08/10/2015 MWA 1 Presentation to The L G A Special Interest Group in London Martin Wright (Chair - TAG Coastal & Fluvial Management Committee) & Tony Brummel (Cherwell DC)

08/10/2015 2MWA Content Technical Advisors Group (TAG) Technical Advisors Group (TAG) Coastal & Fluvial Committee Coastal & Fluvial Committee Coastal work Coastal work Fluvial work Fluvial work Interface with the LGA Interface with the LGA

08/10/2015 3MWA TAG - History Association of Chief Technical Officers (ACTO) Association of Chief Technical Officers (ACTO) Committee “G” – dealing with coastal management Committee “G” – dealing with coastal management Formed in 1993 Formed in 1993 Attended by practitioners at all levels Attended by practitioners at all levels

08/10/2015 4MWA TAG TAG formed in 1996 from ACTO TAG formed in 1996 from ACTO TAG covers approximately 40% of all Local Authorities TAG covers approximately 40% of all Local Authorities Coastal Committee formed with similar references to the old Committee G Coastal Committee formed with similar references to the old Committee G

08/10/2015 5MWA Original Coastal Committee ‘ ‘To offer advice and Technical support on coastal management and engineering issues to the members of TAG, their Authorities, the Local Government Association, Central Government and related ‘Special Interest Groups’

08/10/2015 6MWA Original Coastal Committee Areas of work (1) Coastal Zone Management Coastal Defence Docks & Harbours Marine Pollution Dredging

08/10/2015 7MWA Original Coastal Committee Areas of work (2) Shoreline Management Plans Beach Management Cliff Instability Flood Warnings Land Drainage at the Coastline

08/10/2015 8MWA Coastal & Fluvial Management Committee TAG Coastal Management brief extended into Fluvial Management TAG Coastal Management brief extended into Fluvial Management TAG is the only advisory body in England & Wales dealing with fluvial management TAG is the only advisory body in England & Wales dealing with fluvial management TAG website has advice on all aspects of the committee’s coastal & fluvial work TAG website has advice on all aspects of the committee’s coastal & fluvial work

08/10/2015 9MWA Coastal & Fluvial - Powers to carry out work All powers are permissive All powers are permissive Powers not responsibilities Powers not responsibilities Coast Protection Act 1949 – coast protection (coastal erosion) Coast Protection Act 1949 – coast protection (coastal erosion) Land Drainage Act 1991 – main river and ordinary watercourses Land Drainage Act 1991 – main river and ordinary watercourses Water Resources Act 1991 – sea defence (coastal flooding) Water Resources Act 1991 – sea defence (coastal flooding)

08/10/ MWA Coastal & Fluvial - Making Space for Water Defra initiative Defra initiative Consultation completed Consultation completed LGA, TAG & Coastal Groups all responded LGA, TAG & Coastal Groups all responded General agreement that LAs & Coastal Groups have a part to play in the delivery of coastal risk management General agreement that LAs & Coastal Groups have a part to play in the delivery of coastal risk management Changing Environment Agency roles Changing Environment Agency roles

08/10/ MWA Coastal & Estuaries- Shoreline Management Plans All original SMPs now completed in both England & Wales All original SMPs now completed in both England & Wales SMP2 trials at 3 locations in S & E England SMP2 trials at 3 locations in S & E England New guidance issued for SMP2 New guidance issued for SMP2 SMP2 now ongoing in England & Wales SMP2 now ongoing in England & Wales Appropriate Assessments now necessary Appropriate Assessments now necessary Costs high due to complexity + challenges Costs high due to complexity + challenges

08/10/ MWA Coastal & Fluvial - Climate Change Sea level rise + increase in storminess Sea level rise + increase in storminess Sea level rise originally fixed at circa 5mm per year; now revised figures Sea level rise originally fixed at circa 5mm per year; now revised figures Increase in storminess most evident in summer storms viz Hull / Sheffield areas & Gloucester / Tewkesbury areas Increase in storminess most evident in summer storms viz Hull / Sheffield areas & Gloucester / Tewkesbury areas Government increase in funding to £800 million by 2011 from current £600 million Government increase in funding to £800 million by 2011 from current £600 million

