Northumberland County Council (NCC) is the
Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) for Northumberland as defined by
the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (the Act). As a result of
this NCC have a number of new duties and responsibilities to assist
in the management flood risk form local sources within our
administrative boundary. Sources of flood risk identified as local
by the Act include:
- Surface Water
- Ordinary Watercourses
- Groundwater
- Canals
- Lakes
- And Small Reservoirs
As LLFA we are required to develop, apply and monitor a Local
Flood Risk Management Strategy. The strategy will state the
objectives for managing flood risk within Northumberland, contain
an action plan with the measures proposed to achieve those
objectives, and specify how and when the measures are expected to
be implemented.
The strategy will require co-operative working between NCC and
other relevant risk management authorities, such as the Environment
Agency and Northumbrian Water, to ensure that the strategy is
all-inclusive and complete. As part of this we also expect to
undertake an extensive consultation process, to ensure we gather
and incorporate your views on the future of flood risk management
in Northumberland. This process is likely to start in 2013 with an
initial draft currently expected for the summer of 2013.
Since becoming LLFA, the Act also stipulates that we are now
also responsible for the following:
a) Where necessary
and appropriate investigate flooding incidents;
b) Maintaining a
register of locally significant flood
defence assets;
c) Building
partnerships and ensuring effective working relationships between
authorities that have a control over flood risk;
d) Designation of third
party flood and coastal erosion risk management
structures;
e) Consenting on
Ordinary Watercourses.
The work involved in defining the term
‘locally significant’ for flood investigations and flood defences
will be incorporated into the production of the Local Flood Risk
Management Strategy. Please see the NCC ‘Consenting on Ordinary Watercourses’ webpage
for more information on this aspect of our LLFA role.
During 2012 there have been many flood events across
Northumberland. To assist people understanding their role and the
roles of other organisations we have developed this booklet -
Roles and
Responsibilities for Flooding.
For more information on
any of these pieces of work, or if would like to find out more
about the Council’s flood risk management functions,
then please email FCERM@Northumberland.gov.uk
Useful Flood Links
· Check your flood risk at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood.
· Sign up to receive FREE flood
warnings at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood.
· Download and complete an easy
personal flood plan at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood
· Prepare now by buying and
installing flood products in advance. Visit
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood
for advice or http://www.bluepages.org.uk/
for an independent directory of flood
products.
· Find out if there is a
community flood group in your area or how to set one up by
contacting the National Flood Forum on 01743 741725.
· Find out about how you can
contribute to or organise funding for flood protection in your area
at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
Other External Links
Environment Agency
National Flood Forum
Northumbrian Water
