30/04/09
Defra has published the long-awaited draft Flood and Water Management Bill. First impressions are positive, but there are concerns, including wide use of 'enabling' powers and lack of detail on costs and funding.
The draft Bill implements recommendations of the Pitt Report on the 2007 floods and picks up issues raised in the government’s 'Future Water' strategy.
Of particular interest are:
• roles and responsibilities for flooding issues
• clauses on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) – including the right to connect surface water run-off to public sewers
• introduction of a mandatory build standard for sewers
• new powers for sewerage companies to rectify misconnections
• new complaint handling powers.
What is not in the Bill is as important as what is.
Recommendations from the Walker Review on charging and metering for households, the Cave Review of competition and innovation, and the consultation on time-limiting abstraction licenses will be brought into the Bill later.
This is regrettable because they will miss the important pre-legislative scrutiny by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. The Committee’s deadline for written comments is 7 May, a week today.
Flood and Water Management Bill
Contact: Dawn Waterman
