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
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Unclear Local Flood Response Roles has been flagged across 4 independent accountability sources:
11 inquiry recs
8 PFD reports
42 committee recs
38 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (11)
MAI-162 — Define BTP Senior Duty Officer role in Major Incidents
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
MAI-158 — Guidance on commander location during incidents
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-156 — Ambulance Liaison Officer resourcing
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-144 — Mandatory Ambulance Liaison Officer at events
Recommendation: The Home Office should consider how the presence of an Ambulance Liaison Officer in appropriate circumstances may be made mandatory. This may need to be put on a statutory footing.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-135 — Action cards for emergency services in Major Incidents
Recommendation: The Home Office, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, the College of Policing, the Fire Service College and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit should oversee the development and implementation of action cards for the police, fire …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-129 — Threshold for Ambulance Liaison Officer at events
Recommendation: The Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care should consider how the threshold for a requirement that an Ambulance Liaison Officer be present at an event is to be identified.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-35 — Review GMFRS Incident Commander policy
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-23 — Guidance on Silver command deployment to scene
Recommendation: Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters and the College of Policing should issue guidance on the circumstances in which a police officer or officers with responsibility for the tactical/silver command of the unarmed officers at the scene or scenes of a Major …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-17 — Review BTP jurisdiction overlaps
Recommendation: BTP and all Home Office Police Services should conduct a review of the areas in which their jurisdictions overlap. In the case of areas which have a significant footfall by members of the public which are not part of the …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
MAI-16 — BTP coordination with Home Office police services
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
MAI-15 — Ensure prompt BTP Bronze Commander appointment
Recommendation: British Transport Police should review its procedures to ensure the prompt appointment of a Bronze Commander during a Major Incident.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
PFD Reports (8)
Elizabeth Aurora Kerr
Concerns: The provided text is truncated, making it impossible to identify the specific safety concerns raised by the All-Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group.
Overdue
Janette Sutherland
Concerns: 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.
Response (Caerphilly County Council): The council will investigate the site of the incident to provide recommendations for measures to alleviate future incidents. A Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process (RRRAP) survey was carried out on …
Response (Caerphilly County Council): Following a Road Restraint Risk Assessment Process (RRRAP), the council will demolish a headwall and re-profile the surrounding ditch, with works programmed for commencement in July.
Responded
Melvin Bandtock
Concerns: 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.
Response (Durham County Council): The Council intends to meet with weather forecasters prior to the next winter season to determine whether notifications relating to changes in weather can be improved. Duty Managers have been …
Response (Durham Constabulary): The Constabulary disputes the coroner's concern, stating that their procedures for dealing with road incidents are not managed on an ad-hoc basis and that they have robust, well-managed procedures and …
Responded
Roger Hamer
Concerns: 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.
Response (Bury Council): Bury Council, as Highway Authority, states that all Highway Inspectors are scheduled to undergo specific training and competency checks to ensure they understand how to undertake their role under the …
Response (Department for Transport): The Department for Transport acknowledges the concerns but notes that local highway authorities have a duty to maintain the highways network in their area and that Central Government has no …
Responded
Casper Blackburn
Concerns: 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.
Response: The Canal & River Trust states it has no jurisdiction or responsibilities regarding the Bridgewater Canal or the land at the location, which they believe is the responsibility of Peel …
Overdue
Heike Mojay-Sinclare
Concerns: 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.
Response (Dpeartment for Transport): The Department for Transport clarified that local authorities are responsible for hazard signage and highway maintenance, and that existing guidance is available but not mandatory.
Responded
Kane Davidson
Concerns: 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.
Response (Oldham Council): Oldham Council has amended the wording on licenses, added blind cord safety as a license condition (checked at every property visit), briefed enforcement officers on blind cord safety, and added …
Response (Department for Levelling up Housing Communities): The Department acknowledges the coroner's concerns but believes awareness campaigns are key. They support RoSPA's 'Make It Safe' campaign and will consider how to strengthen its reach.
Responded
Hemanta Rai
Concerns: 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.
