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Presentation to Presentation to The L G A Special The L G A Special Interest GroupInterest Group in in

LondonLondon

Martin Wright (Chair - TAG Martin Wright (Chair - TAG Coastal & Fluvial Management Coastal & Fluvial Management

Committee)Committee)&&

Tony Brummel (Cherwell DC)Tony Brummel (Cherwell DC)

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ContentContent

  

Technical Advisors Group (TAG) Technical Advisors Group (TAG) Coastal & Fluvial CommitteeCoastal & Fluvial Committee Coastal workCoastal work Fluvial workFluvial work Interface with the LGAInterface with the LGA  

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TAG - HistoryTAG - History

Association of Chief Technical Association of Chief Technical Officers (ACTO)Officers (ACTO)

Committee “G” – dealing with Committee “G” – dealing with coastal managementcoastal management

Formed in 1993Formed in 1993 Attended by practitioners at all Attended by practitioners at all

levelslevels

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TAGTAG

TAG formed in 1996 from ACTOTAG formed in 1996 from ACTO TAG covers approximately 40% TAG covers approximately 40%

of all Local Authoritiesof all Local Authorities Coastal Committee formed with Coastal Committee formed with

similar references to the old similar references to the old Committee GCommittee G

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Original Coastal Original Coastal CommitteeCommittee

‘‘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’

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Original Coastal Original Coastal CommitteeCommittee

Areas of work (1)Areas of work (1) Coastal Zone Management Coastal Defence Docks & Harbours Marine Pollution Dredging

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Original Coastal Original Coastal CommitteeCommittee

Areas of work (2)Areas of work (2) Shoreline Management Plans Beach Management Cliff Instability Flood Warnings Land Drainage at the Coastline

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Coastal & Fluvial Coastal & Fluvial Management Committee Management Committee TAG Coastal Management brief TAG Coastal Management brief

extended into Fluvial Managementextended into Fluvial Management TAG is the only advisory body in TAG is the only advisory body in

England & Wales dealing with fluvial England & Wales dealing with fluvial managementmanagement

TAG website TAG website www.tagonline.co.uk.www.tagonline.co.uk. has advice on all aspects of the has advice on all aspects of the committee’s coastal & fluvial workcommittee’s coastal & fluvial work

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Coastal & Fluvial - Powers Coastal & Fluvial - Powers to carry out workto carry out work

All powers are permissiveAll powers are permissive Powers not responsibilitiesPowers not responsibilities Coast Protection Act 1949 – coast Coast Protection Act 1949 – coast

protection (coastal erosion)protection (coastal erosion) Land Drainage Act 1991 – main Land Drainage Act 1991 – main

river and ordinary watercoursesriver and ordinary watercourses Water Resources Act 1991 – sea Water Resources Act 1991 – sea

defence (coastal flooding)defence (coastal flooding)

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Coastal & Fluvial - Coastal & Fluvial - Making Space for WaterMaking Space for Water

Defra initiativeDefra initiative Consultation completedConsultation completed LGA, TAG & Coastal Groups all LGA, TAG & Coastal Groups all

respondedresponded General agreement that LAs & General agreement that LAs &

Coastal Groups have a part to play in Coastal Groups have a part to play in the delivery of coastal risk the delivery of coastal risk managementmanagement

Changing Environment Agency rolesChanging Environment Agency roles

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Coastal & Estuaries- Coastal & Estuaries- Shoreline Management Shoreline Management

PlansPlans All original SMPs now completed in both All original SMPs now completed in both England & WalesEngland & Wales

SMP2 trials at 3 locations in S & E SMP2 trials at 3 locations in S & E EnglandEngland

New guidance issued for SMP2New guidance issued for SMP2 SMP2 now ongoing in England & WalesSMP2 now ongoing in England & Wales Appropriate Assessments now necessaryAppropriate Assessments now necessary Costs high due to complexity + Costs high due to complexity +

challengeschallenges

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Coastal & Fluvial - Climate Coastal & Fluvial - Climate ChangeChange

Sea level rise + increase in storminessSea level rise + increase in storminess Sea level rise originally fixed at circa Sea level rise originally fixed at circa

