CIWEM
Fitting and footing the Bill
The Floods and Water Management Bill will give new powers to local authorities to tackle flood
risk. But, asks CIWEM executive director Nick Reeves, will they get the resources to do the job?
D
enial. It’s a perfectly natural response – But, we’ve been here before. Successive
we couldn’t get through life without it. governments have a track record of empowering
Confront the implications of mortality local councils and giving them responsibilities
and the damage we have done to the world, without the resources to deliver. Why is it that
and we wouldn’t get out of bed. To engage with ministers somehow believe that councils can
reality is to give in to despair. Without denial continue to absorb more and more at no extra
there can be no hope. But some folk make a cost? But, not this time. New responsibilities
doctrine of it, and despite all the evidence there under this Bill must be matched by sufficient
are still people who deny the fact of man-made funding and capacity building to support local
climate change. delivery and decision-making. It is crucial that
But steering a logical course through the local councils are supported by effective
climate change debate is virtually impossible guidance and good practice case studies so that
because of the noise and the traffic. I’ve lost they have the ability to take on this expanded
count of the number of communiques and role. There can be no back-sliding on this,
statements I’ve been asked to sign in the run up otherwise most councils will not be able to fulfil
to the climate change summit in Copenhagen. sea, river or surface water, while 2.4 million their obligations and people and property will
And recent scientific reports on the future properties are at risk of flooding from both rivers continue to be at risk.
impacts of a warming world trump each other and the sea. To cope with this level of threat the The Bill is welcome and a big step forward in
on the extent of the challenges we face. With government will need to double the level of proposing adaptation measures. But its aim to
each new report the news is bleaker and bleaker. annual investment in flood and sea defences, enable a wider range of approaches to flood and
Even if we stopped all greenhouse gas increasing annual expenditure from £570M to coastal erosion risk, than allowed under existing
emissions today, climate change would carry on just over a £1B in the next few years. How this legislation, does not sufficiently address the need
because it is embedded in the system we have money will be raised nobody yet knows – the for overarching legislation to enable truly joined-
created. Whatever happens now we will continue debate is yet to be had. But one thing is certain, up water and environmental management that
to see more extremes of weather, further rises in those communities which benefit most from this considers the whole water cycle. The Bill is also
sea levels, more floods, water scarcity and loss of level of investment will almost certainly be silent on the use of strategic planning to reduce
species. But the good news is this: given the will expected to make a contribution. the impact of flooding, linking appropriately to
and the leadership we can minimise the impact PPS25. Encouragement or support of relocation
of climate change. Through adaptation strategies Challenge of properties or parts of communities to more
and behaviour change we can soften the blow Meantime, the scale of the challenge and the sustainable locations, where this is the only
and minimise the risks. But we can’t stop the scale of the cost of providing defences may sustainable option is not mentioned at all.
climate from changing. And I doubt that present mean that some communities are no longer Flooding causes great turmoil in people’s lives
political structures are fit enough for the purpose viable and issues of relocation and year-on-year and the Flood and Water
of coordinating the urgent global action required. compensation will come in to the mix. All this is Management Bill puts into statute many factors
The Government’s climate change legislation contentious but there’s no time to lose. The era which should ensure that flooding is managed
has achieved iconic status and is the first of its of procrastination is over and local councils must more effectively in future. Part of this is
kind anywhere in the world. The targets are now play their full part and be empowered to do recognising the linkages with different elements
tough and it remains to be seen if we’re ‘up for so. It hasn’t always been the case. of the water cycle, and the Bill represents a
it’. But, in terms of iconic status, the draft Flood In almost all matters relating to the positive step forward in this respect.
and Water Management Bill is not far behind. It environment local councils have, for too long, But what it puts in place is only one part of
offers a great opportunity to deliver better- been ignored, undermined or under-resourced. the story. The other is ensuring that local
integrated environmental management that joins (Fewer councils have chief surveyors or chief authorities have skilled staff with local knowledge
up all the pieces. Provided there is adequate engineers than was the case 30 or so years who are able to deliver, and this will require
support, guidance and funding we must ago.) The value of local knowledge of the local additional resources. Unless the Government
welcome the measures that will give local ecology and topography has been marginalised makes these available – so that local councils
authorities more say, demonstrate a in the rush for big over-arching national strategies can discharge their new responsibilities
commitment to sustainable urban drainage and plans that can never be effective without effectively – the Bill will be rendered useless.
systems (SUDS), encourage partnership working local input and local delivery. One size fits all If we’ve learned anything from the recent
and streamline organisational responsibilities. simply won’t do. So the proposal to increase the past, it is this: the cost of doing something is
According to the Environment Agency (which role and responsibility of local councils that far less than the cost of not doing enough.
will have responsibility for strategic oversight and recognises local expertise and knowledge will Making the Bill fit is one thing, footing the bill
a coordinating role under the Bill) one in six contribute to more effective flood risk is quite another. ■■■
homes in England is at risk of flooding from the management around the country in the future. nick@ciwem.org
16 Water & Wastewater Treatment September 2009