This NAO report looks like provoking a wide range of comment – two responses in addition to the report link below.
NAO “Against a background of tight resources, the Agency has improved how it prioritizes its spending, including on the maintenance of flood defences. On this measure the Agency is achieving value for money. However, if we set aside the emergency spending in response to last year’s floods, and give due credit for efficiency improvements, the underlying spending on flood defences has gone down. The Agency, as it recognizes, will need to make difficult decisions about whether to continue maintaining assets in some areas or let them lapse, increasing in future both the risk of floods and the potential need for more expensive ad hoc emergency solutions. The achievement of value for money in the long term remains significantly uncertain.” Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, 5 November 2014
http://www.nao.org.uk/report/strategic-flood-risk-management-2/
Telegraph; ‘Half of Britain’s flood defences are at risk because of funding cuts but the Environment Agency has failed to inform homeowners living nearby, the National Audit Office has said.
A total of 1,356 flood defence schemes looked after by the Environment Agency in England are only being maintained at a “minimal level” because they are not considered to represent good value for money.
As a result they are likely to deteriorate more quickly, increasing flood risk and requiring more expensive emergency solutions, the spending watchdog warned.
But despite the cuts the Environment Agency has not informed communities that they face an increased risk of flooding as a result of lower maintenance spending.’
Defra response: ‘Today the National Audit Office has published its 2014 report on flood defence spending. It welcomes improvements in the way the Environment Agency is prioritising its spending, including on flood defence maintenance, and how it achieves value for money.
However, the report claims the underlying spending on flood defences has gone down.
On NAO’s funding claims, Flooding Minister Dan Rogerson said:
The NAO has drawn conclusions on funding based on inappropriate comparisons. We have invested £3.2 billion in flood management and defences over the course of this parliament which is a real term increase and half a billion more than in the previous parliament. This has allowed us to protect 165,000 families and households in vulnerable areas.
Not only are we spending more than ever before, but we are also ensuring that our investment strategy will deliver long-term value for money. Next month, we will set out the first ever 6-year programme with record levels of investment, which will protect another 300,000 homes by the end of the decade.
Following one of the wettest winters on record we have worked side by side with EA to get our flood defences ready for this winter. We made £270 million available to repair any flood defences that were damaged last winter, to make sure they are ready to protect homes and businesses. Last month the Environment Agency met its deadline to restore flood protection in all areas affected by the winter floods.’ To read more go to:
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