5mm per year; now revised figures5mm per year; now revised figures Increase in storminess most evident in Increase in storminess most evident in

summer storms viz Hull / Sheffield summer storms viz Hull / Sheffield areas & Gloucester / Tewkesbury areasareas & Gloucester / Tewkesbury areas

Government increase in funding to Government increase in funding to £800 million by 2011 from current £800 million by 2011 from current £600 million£600 million

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Changes in Fluvial Changes in Fluvial ManagementManagement

Critical Ordinary Watercourses (COWs)Critical Ordinary Watercourses (COWs) Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs)Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) Water Resources ActWater Resources Act Defra / EA management changesDefra / EA management changes New Local Authority grant application New Local Authority grant application

procedure for Ordinary Watercoursesprocedure for Ordinary Watercourses New arrangements for private sewersNew arrangements for private sewers Divesting of both SWS and FWSDivesting of both SWS and FWS DrainsDrains

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TAG interfacesTAG interfaces Existing interface with LGA coastal Existing interface with LGA coastal

officers group and the Coastal officers group and the Coastal GroupsGroups

Enhanced profile of both coastal Enhanced profile of both coastal and fluvial management due to and fluvial management due to recent eventsrecent events

Increasing political focus on global Increasing political focus on global warming – both sea level rise & warming – both sea level rise & increase in storminessincrease in storminess

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TAG interface with LGA TAG interface with LGA on fluvial matterson fluvial matters

Does the LGA have a need for a Does the LGA have a need for a Special Interest Group?Special Interest Group?

Does the LGA require technical Does the LGA require technical assistance from TAG on fluvial assistance from TAG on fluvial matters?matters?

Is there a way we can all work Is there a way we can all work together to influence Government together to influence Government both in England & Wales?both in England & Wales?

TAG interface with LGATAG interface with LGA

Questions Questions

and and

DiscussionDiscussion

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Critical Ordinary Critical Ordinary WatercoursesWatercourses

Those watercourses previously under the Those watercourses previously under the control of the Local Authority and causing the control of the Local Authority and causing the highest risk of property flooding have been highest risk of property flooding have been “en-mained” and now fall under the control of “en-mained” and now fall under the control of the Environment Agency as the “Operating the Environment Agency as the “Operating Authority”. Authority”. 

Sections of watercourse where flood risk is Sections of watercourse where flood risk is highest continuously downstream to existing highest continuously downstream to existing “main rivers”.“main rivers”.

COW transfers took place in three phases COW transfers took place in three phases between 2004 and 2006.between 2004 and 2006.

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Sustainable Urban Drainage Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS)(SUDS)

A generic term for effecting surface A generic term for effecting surface water drainage other than by direct water drainage other than by direct discharge to watercourses or sewers.discharge to watercourses or sewers.

Soakage basins.Soakage basins. SoakawaysSoakaways Swales.Swales. Permeable pavements.Permeable pavements. Rainwater harvesting.Rainwater harvesting.

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Defra / EA management Defra / EA management changeschanges

EA now responsible for dealing with EA now responsible for dealing with all applications for both main rivers all applications for both main rivers and ordinary watercoursesand ordinary watercourses

New application system recently New application system recently brought in for both EA & LA brought in for both EA & LA schemesschemes

Bids for LA medium-term Bids for LA medium-term programme due by 31 August 2007programme due by 31 August 2007

Priority score to be replaced by Priority score to be replaced by “Outcome Measures”“Outcome Measures”

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Ordinary WatercoursesOrdinary Watercourses

New arrangements now in place for Local New arrangements now in place for Local Authorities to apply for 100% grant aid. Authorities to apply for 100% grant aid.

Applications for approval of “Preliminary Applications for approval of “Preliminary Studies” on Form FRM7. £2m+ approved Studies” on Form FRM7. £2m+ approved nationally, others locallynationally, others locally

Project Appraisal necessary in all casesProject Appraisal necessary in all cases Application for the “Medium Term Capital Application for the “Medium Term Capital

Works Programme” on Form FRM 1Works Programme” on Form FRM 1 All applications were to be submitted by 31 All applications were to be submitted by 31

AugustAugust

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New arrangements for New arrangements for Private SewersPrivate Sewers

In February 2007 Defra decided that all In February 2007 Defra decided that all private sewers (with a few exceptions) private sewers (with a few exceptions) would become the responsibility of Water would become the responsibility of Water and Sewerage Companies throughout and Sewerage Companies throughout England and Wales, e.g. Thames Water, England and Wales, e.g. Thames Water, Welsh Water etc. Welsh Water etc.

