Unclear Local Flood Response Roles
Gaps in clarity regarding local roles and responsibilities for flood response and long-term climate adaptation.
99 items
4 sources
1 inquiry
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#13 - Fragmented responsibilities and unclear accountability persist in flood risk management.
We are deeply concerned that even after more than a decade of reform, many communities still do not know who is responsible for managing flood risk where they live. A system that leaves the public unclear about accountability is not fit for purpose. Despite the original aim of the 60 Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to clarify...
Matched on
terms: flood, local, response, role
Committee recommendation
86match
#14 - Establish clear national mechanism for strategic oversight and accountability in flood risk management.
Flood resilience must be planned, integrated, and accountable, not fragmented, reactive, or opaque. The Government should establish a clear national mechanism for strategic oversight and accountability in flood risk management. By the end of 2025, it should set out how it intends to deliver this, whether by strengthening the Environment Agency’s mandate, amending the Flood and Water Management...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
86match
#2 - Amend Flood Act to establish statutory duty for authorities and empower Environment Agency oversight
Flood resilience must be embedded in statute as a clear responsibility, not left as a discretionary ambition. The Government should bring forward proposals to amend the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to establish a duty for all relevant authorities to act in accordance with a strengthened Flood and Coastal Erosion Management Strategy, which must clearly define what...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
86match
#27 - Storm Babet exposed local clarity gaps in flood response and long-term climate adaptation roles
During Storm Babet in 2022–23, there were 5.7 million properties in England at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water or groundwater. Over 150 rivers had record water levels and 2,200 homes were flooded. The storm hit local areas that were less used 40 Q 46 41 C&AG’s Report, paras 5 and 13 42 Dr Laiz...
Matched on
terms: flood, local, response, role
Committee recommendation
83match
#24 - Facilitate a greater role for local authorities to accelerate domestic retrofit roll-out.
We look forward to the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and their estimate of workforce needs and how they will meet it. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan should facilitate a greater role for local authorities to accelerate the roll-out of retrofit. (Recommendation, Paragraph 96)
Matched on
terms: local, role
Committee recommendation
81match
#10 - Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government must provide leadership to ensure that the division of flood risk responsibilities among various organisations does not result in local communities experiencing a less efficient and responsive approach to flood risk management than if all responsibilities were brought under one roof. We cautiously welcome the Government’s commitment to reform flood risk planning, but it must effectively...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
77match
#30 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
Written evidence from Flood Re highlighted that the Agency does not have responsibility for surface water flooding and it has concerns about the impacts of developments in dense urban areas where surface water flood risks are high. It also has concerns that there is an inconsistent approach to climate change risk in the planning review process, and that...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
74match
#15 - Consult on introducing statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services to respond to flooding.
The Government should consult on introducing a statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services in England to respond to flooding, supported by dedicated funding for training, equipment, and operational planning. This should be undertaken by the end of 2025. This would align England with devolved administrations and strengthen national flood resilience. This should also look at making the...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
70match
#12 - Planning system fails to account for cumulative development impacts on flood risk.
As our recent report on flood resilience stated, the planning system fails to account for the cumulative and cross-boundary impacts of development on flood risk. Land use decisions are often made in isolation, without considering downstream consequences, catchment-scale dynamics, or long-term resilience. This fragmented approach undermines catchment- based and natural flood management, can lead to new development in...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
69match
#7 - Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government’s refusal to set a national standard for resilience to flooding means there is uncertainty about the level of its ambition. We would expect the Government to show leadership in the face of severe and growing risk by setting out its long- term objective. We are not convinced by the Government’s rationale for rejecting the National Infrastructure...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
65match
#7 - Catchment-based planning inconsistently applied, poorly coordinated, and underpowered by funding
Catchment-based planning is widely acknowledged as the most effective and integrated way to manage flood risk, improve water quality, and deliver nature-based solutions. However, despite years of policy support, it remains inconsistently applied, poorly coordinated, and underpowered by short- term, discretionary funding. Fragmented responsibilities and the absence of statutory oversight continue to limit its reach and impact. If...
Matched on
terms: flood
LGO / SPSO decision
63match
20-014-236 - North Yorkshire County Council
Summary: Mrs D complained the Council, in its role as a Lead Flood Authority, failed to take enforcement action against her neighbour for works to his garden which impacted their underground drainage system. As a result, she said she experienced distress due to flooding of her garden and risk of flooding to her property. She also had financial...
Matched on
terms: flood, local, role
Inquiry recommendation
62match
MAI-162 - Define BTP Senior Duty Officer role in Major Incidents
The role of the Senior Duty Officer in a Major Incident should be clearly defined and explained in the British Transport Police Major Incident Manual. This role should have a corresponding action card.