08/10/ MWA Changes in Fluvial Management Critical Ordinary Watercourses (COWs) Critical Ordinary Watercourses (COWs) Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) Water Resources Act Water Resources Act Defra / EA management changes Defra / EA management changes New Local Authority grant application procedure for Ordinary Watercourses New Local Authority grant application procedure for Ordinary Watercourses New arrangements for private sewers New arrangements for private sewers Divesting of both SWS and FWS Divesting of both SWS and FWS Drains Drains

08/10/ MWA TAG interfaces Existing interface with LGA coastal officers group and the Coastal Groups Existing interface with LGA coastal officers group and the Coastal Groups Enhanced profile of both coastal and fluvial management due to recent events Enhanced profile of both coastal and fluvial management due to recent events Increasing political focus on global warming – both sea level rise & increase in storminess Increasing political focus on global warming – both sea level rise & increase in storminess

08/10/ MWA TAG interface with LGA on fluvial matters Does the LGA have a need for a Special Interest Group? Does the LGA have a need for a Special Interest Group? Does the LGA require technical assistance from TAG on fluvial matters? Does the LGA require technical assistance from TAG on fluvial matters? Is there a way we can all work together to influence Government both in England & Wales? Is there a way we can all work together to influence Government both in England & Wales?

TAG interface with LGA QuestionsandDiscussion 08/10/ MWA

08/10/ MWA

08/10/ MWA Critical Ordinary Watercourses Those watercourses previously under the control of the Local Authority and causing the highest risk of property flooding have been “en-mained” and now fall under the control of the Environment Agency as the “Operating Authority”. Those watercourses previously under the control of the Local Authority and causing the highest risk of property flooding have been “en-mained” and now fall under the control of the Environment Agency as the “Operating Authority”. Sections of watercourse where flood risk is highest continuously downstream to existing “main rivers”. Sections of watercourse where flood risk is highest continuously downstream to existing “main rivers”. COW transfers took place in three phases between 2004 and COW transfers took place in three phases between 2004 and 2006.

08/10/ MWA Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) A generic term for effecting surface water drainage other than by direct discharge to watercourses or sewers. A generic term for effecting surface water drainage other than by direct discharge to watercourses or sewers. Soakage basins. Soakage basins. Soakaways Soakaways Swales. Swales. Permeable pavements. Permeable pavements. Rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting.

08/10/ MWA Defra / EA management changes EA now responsible for dealing with all applications for both main rivers and ordinary watercourses EA now responsible for dealing with all applications for both main rivers and ordinary watercourses New application system recently brought in for both EA & LA schemes New application system recently brought in for both EA & LA schemes Bids for LA medium-term programme due by 31 August 2007 Bids for LA medium-term programme due by 31 August 2007 Priority score to be replaced by “Outcome Measures” Priority score to be replaced by “Outcome Measures”

08/10/ MWA Ordinary Watercourses New arrangements now in place for Local Authorities to apply for 100% grant aid. New arrangements now in place for Local Authorities to apply for 100% grant aid. Applications for approval of “Preliminary Studies” on Form FRM7. £2m+ approved nationally, others locally Applications for approval of “Preliminary Studies” on Form FRM7. £2m+ approved nationally, others locally Project Appraisal necessary in all cases Project Appraisal necessary in all cases Application for the “Medium Term Capital Works Programme” on Form FRM 1 Application for the “Medium Term Capital Works Programme” on Form FRM 1 All applications were to be submitted by 31 August All applications were to be submitted by 31 August

08/10/ MWA New arrangements for Private Sewers In February 2007 Defra decided that all private sewers (with a few exceptions) would become the responsibility of Water and Sewerage Companies throughout England and Wales, e.g. Thames Water, Welsh Water etc. In February 2007 Defra decided that all private sewers (with a few exceptions) would become the responsibility of Water and Sewerage Companies throughout England and Wales, e.g. Thames Water, Welsh Water etc. Currently all sewers other than public sewers are private sewers and are the responsibility of the householders / property owners that use them regardless of location. Currently all sewers other than public sewers are private sewers and are the responsibility of the householders / property owners that use them regardless of location.

