DEFRA's Latest Consultation

Here from the Post Magazine of Monday 7th August 2006 comes this item relating to DEFRA's latest consultation.

Defra publishes coastal risk management proposals

Changes to the way the risk from sea flooding and coastal erosion is dealt with on the coast are being proposed in a Defra consultation published today. The proposals aim to strengthen existing arrangements to help achieve more effective and sustainable management of the coast in the face of climate change.

Under the proposals, the Environment Agency would in future take a lead rôle in managing the risk of all sea flooding and of coastal erosion in a more planned, strategic and sustainable way.
The new arrangements would simplify current responsibilities so providing greater clarity for the public over who is responsible for taking decisions that directly affect them. The proposals would also ensure that funding is spent more efficiently and effectively in line with agreed national priorities, which should help to ensure as many communities as possible benefit.

The consultation sets out that local authorities, of which there are more than 90 around the coast, would continue to play a key rôle in delivering projects on the ground, providing valuable expertise, local knowledge and opportunities to engage with local interested parties. This would be carried out under the strategic direction of the EA who would be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the arrangements.

Ian Pearson, Environment Minister, said: "Today's consultation sets out a system that is both clearer and more understandable to people, but which also ensures that funding is used to best effect. By giving one body, the Environment Agency, the lead in managing all flood and erosion risk on the coast, we will be in a better position to anticipate, prepare for and minimise the inevitable impacts that climate change will have on our coastline.

"We want to improve our ability to manage the risks on our coast in a truly sustainable way, which means working with, rather than against, natural processes, and planning ahead for further protection or realignment and adaptation depending on the circumstances. As well as protecting as many homes and businesses as possible, this approach can also create environmental and local tourism benefits. Achieving more strategic management in this way is in line with the Government's Making Space for Water strategy which sets out the clear need for more sustainable solutions and for adaptation to climate change.
"The proposals should also offer the public greater clarity on which locations are likely to be protected in the future whilst also making it clear who is taking such decisions and on what basis." The consultation forms a key part of the Government's wider strategy of managing the risk from flooding and coastal erosion, Making Space for Water.

The consultation proposes that:

• Working in partnership with local authorities, the EA should lead on the production of all future Shoreline Management Plans, which set the long term future direction of the coast.
• EA should work with local authorities to identify potential projects. The EA would then prioritise these and administer funding based on arrangements agreed with Defra who would continue to set the policy requirements and national targets and would agree the prioritisation system.
• EA procurement framework should be extended to coast protection, maximising procurement efficiency.
• EA should be given the same coast protection powers as local authorities allowing the best placed authority to deliver works on the ground.
• The rôle of Regional Flood Defence Committees in agreeing regional programmes of work should be widened to include all sea flooding and coast protection.