JBA Consulting Blog      Joanne Woodhouse  ‘The Adaptation Sub Committee (ASC) to the Committee on Climate Change scrutinises the Government’s actions in relation to climate change adaptation and reports every two years on progress. The ASC’s 2017 Report to Parliament stated that the responsibility for managing surface water flooding is fragmented, mainly between water companies, highways authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs). The report also concluded that it is unclear whether the actions carried out by these bodies are effectively tackling this challenge.

To help address this, we were commissioned by the ASC to research and define metrics to measure progress made in managing the risk of surface flooding at a local level, and based on the available data, collate these metrics to gain a national picture of the progress being made.

Our research found that a national assessment of progress is challenging to present: data are either not currently collected or not consistent and comparable between Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). Broadscale estimates of risk exist, but there is no clear understanding of how investment by RMAs is reducing overall surface water flood risk. Since the Flood and Water Management Act introduced new responsibilities for local flood risk management, progress has been made by RMAs, but the approaches taken can vary remarkably between the 152 LLFAs in England and understanding the overall impact of work on reducing flood risk across the full spectrum of RMAs is not always possible.

The research recommends a prioritised approach to future data collection in relation to metrics that cover understanding of risk, ways of working and delivery of outcomes. At a strategic level, there needs to be clear responsibility and funding for data collection and collation, national expectations are needed with regards to partnership working and local asset management and investment needs to evidence shared outcomes across RMA boundaries.’

Click to read the research to define metrics for surface water flood risk management.

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