Matched on
terms: role
Committee recommendation
60match
#34 - Fourth Report - Flooding
We have listened with great concern to evidence that local communities feel disengaged and ignored in decisions relevant to flood risk. It is clear that, where risk management authorities do engage with local people, this engagement is often not perceived as meaningful or impactful. Communities must not be treated as groups who have things done to them, but...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
60match
#22 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
The Department has committed to developing a new national set of indicators on flood risk by spring 2022. It confirmed that these new indicators will be measurable and will enable the tracking of national flood risk over time.25 24 Q 54 25 Qq 49, 55–56 14 Managing food risk 2 Local investment and resilience Local levels of investment
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
60match
#3 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
In 2014 the NAO report on strategic flood management found there was a profusion of plans that often duplicate across geographical or administrative areas. Defra and the Agency have not followed the NAO recommendation to review their strategies and plans with a view to rationalise them to reduce the burden on communities and to promote public engagement. 6...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
Committee recommendation
60match
#32 - First Report - The future of the planning system in England
The Government should clarify how it intends to define flood risk in the planning system. This includes clarifying how this will take account of the possible impact of climate change and how it fits within wider flooding policy.
Matched on
terms: flood, local
PFD report
57match
Kane Davidson
The council's landlord licensing process lacks prior premises audits and doesn't explicitly address child safety risks like internal blinds. Enforcement for non-compliance is unclear, and tenant certificates are misleading.
Matched on
terms: unclear
PFD report
57match
Hemanta Rai
Inadequate and unclear signage at a waterfall location fails to explicitly warn visitors of drowning risks. Furthermore, responsibility for safety in this multi-jurisdictional area is poorly defined.
Matched on
terms: unclear
Committee recommendation
57match
#35 - Fourth Report - Flooding
The Government should review the institutional arrangements for community engagement in flood risk management, to identify best practice and opportunities for more effective approaches. The Government should also commit to ensuring that risk management authorities are resourced and supported to carry out meaningful engagement, including making funding available to the voluntary sector to build capacity in other organisations....
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
57match
#11 - Fourth Report - Flooding
The responsibility of riparian owners to maintain watercourses so as not to increase flood risk to others is well established in common law. Obviously, individuals must first know whether they are riparian owners, and their responsibilities, if they are to be expected to discharge them. Risk management authorities also need to be properly enabled and resourced to identify...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
55match
#13 - 6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities
Past FCERM funding arrangements have limited support for coastal management by relying on narrow benefit assessments that overlook wider, nonmonetised risks from coastal erosion and the existential pressures facing coastal communities and industries. We welcome the Government’s intention to incorporate broader nonmonetised benefits into the prioritisation process from 2026. However, it remains unclear how these benefits will be...
Matched on
terms: flood, unclear
Committee recommendation
55match
#14 - 6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities
In its response, Defra should provide a plan setting out how wider nonmonetised benefits for coastal erosion projects will be incorporated into the reformed FCERM funding model. This plan should: 22 a. Specify the benefits to be included in the 2026 FCERM prioritisation process and provide the methodology for assessing them. b. Commission independent research to determine the...
Matched on
terms: flood, response
Inquiry recommendation
53match
MAI-158 - Guidance on commander location during incidents
The Home Office, the National Ambulance Resilience Unit, the College of Policing and the Fire Service College should develop guidance as to where commanders should locate during a spontaneous Major Incident. Steps should be taken to ensure that a consistent approach is taken so that equivalent commanders locate in the same place. During the response to a terrorist...
Matched on
terms: response
Inquiry recommendation
53match
MAI-156 - Ambulance Liaison Officer resourcing
The Home Office, the Department of Health and Social Care and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit should consider how to ensure that the role of an Ambulance Liaison Officer is properly resourced and also whether venue operators should fund the presence of an Ambulance Liaison Officer where one is required.
Matched on
terms: role
Inquiry recommendation
53match
MAI-35 - Review GMFRS Incident Commander policy
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service should review the policy by which the Incident Commander takes up the role, in light of the shortcomings I have identified in the policy in operation on 22nd May 2017.
Matched on
terms: role
Committee recommendation
53match
#9 - Revise National Policy Statement for Ports to clarify port freight interface and promote modal shift
The Government should revise the draft National Policy Statement for Ports to articulate more clearly how ports interface with other freight modes, ensuring that planning authorities actively consider modal shift in their decision-making. This should reflect the strategic role of ports in enabling integrated, low-emission freight networks and support the Government’s wider priorities on modal shift and achieving...
Matched on
terms: role
Committee recommendation
53match
#21 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
The Agency recognised that the way flood risks are often described, using percentages and probabilities of being flooded, are not very meaningful for the public. It described 18 Q 27: C&AG’s Report, para 16 19 Letter dated 27 January from Environment Agency to Committee 20 Q 30; C&AG’s Report, para 2.4–2.5; Letter dated 27 January from Environment Agency...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
52match
#25 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
We also asked the Agency about the reasons for the wide variation in the level of flood defence investment per property at risk between regions. The Agency explained that the level of flood risk will determine where investment is made. It also said that the timing and size of flood defence schemes creates variation in investment levels. It...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
52match
#11 - 6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities
Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) are not consistently integrated into Local Plans, resulting in planning decisions that do not account for future coastalchange risks. The mismatch between Local Plan timescales and the longerterm horizons of SMPs could lead to developments being approved in areas that are not expected to remain protected, creating avoidable future risk for communities and infrastructure....