Currently all sewers other than public Currently all sewers other than public sewers are private sewers and are the sewers are private sewers and are the responsibility of the householders / property responsibility of the householders / property owners that use them regardless of location.owners that use them regardless of location.

New arrangements for New arrangements for Private SewersPrivate Sewers

Private sewers can be just 1 or 2 metres long Private sewers can be just 1 or 2 metres long and are the responsibility of 1 or 2 and are the responsibility of 1 or 2 householders.householders.

They can be hundreds of metres long and the They can be hundreds of metres long and the joint responsibility of hundreds of joint responsibility of hundreds of householders.householders.

Most private sewers are partly in “public” Most private sewers are partly in “public” areas, e.g. highways.areas, e.g. highways.

  Most householders do not know the extent of Most householders do not know the extent of their responsibilities for private sewers or that their responsibilities for private sewers or that they have any responsibility at all.they have any responsibility at all.

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New arrangements for New arrangements for Private SewersPrivate Sewers

Most householders still think “the Most householders still think “the Council” are responsible for all Council” are responsible for all sewers and drainage.sewers and drainage.

Defra is now consulting on the detail Defra is now consulting on the detail of the transfer. Consultation closes of the transfer. Consultation closes on 19 October.on 19 October.

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New arrangements for New arrangements for Private SewersPrivate Sewers

Details being consulted onDetails being consulted on

1.1. One off overnight transfer for all private sewersOne off overnight transfer for all private sewers

2.2. Phased transferPhased transfer

3.3. Rights of appeal in favour of or against transfersRights of appeal in favour of or against transfers Should surface water as well as foul sewers be Should surface water as well as foul sewers be

transferred?transferred? How do we ensure that future building standards How do we ensure that future building standards

conform to the expectations of the WaSCs?conform to the expectations of the WaSCs?

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Divesting of Public Foul Divesting of Public Foul and Surface Water and Surface Water

SewersSewers Allegations that some WaSCs have Allegations that some WaSCs have

unilaterally divested previously unilaterally divested previously designated public sewersdesignated public sewers

Effect is to transfer responsibility to Effect is to transfer responsibility to private householders.private householders.

Divesting is possible but should follow Divesting is possible but should follow a prescribed statutory process.a prescribed statutory process.

Divesting of Public Foul Divesting of Public Foul and Surface Water and Surface Water

SewersSewers Some public surface water sewers have Some public surface water sewers have

been divested on the basis that they are been divested on the basis that they are watercourses and therefore should not watercourses and therefore should not have been vested in the first place.have been vested in the first place.

Implications on the COW en-mainment Implications on the COW en-mainment process if sensitive surface water process if sensitive surface water sewers are to be treated as sewers are to be treated as watercourses.watercourses.

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DrainsDrains Legal definition.Legal definition.

1.1. Drains can serve only one property.Drains can serve only one property.

2.2. Sewers can serve only more than one Sewers can serve only more than one property.property.

3.3. In all other respects equal.In all other respects equal. Drains can be surface water drains or foul Drains can be surface water drains or foul

drains or combined foul/surface water drains or combined foul/surface water drains.drains.

Alleged problems with “drains” in recent Alleged problems with “drains” in recent flood eventsflood events

““Drains designed to lower standardsDrains designed to lower standards

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TAG interface with LGATAG interface with LGA

Existing interface with coastal Existing interface with coastal officers groupofficers group

Enhanced profile of both coastal Enhanced profile of both coastal and fluvial management due to and fluvial management due to recent eventsrecent events

Political focus on global warming – Political focus on global warming – both sea level rise & increase in both sea level rise & increase in storminessstorminess

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TAG interface with LGATAG interface with LGA

Does the LGA have a need for a Does the LGA have a need for a Special Interest Group?Special Interest Group?

Does the LGA require technical Does the LGA require technical assistance from TAG on fluvial assistance from TAG on fluvial matters?matters?

Is there a way we can all work Is there a way we can all work together to influence Government together to influence Government both in England & Wales?both in England & Wales?