessment and Mapping

Purpose Review role of FBAG sub-group Summarise research/project agenda

Role of FBAG sub-group Need to gear up to deliver PFRAs Need to begin investigating and addressing operational implementation issues Need to coordinate RnD to support implementation of legislation We propose to strengthen the role and remit of this FBAG group to fulfil these requirements

Strengthening this group The group should refocus from the singular purpose of Bill advice to providing operational guidance on flood risk assessments The group should be responsible for coordinating research projects to fulfil such guidance in the area of flood risk assessment. The group should report to and Operational Guidance Group/board.

Flooding Bill Advisory Group Catchment Planning Group* 1961 Act and statutory process group Operational Guidance Group FRAM Group* Other groups to be considered

Changes to remit of group In short term, FRAM Group would fulfil dual roles- advising on the Flooding Bill and advising on operational requirements. As implementation progresses, the group would focus on supporting the development of operational tools and procedures Membership of the group would be aligned to meeting these requirements

Research programme

We propose to establish a research programme to support implementation of the Flooding Bill. The broad aim of this research programme is to: Deliver tools, information and guidance to ensure the competent and responsible authorities can meet their responsibilities under the Floods Bill.

Research programme The research programme must: Support collaborative working between all bodies involved in implementation Ensure that all work is taken forward in an integrated fashion Minimise administrative and management burdens Minimise creation of new groups Ensure full coordination between contractor based projects and work undertaken internally by the organisations involved in implementation.

Flooding Bill Advisory Group Catchment Planning Group* 1961 Act and statutory process group Operational Guidance Group FRAM Group* Other groups to be considered

Research themes Theme 1 - Datasets and tools to support risk assessment Theme 2 - Flood Risk Management Planning Theme 3 - Natural Flood Management demonstration work

Theme 1 Aim To generate tools, information and data to help Scottish organisations meet their responsibilities for assessing and characterising flood risk. Outcomes Determine gaps in data and tools Assess costs and provide recommendations for addressing these gaps Assess and provide recommendations for improving data exchange and dissemination

Priority projects/work areas Project 1 – Gap analysis and trialling- Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments Project 2- Options appraisal- Sewer and pluvial flood risk assessments Project 3 Assessment of mechanisms for data exchange and dissemination Project 4 Gap analysis and trialling- Flood Risk and Hazard Maps

Bill Provisions

PFRA- General provisions Approval by Scottish Ministers SEPA to have duty to produce PRFA SEPA to assess significant flood risk LAs to prioritise local efforts Duty to collaborate- responsible authorities Powers to obtain information Not limited to assessment to existing information Opportunity for consultation

Content of PFRA Identify areas at significant flood risk and assess the potential adverse consequences for: human health, the environment, Cultural heritage, economic activity, Strategic infrastructure

Proposed roles and responsibilities for flood management in Scotland Flood risk assessment SEPA would fulfil the role of flood risk assessment authority; this would include a duty to assess and map flood risks and identify areas at significant flood risk. Responsible authorities would have a duty to collaborate in the production of risk assessments. This would include sharing and reviewing data and information. Strategic and catchment planning SEPA would fulfil the role of strategic flood planning authority; this would include a duty to produce Area Flood Risk Management Plans that set out the strategic framework for flood risk management in Scotland. Local Authorities would fulfil the role of local catchment planning authority; this would include a duty to prepare catchment focused Local Flood Risk Management Plans that coordinate delivery of measures to address flood risk. Responsible authorities would have a duty to collaborate in the production of these plans. This would include contributing through advisory groups. General responsibilities

Implementation of measures to manage flood risks FLOOD ALLEVIATION (e.g. flood defences and natural flood management) Local Authorities would have primary responsibility for flood alleviation and would be responsible for coordinating and implementing flood alleviation measures, including natural flood management measures). Scottish Water (in collaboration with Local Authorities) would be responsible for implementing measures associated with urban drainage infrastructure. All measures would be coordinated through Local Flood Management plans. Forestry commission would be responsible for bringing forward measures associated with forestry management. All measures would be coordinated through Local Flood Management plans. FLOOD AWARENESS AND AVOIDANCE SEPA would fulfil the role of flood warning authority; in fulfilling this role, SEPA would have a duty to provide flood warning services to those areas of Scotland at significant flood risk. Local Authorities (and statutory consultees) would use development control to ensure that flood risks are minimised for new developments. Responsible authorities would exercise their duties to support implementation of measures to reduce flood risk. Responses to flooding Responses to flooding would continue to be coordinated through the framework established under the civil contingencies act.

Area Flood Risk Management Plans would set the strategic framework for flood risk management in Scotland. These plans would coordinate flood management objectives and set the framework in which measures are delivered or planned for at a local level. The Competent Authority will be responsible for producing these plans. Local Flood Risk Management Plans would translate the objectives set out in Area Flood Management Plans into specific measures or combinations of measures to address flood risk. Where necessary, supplemental plans may be required to coordinate deliver of measures, these could include Integrated Urban Drainage Plans or Forestry Plans. It is proposed that Local Authorities would be responsible for producing these plans. Area Flood Risk Management Plan Local Flood Risk Management Plan Integrated Urban Drainage Plan Management units