“Local Authorities should collate and map the main flood risk management and drainage assets
(over and underground), including a record of their ownership and condition”
 

Drivers for a Local Authority Flood Risk Asset Tool

Government has identified the need for a tool to help Local Authorities better manage and use flooding and drainage asset information for the local sources of flood risk – e.g. surface water and ground water. This will help deliver the draft Flood and Water Management Bill’s proposed duty on Local Authorities to maintain an asset register and Recommendation 16 of the Pitt Review that states:

“Local Authorities should collate and map the main flood risk management and drainage assets (over and underground), including a record of their ownership and condition”

The tool will be relevant to District Councils, County Councils and Unitary Authorities in exercising their functions, e.g. on highways, drainage, etc.

Defra have asked the Environment Agency to lead a project to develop this tool for Local Authorities to use. This project also has the support of Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Association. Members of District Councils, County Councils and Unitary Authorities are all represented on the project board.

The project aims to produce a tool that is designed to meet the needs of all Local Authorities. The tool is envisaged to be easy to use, efficient to maintain and compatible with existing local authority systems and approaches already in place. It will seek to build upon tried and tested methods and existing good practice where these are identified.

User Requirements Questionnaire

The first stage of this study has been to scope out user requirements. An online questionnaire was made available to allow local authorities to give us their views on:

  • their requirements for collating and sharing asset information
  • their current experience in collating and sharing flood and coastal asset information
  • the extent of the asset information they currently hold
  • what they would like to see in way of tools and guidance to help them compile asset registers
 

A Big “Thank-you”

132 people responded to the questionnaire representing 114 local authorities: 14 County Councils, 55 Districts and 45 Unitary Authorities, Metropolitan Borough Councils or London Boroughs. So thanks to all of you who took the time to help us:

Findings

Initial high-level conclusion are that:

  • Over 95% of respondents would like good practice guidance.
  • There is a strong preference (90%) for GIS-based tools to support the creation of FRM asset registers.
  • 78% of local authorities currently have or are developing a system to record asset information.
  • The review of existing practice shows great diversity in approach, from authorities who have mature, well managed and well populated systems to those who operate with paper records.
  • The levels of completeness and quality of existing asset registers vary.
  • There is no agreed list of which assets should be recorded; nor a minimum level of detail.
  • There are few mechanism or routine needs for data sharing reported.

What’s next?

The results of the questionnaire and associated research have been reported back to Defra and the Environment Agency who, in consultation with local authority representatives will decide on appropriate next steps and what advice is to be issued to support to compilation and sharing of the asset registers.

Ongoing involvement and further information

This work is being managed by Halcrow on behalf of Defra and the Environment Agency. If you would like to be kept up-to-date with its progress please contact Rob Deakin.