Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Who manages flood risk?
Flood risk in England is managed by a range of different Risk Management Authorities, other organisations, and riparian landowners. There is no single organisation responsible for flooding in Buckinghamshire.
Key organisations in flood risk management in Buckinghamshire
Risk Management Authorities take a lead strategic role on management of different sources of flooding. They have permissive powers to carry out works but responsibility rests with riparian owners (who own land or property crossed by or next to a river, stream or ditch). Other organisations, such as the Canal and Rivers Trust, are not Risk Management Authorities, but do have responsibilities related to flood risk.
The Flood and Water Management Act (2010) places a duty on all Risk Management Authorities to co-operate with each other. The act also provides Lead Local Flood Authorities and the Environment Agency with a power to request information required in connection with their flood risk management functions.
Flood and coastal erosion: risk management authorities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Administrative boundaries for different Risk Management Authorities in Buckinghamshire can be viewed on our online map.
Details of which organisations manage flood risk is given below. You can also find out who to contact in the event of flooding.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a Risk Management Authority which supervises and works with other organisations to manage the risk of flooding and coastal erosion in England. It oversees the management the flood risk from main rivers (usually large streams and rivers), the sea and reservoirs.
Lead Local Flood Authority
Buckinghamshire Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) for the whole of Buckinghamshire. It is a Risk Management Authority overseeing the management of flood risk from local sources of flooding (surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses).
More information on our responsibilities can be found on our website.
Internal Drainage Board (IDB)
Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) are Risk Management Authorities. They are independent public bodies responsible for water level management in low lying areas. They work in partnership with other authorities to actively manage and reduce the risk of flooding.
The IDB covering parts of north Buckinghamshire is the Buckingham and River Ouzel IDB.
Water and Sewerage Company
Water and sewerage companies are Risk Management Authorities, responsible for managing the risks of flooding from surface water and foul or combined sewer systems.
Anglian Water and Thames Water are the Water and Sewerage Companies covering Buckinghamshire.
Highway Authorities
Highway Authorities are Risk Management Authorities, responsible for providing and managing highway drainage. The Highway Authority for local roads is Buckinghamshire Council, and the Highways function is managed by Buckinghamshire Highways. National Highways is the Highways Authority for motorways and major roads.
Canal and River Trust
The Canal and River Trust is a charity, entrusted with the care of waterways in England and Wales. The Trust is a navigation authority, and therefore has a statutory obligation to maintain navigation, through the inspection, maintenance and operation of water control structures within its ownership.
The Trust is not a Risk Management Authority and does not have any specific statutory responsibilities in relation to flooding under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) but does have responsibilities as an owner and operator of canals and other waterways. During a flood, it will try to remove excess water as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the canal.
As a reservoir undertaker, the Canal and River Trust also has responsibility for the safety of the reservoirs under its control.
Riparian landowners
Riparian landowners who own land or property crossed by or next to a river, stream or ditch, (including where this runs through a pipe or culvert), have rights and responsibilities over the management of the land including: a responsibility to let water flow through the land without any obstruction, pollution or diversion which affects the rights of others; keeping banks clear of anything that could cause an obstruction and increase flood risk; maintaining the bed and banks of the watercourse; and keeping structures clear of debris.
There is more information on these rights and responsibilities at the following links:
Statutory duties and powers
The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 sets out a number of duties for Buckinghamshire Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority:
Prepare and maintain a strategy
We must prepare and maintain a strategy for local flood risk management in our area.
Partnership working
We have a statutory duty to cooperate with other authorities, including data sharing. This ensures efficiency in how flood risk can be managed.
Flood investigations
We have a duty to formally investigate flood events that meet certain criteria, as set out in the strategy. These Section 19 Flood Investigation Reports enable a greater understanding of the locations where flooding has happened.
Asset register
We have a duty to produce a register of structures that are likely to have a significant effect on flood risk. Documentation of these structures helps to ensure greater co-ordination of information between partners, regulatory bodies and the public.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) (Schedule 3)
The UK Government are in the process of implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, under which we would become a SuDS Approval Body.
Land drainage consent
The Land Drainage Act 1991 gives the Local Authority powers to consent and enforce any works on ordinary watercourses.
Under the Land Drainage Act 1991, the erection or alteration of any feature that may affect the flow of an ordinary watercourse requires local authority consent. We process applications for consent in order to carefully manage flood risk.
Enforcement
When works have been carried out on watercourses without consent, we have the power to enforce and serve notice under the Land Drainage Act 1991. Unconsented actions often stem from a lack of understanding of riparian ownership responsibilities.
Under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 we are a statutory consultee in the planning process:
Statutory consultee
LPAs have a statutory requirement to consult LLFA for "major development with surface water drainage".
We provide technical advice on surface water drainage strategies and designs put forward for major development proposals, to ensure that onsite drainage systems are designed in accordance with the current legislation and guidance.