Response (Brecon Beacons National Park): Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and Neath Port Talbot Council have jointly commissioned an independent reviewer to conduct a comprehensive signage review in public access areas and advise on creating …
Response (Neath Port Talbot Council): Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and Neath Port Talbot Council have jointly commissioned an independent reviewer to conduct a comprehensive signage review in public access areas and advise on creating …
Overdue
Committee Recommendations (42)
#15 — Consult on introducing statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services to respond to flooding.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: We agree with the importance of effective public communication. The Environment Agency currently has a dedicated week of annual flood awareness raising activity known as Flood Action Week and is committed to continually improving the …
Not Addressed
#14 — Establish clear national mechanism for strategic oversight and accountability in flood risk management.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government remains committed to strengthening the delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and is exploring further measures to enhance support for their implementation. The FloodReady report, published in October 2025, highlights gaps and opportunities …
Under Consideration
#13 — Fragmented responsibilities and unclear accountability persist in flood risk management.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government is committed to building the homes the country needs while maintaining the highest levels of flood protection. The government will consider whether further changes are necessary to manage flood risk and coastal change …
Under Consideration
#7 — Catchment-based planning inconsistently applied, poorly coordinated, and underpowered by funding
Recommendation: 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, …
Gov response: The National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy published by the Environment Agency sets out objectives, measures to achieve them, and responsibility for achieving objectives, including the responsibilities of all risk management authorities who …
Under Consideration
#2 — Amend Flood Act to establish statutory duty for authorities and empower Environment Agency oversight
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government agrees with the need to support long-term investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management. It has committed over £10.5 billion up to 2036, a record long-term settlement. From 2026, this investment figure …
Accepted
#15 — Intensify efforts to establish UK-EU SPS zone and publish a roadmap by May 2026.
Recommendation: The UK Government must intensify efforts to fully establish an SPS zone with the EU, as a key step towards reducing trade friction for Welsh agricultural exports. We call on the Government to publish a roadmap for how they plan …
Gov response: The UK Government is working with the EU to advance the package agreed at the May UK-EU summit and remains committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU. A central element of this …
Partially Accepted
#14 — Lack of clear timeline concerning for UK-EU Sanitary/Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) zone establishment.
Recommendation: We welcome the foundational agreement between the UK and EU to establish a common Sanitary/Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) zone. However, we are concerned about the lack of a clear timeline for when an SPS zone will be established. (Conclusion, Paragraph 80)
Gov response: The UK Government is working with the EU to advance the package agreed at the May UK-EU summit and remains committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU. A central element of this …
Accepted
#9 — Revise National Policy Statement for Ports to clarify port freight interface and promote modal shift
Recommendation: 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 …
No Published Response
#8 — Government failed to communicate modal shift intentions clearly to maritime sector stakeholders
Recommendation: If stakeholders within the maritime sector do not believe that the draft revised Ports National Policy Statement is sufficiently clear in promoting modal shift, then the Government has failed to communicate its stated intention. (Conclusion, Paragraph 57)
No Published Response
#7 — Clarify National Policy Statement for Ports prioritises design for functionality, safety, and environmental impact
Recommendation: Ports are functional environments, where safety must remain the paramount consideration. We understand the desirability of aesthetic quality, especially for landscapes and surrounding communities, but we share the concern of stakeholders that there are limits to what can be reasonably …
No Published Response
#6 — Amend draft National Policy Statement for Ports to clarify applicability to DCO projects
Recommendation: To remove scope for ambiguity, the Department should amend the wording of the draft revised National Policy Statement for Ports to explicitly confirm its applicability to projects directed into the Development Consent Order process under section 35 of the Planning …
No Published Response
#12 — Planning system fails to account for cumulative development impacts on flood risk.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 40. The Impact Assessment for the NRF used the example of nutrient neutrality to demonstrate how a strategic approach could reduce delays and improve environmental outcomes. Given the range of potential environmental impacts that could …
Under Consideration
#24 — Facilitate a greater role for local authorities to accelerate domestic retrofit roll-out.
Recommendation: 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. …
Gov response: The government agrees with this recommendation Over time, the Warm Homes Plan is projected to increase the number of jobs supported in energy efficiency and clean heating from 60,000 in 2023, to up to 240,000 …
No Published Response
#35 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: We welcome the focus on protecting not just homes, but also other properties. It is crucial that the success or otherwise of flood risk management interventions is closely monitored, in order to demonstrate progress toward …
Under Consideration
#10 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government has committed to transform the current approach to local flood and coastal erosion risk planning so that every area of England will have a more strategic and comprehensive plan by 2026 that drives …
Not Addressed
#7 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government has considered the National Infrastructure Commission’s work on resilience and set out its response in July 2020. This addressed the difficulty of a ‘one size fits all’ approach that tries to express as …
Not Addressed
#11 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Everyone has a role to play in mitigating flood and coastal erosion risk and making the country more resilient. This includes risk management authorities and riparian owners who play an important role in maintaining assets …
Not Addressed
#30 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 8.2 Government agrees that not building in flood prone areas is and should remain a key principle but recognises that in some parts of the country there may …
Under Consideration
#21 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 5.2 The department and the Agency are developing a framework for understanding overall flood risk. This framework uses an improved method for …
Under Consideration
#32 —
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: 65. In July 2021 the Government updated the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) placing a stronger emphasis on the importance of delivering sustainable development to help ensure developments respond to the impacts of climate change, …
Under Consideration
#11 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
#21 — Coordinate departments and Crown Estate to site offshore wind away from sensitive areas.