New arrangements for Private Sewers Private sewers can be just 1 or 2 metres long and are the responsibility of 1 or 2 householders. Private sewers can be just 1 or 2 metres long and are the responsibility of 1 or 2 householders. They can be hundreds of metres long and the joint responsibility of hundreds of householders. They can be hundreds of metres long and the joint responsibility of hundreds of householders. Most private sewers are partly in “public” areas, e.g. highways. Most private sewers are partly in “public” areas, e.g. highways. Most householders do not know the extent of their responsibilities for private sewers or that they have any responsibility at all. Most householders do not know the extent of their responsibilities for private sewers or that they have any responsibility at all. 08/10/ MWA

New arrangements for Private Sewers Most householders still think “the Council” are responsible for all sewers and drainage. Most householders still think “the Council” are responsible for all sewers and drainage. Defra is now consulting on the detail of the transfer. Consultation closes on 19 October. Defra is now consulting on the detail of the transfer. Consultation closes on 19 October. 08/10/ MWA

New arrangements for Private Sewers Details being consulted on Details being consulted on 1. One off overnight transfer for all private sewers 2. Phased transfer 3. Rights of appeal in favour of or against transfers Should surface water as well as foul sewers be transferred? Should surface water as well as foul sewers be transferred? How do we ensure that future building standards conform to the expectations of the WaSCs? How do we ensure that future building standards conform to the expectations of the WaSCs? 08/10/ MWA

08/10/ MWA Divesting of Public Foul and Surface Water Sewers Allegations that some WaSCs have unilaterally divested previously designated public sewers Allegations that some WaSCs have unilaterally divested previously designated public sewers Effect is to transfer responsibility to private householders. Effect is to transfer responsibility to private householders. Divesting is possible but should follow a prescribed statutory process. Divesting is possible but should follow a prescribed statutory process.

Divesting of Public Foul and Surface Water Sewers Some public surface water sewers have been divested on the basis that they are watercourses and therefore should not have been vested in the first place. Some public surface water sewers have been divested on the basis that they are watercourses and therefore should not have been vested in the first place. Implications on the COW en-mainment process if sensitive surface water sewers are to be treated as watercourses. Implications on the COW en-mainment process if sensitive surface water sewers are to be treated as watercourses. 08/10/ MWA

08/10/ MWA Drains Legal definition. Legal definition. 1. Drains can serve only one property. 2. Sewers can serve only more than one property. 3. In all other respects equal. Drains can be surface water drains or foul drains or combined foul/surface water drains. Drains can be surface water drains or foul drains or combined foul/surface water drains. Alleged problems with “drains” in recent flood events Alleged problems with “drains” in recent flood events “Drains designed to lower standards “Drains designed to lower standards

08/10/ MWA TAG interface with LGA Existing interface with coastal officers group Existing interface with coastal officers group Enhanced profile of both coastal and fluvial management due to recent events Enhanced profile of both coastal and fluvial management due to recent events Political focus on global warming – both sea level rise & increase in storminess Political focus on global warming – both sea level rise & increase in storminess

08/10/ MWA TAG interface with LGA Does the LGA have a need for a Special Interest Group? Does the LGA have a need for a Special Interest Group? Does the LGA require technical assistance from TAG on fluvial matters? Does the LGA require technical assistance from TAG on fluvial matters? Is there a way we can all work together to influence Government both in England & Wales? Is there a way we can all work together to influence Government both in England & Wales?