Local flood risk management
Local flood risk management strategy - non-technical summary
As part of the legislation under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Slough Borough Council is designated as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). As part of the responsibilities for an LLFA SBC is required to:
"develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in its area (a local flood risk management strategy).”
The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Slough Borough Council is an important document which:
- brings together the understanding of flooding in the local area
- identifies who is responsible for addressing flooding issues; and
- explores how flood risk can be managed within Slough.
The main aim of the strategy is to identify where flooding can be reduced or managed in a sustainable manner and to alleviate where possible the misery, economic damage and social disruption that flooding causes. Any flood management activities carried out will aim to enhance the built and natural environment.
Requirements for the LFRMS
The main requirements of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) are to:
- identify the flooding issues at a local level from all sources, fluvial, surface water, groundwater and reservoir flooding
- outline the responsibilities of the statutory bodies, local authorities, water companies and public
- discuss the plans for managing flooding in the future
- identify possible funding routes and partnerships to be established.
The LFRMS will, in all instances, have to be compliant with the national Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.
A LLFA must consult the following about its local flood risk management strategy:
- risk management authorities that may be affected by the strategy (including risk management authorities in Wales), and
- the public.
A LLFA must publish a summary of its local flood risk management strategy (including guidance about the availability of relevant information).
What the Slough LFRMS covers
The SBC LFRMS covers the following aspects:
- identification of the risk management authorities within that area alongside their flood and coastal erosion risk management functions
- objectives for managing flood risk
- measures proposed to achieve those objectives
- how and when the measures are expected to be implemented
- costs and benefits and funding sources
- assessment of local flood risk
- how and when the strategy is to be reviewed
- how the strategy contributes to the wider environmental objectives.
The strategy document starts with the guiding principles and objectives for managing flood risk, Part A.
The local flood risks in Slough are summarised in Part B, and readers will be pointed to other documents such as the Surface Water Management Plan for more detail. Part B will also cover the general measures and overarching delivery plans which can be used for flood management in Slough. In the appendices a more detailed action plan for each catchment covers small-scale local activities to long-term major ones.
The responsibilities that each authority and the landowners and householders have in the partnership to manage the flood risk will be covered in Part C.
The current issues on flood risk, proposed options and recommendations for each of the seven individual catchments within Slough are discussed in separate appendices.
Reviewing and updating the strategy
It will be necessary to update and review the strategy and its associated action plan on a regular basis. The review process will be overseen by the Slough Strategic Flood Risk Management Group and is covered in Part A.
How you can respond
The LFRMS consultation is now complete. Any further comments on the strategy can be submitted via email to tfs@slough.gov.uk and will be given due consideration when undertaking future updates.