Recommendation: We recommend the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) coordinate with The Crown Estate to ensure that offshore wind developments are developed away from the most sensitive and …
Gov response: It is crucial for Defra to work closely with DESNZ and TCE. As previously noted, the Government has provided a strategic steer to TCE on the key risks and considerations related to potential future offshore …
Accepted
#8 — Mandate catchment-scale planning and delivery through regional partnerships with statutory duties by 2027
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government recognises the importance of the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) and is assessing the case for a statutory duty for FRS in England to respond to flooding. This assessment will consider the operational, …
Under Consideration
#34 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government recognises the crucial and valuable role of the third sector, flood action groups, community leaders and volunteers, in enabling communities to become more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risks. Community engagement is …
Not Addressed
#25 —
Recommendation: 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. …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 6.2 The government invests wherever flood risk is highest across the country, and where it will benefit the most people and property. This …
Under Consideration
#24 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 6.2 The government invests wherever flood risk is highest across the country, and where it will benefit the most people and property. This …
Under Consideration
#23 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 6.2 The government invests wherever flood risk is highest across the country, and where it will benefit the most people and property. This …
Under Consideration
#22 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 5.2 The department and the Agency are developing a framework for understanding overall flood risk. This framework uses an improved method for …
Under Consideration
#3 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 The department is exploring opportunities to streamline local flood risk planning and has committed to transform the current approach to local flood and coastal erosion …
Under Consideration
#13 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
#12 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
#3 —
Recommendation: The estate agent and conveyancing processes fail to reliably identify or disclose coastal erosion and landslide risks, leaving homebuyers without vital information. This is unacceptable given that clear risk data is already publicly available through tools such as National Coastal …
Response Pending
#1 —
Recommendation: Coastal erosion and landslides have profound and far reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. While the physical loss of homes, buildings, and infrastructure is visible and measurable, the broader human and social impacts are equally severe but are not …
Response Pending
#17 —
Recommendation: Efforts should be made to develop synergies between climate mitigation efforts, such as protecting against rising sea-levels, and measures to protect transport infrastructure. Noting that significant Welsh transport infrastructure lies either adjacent to the coast or runs along valley lines …
Gov response: The UK Government agrees with this recommendation. Climate change is the most pressing environmental challenge of our time. We must limit global warming to well below 2°C and have legislated to end the UK’s contribution …
Not Addressed
#14 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
#10 —
Recommendation: When the CTAP pilot concludes in 2027, Defra should move away from a selective piloting approach. In its response to this report, it should commit to establishing a longterm national strategy that provides financial assistance and relocation support for properties …
Response Pending
#9 —
Recommendation: Innovative adaptation measures, including property purchase and relocation schemes, have been successfully piloted through the Coastal Change Pathfinder and the ongoing Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). However, these benefits remain confined to selected pilot areas for a limited period, and …
Response Pending
#8 —
Recommendation: Defra should commit to reviewing the current 2009 property purchase qualifying date and value of the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) and, by June 2026, launch a structured assessment of whether this threshold and available grant remain justified. This review …
Response Pending
#7 —
Recommendation: The restriction in eligibility for the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) to properties purchased before June 2009 is arbitrary. It also fails to reflect the reality that erosion risks continue to be poorly communicated during property transactions and are intensifying …
Response Pending
#4 —
Recommendation: Coastal erosion and landslide risk should be included as material information in conveyancing, and the Government NCERM website should be signposted. The conveyancing profession and estate agents should be required to inform prospective homebuyers if a home falls within the …
Response Pending
#2 —
Recommendation: Defra should, in its response to this report, set out how it recognises and incorporates the full range of human impacts of coastal erosion into policy development and funding decisions, including clear actions or criteria for doing so. It should …
Response Pending
#27 — Storm Babet exposed local clarity gaps in flood response and long-term climate adaptation roles
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that he would oversee a review of national resilience. A Treasury Minute will be published once this review has concluded. The Cabinet Office will write to the …
Not Addressed
LGO / SPSO Decisions (38)
25-022-079 — East Sussex County Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
PSOW-202204317 — Newport City Homes
Ms L complained that Newport City Homes (“the Association”)failed to resolve her concerns regarding a boundary around the front of her property which is located on a busy road. She further complained that the speed of the vehicles travelling on that road left her in fear of an accident, and …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Oct 2022
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jan 2022
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 …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Feb 2022
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 …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
May 2022
PSOW-202102459 — Isle of Anglesey County Council
Mr A complained that the Isle of Anglesey County Council refused to take responsibility for damage caused to his property as a result of drainage works it undertook to alleviate the risk of internal flooding to properties in the vicinity of Mr A’s home address. The Ombudsman found that the …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
May 2022
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 …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Apr 2024
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. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Feb 2022
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. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Upheld
Mar 2022
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2022