Matched on
terms: local
Committee recommendation
52match
#8 - Mandate catchment-scale planning and delivery through regional partnerships with statutory duties by 2027
Catchment-based planning must become the default approach, not a discretionary extra. By 2027, the Government should mandate catchment- scale planning and delivery through regional partnerships with defined statutory duties, long-term funding, and clear oversight. These partnerships should coordinate key actors across land, water, infrastructure and planning, and lead integrated water management that delivers multiple outcomes, including flood risk...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
51match
#12 - 6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities
The Environment Agency should work with MHCLG to strengthen the role of SMPs within Local Plans and use the ongoing Local Plan reforms to establish a statutory requirement for coastal planning authorities to incorporate SMPs as a core part of the evidence base for planmaking, with compliance monitored through the Local Plan examination process. By December 2026, Defra...
Matched on
terms: local, role
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
21-012-620 - North Yorkshire County Council
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to carry out road drainage works to prevent flooding at his property. We will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
Matched on
terms: flood, local
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
21-013-614 - Surrey County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the mishandling and mismanagement of flood issues at a surface water outlet near the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint is late and it is reasonable to expect the complainant...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
201300513 - Argyll and Bute Council
Mr C's home was regularly affected by flooding. Mr C complained that this was due to an inadequate road drainage system. He said that the council had accepted this, but although they had committed in 2012 to resolve the problem, no work had been carried out. The council said they had been actively seeking a solution to the...
Matched on
terms: flood, response
LGO / SPSO decision
50match
21-006-817 - Cheshire East Council
Summary: Miss X complained the Council did not take proper action in response to her complaint about a flooding problem on the carriageway outside her property. The Council was at fault because it delayed completing an investigation. This caused Miss X uncertainty, frustration and time and trouble. The Council has agreed it will apologise to Miss X and...
Matched on
terms: flood, local, response
Committee recommendation
48match
#24 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
The Agency published a report in 2020 which showed that people from more deprived areas faced greater flood risk than those living in less deprived areas, although the gap had narrowed in the last 15 years. The report also showed that the proportion of all homes ‘better protected’ as a result of the Agency’s programme that were in...
Matched on
terms: flood
Committee recommendation
48match
#23 - Forty-Fifth Report - Managing flood risk
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (the Department) told us that the responsibility for deciding which flood defence schemes to invest in is delegated to the Environment Agency (the Agency). The Agency explained that it decides which schemes will form part of its six-year capital investment programme based on two factors: the extent to which a...
Matched on
terms: flood
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
PSOW-202309798 - Flintshire County Council
Miss J complained that she had not received a response from Flintshire County Council to a complaint she raised about flooding outside her home. The Ombudsman found there had been a delay in responding to the complaint. She felt this caused additional frustration and inconvenience to Miss J. She decided to settle the complaint without an investigation. The...
Matched on
terms: flood, response
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
21-003-413 - Lewes District Council
Summary: Mr X complained about Council’s decision to discharge a planning condition for surface water drainage without properly consulting with the flood authority. We have found the Council was at fault for not doing so, however this did not affect the outcome because retrospective approval for the scheme was given. We are satisfied the injustice to Mr X...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
21-008-142 - Kent County Council
Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council responded to and dealt with his reports of flooding at his property caused by a blocked drain near to his home. We found no evidence of fault in the way the Council responded to Mr X’s concerns about the blocked drain. We found fault as the Council delayed in...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
22-004-724 - Buckinghamshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council has managed the flood risks associated with a major infrastructure project. This is because the injustice that Mr X describes, is a matter for the courts. Other elements of Mr X’s complaint are premature.
Matched on
terms: flood, local
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
24-017-111 - City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council has not taken enforcement action when a neighbouring landowner failed to do work to alleviate flood risk to Mrs B’s property. The Council investigated the issue and paid for contractors to find the solution. It then properly considered whether to take enforcement action against the landowner who did not complete the...
Matched on
terms: flood, local
PFD report
45match
Elizabeth Aurora Kerr
The provided text is truncated, making it impossible to identify the specific safety concerns raised by the All-Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Janette Sutherland
A drainage channel and concrete headwall present a significant hazard to road users. A safety barrier is needed to prevent vehicles from impacting the headwall.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Melvin Bandtock
A duty manager's decision not to grit roads based on inaccurate weather assessment led to dangerous conditions; improved information sharing and review of council procedures are needed.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Roger Hamer
Inadequate highway inspection practices failed to document carriageway deterioration, and a proposed new management procedure risks increasing deaths, particularly for cyclists, by raising the threshold for defect investigation and repair.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Casper Blackburn
Extremely poor lighting and lack of CCTV near the canal made it difficult to discern the water from the land at night, posing a significant safety risk.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Heike Mojay-Sinclare
Lack of mandatory standards and inspection for river ford depth gauges, combined with poor inter-agency information sharing on previous incidents, creates significant safety risks, especially with increasing severe rainfall.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
MAI-16 - BTP coordination with Home Office police services
British Transport Police should work with the Home Office police services with which it shares policing responsibilities at or for a particular location: a. to agree which police service has primacy in the event of a Major Incident; b. to put in place appropriate plans to make clear the responsibilities of each police service in the event of...
Matched on
classifier match