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 …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Aug 2025
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 …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Upheld
May 2015
24-020-692 — Middlesbrough Borough Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
PSOW-202205559 — Powys County Council
Mr X complained that Powys County Council (“the Council”) failed to keep him informed about works to be carried out in respect of flooding in the vicinity of his property. He said that he had not been contacted since July 2022, despite the Council’s agreement to keep him updated. The …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Feb 2023
22-000-620 — Hastings Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage. This is because the court is better placed to deal with the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2022
21-018-328 — Scarborough Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action against a nuisance reported by Mr X. This is because an investigation is unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2022
22-003-863 — Devon County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to properly clear a blocked culvert which has caused flooding on to Ms X’s property. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2022
22-009-726 — Northumberland County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about ownership of a blocked drain beneath the pavement outside the complainant’s home. It is reasonable for the complainant to seek a decision from the courts about ownership of the land and consequent responsibility for the drain.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2022
22-006-284 — Basildon Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council has failed to suitability investigate a noise nuisance complaint about private-contracted bin collections since June 2021. We found fault with the Council failing to complete a suitable noise nuisance investigation. The Council agreed to our recommendations to produce a plan of action for completing …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Dec 2022
23-020-631 — Somerset Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage because the courts are better placed to deal with the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Apr 2024
24-000-189 — Mole Valley District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage because the courts and insurers are better placed to consider the issue.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Apr 2024
24-018-907 — West Sussex County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about highway drainage because we are satisfied with the actions the Council proposes to take and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Apr 2025
25-001-183 — Nottinghamshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s publication of a report on flooding following a storm in Mr X’s area in 2024. The courts are better placed to consider whether the report was negligent in the way the data was reported.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2025
201301819 — Fife Council
Mrs C complained about how the council handled work that would possibly reroute sewerage infrastructure through her garden. The work was to be done as part of the council’s flood defence programme, which was originally the subject of public consultation. The original plans had a minimal effect on Mrs C, …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Upheld
Oct 2014
25-010-394 — Wiltshire Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
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 …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Feb 2022
22-007-367 — Gloucestershire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of traffic in Mr X’s locale on home football match days. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Oct 2022
23-016-666 — Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint, brought by Mr Y, about the Council denying responsibility for flooding of their back garden. The complaint amounts to a claim that the Council is liable for the flooding and damage to their property. We cannot make findings on legal …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Mar 2024
24-004-422 — Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council refusing to investigate a gully outside her property that frequently gets blocked. This is because an investigation would not lead to any worthwhile outcomes.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2024
24-004-168 — Rutland County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to manage surface water run off where she lives. The Council has cleared and jetted the relevant drains/gullies and has commissioned a report in accordance with its duties under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act. The …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2024
24-008-964 — Devon County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that a council officer refused to communicate with him directly when he contacted them to discuss highway issues in his area. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council or to show its actions caused Mr X …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Sep 2024
24-023-032 — Buckinghamshire Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to re-evaluate the flow rates for the Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme at a new housing development increasing flooding in the village where he lives. We have discontinued the investigation. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X is seeking.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Sep 2025
201201979 — Scottish Water
Mr C had experienced a recurring problem of raw sewage being discharged into his back garden during heavy rainfall. Scottish Water had investigated and carried out some repairs, but this had not resolved the problem. Mr C believed that this was happening because the sewer was not able to cope …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Water
Not Upheld
Dec 2012
201907203 — Scottish Water
C complained that Scottish Water had failed to respond appropriately to a number of flooding incidents in their property. C said that Scottish Water had not been open or honest about the cause of the flooding and were refusing to take the only action which would guarantee the protection of …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Water
Not Upheld
Feb 2021
22-008-810 — Chorley Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of drainage issues affecting Mr X’s land. This is because he has a court remedy against the Council which places the complaint outside our jurisdiction.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2022
22-008-896 — Norfolk County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Ms X’s access rights to her property as this is a matter for the courts.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Oct 2022
25-008-684 — Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of the flood risk to Mr X’s property. This is because there are other bodies better placed to consider Mr X’s complaint, and it is reasonable to expect him to take the Council to court to seek damages.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2025
24-007-975 — Cheshire East Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s neighbour’s septic tank. This is because there is no evidence to suggest fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2024