Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Living Document – Interactive PDF Northamptonshire County Council October 2013 Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) (October 2013) Document Status All Lead Local Flood Authorities in England are required to develop, maintain, apply and monitor the application of a strategy for local flood risk in their area, which is consistent with the Environment Agency’s National Strategy. This is therefore a statutory document. In Northamptonshire, the County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority. The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy is an important document that sets out the management of flood risk in Northamptonshire for the coming years. As part of its development all key partners have had the opportunity to comment on this strategy. Following full public consultation this strategy was reviewed, updated and finalised as a living document. Accompanying Documents The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) is accompanied by a number of separate documents, as follows: A non-technical Executive Summary of this strategy has been produced as an easy reference guide; The strategy is also subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment, which have both been produced to support the strategy; An Equalities Impact Assessment has also been undertaken; and A Communication, Engagement and Consultation Strategy has also been developed to support the LFRMS and related flood and water management work.. Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) (October 2013) CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 OBJECTIVES OF THE LOCAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ..................................................... 2 LOCAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIONS AND MEASURES ........................................................... 3 2. WHAT IS FLOODING? ................................................................................................ 4 WHAT CAUSES FLOODING? .......................................................................................................... 4 WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF FLOODING? ...................................................................................... 4 WHAT TYPES OF FLOOD RISK ARE THERE? ....................................................................................... 5 FLOOD RISK IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ............................................................................................ 7 Watercourses in West Northamptonshire ........................................................................ 7 Watercourses in North Northamptonshire ....................................................................... 8 3. LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND .................................................................................... 11 FLOOD AND WATER MANAGEMENT ACT 2010 ............................................................................ 11 FLOOD RISK REGULATIONS 2009 ............................................................................................... 12 THE PITT REVIEW 2007 ............................................................................................................ 14 RESERVOIRS ACT 1975 ............................................................................................................. 14 Onsite and Offsite Reservoir Emergency Plans ............................................................... 14 Reservoir Flood Mapping ................................................................................................ 15 Reservoirs in Northamptonshire ..................................................................................... 15 OTHER KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE........................................................................ 15 4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................ 18 LEAD LOCAL FLOOD AUTHORITY ................................................................................................. 18 WATER COMPANIES ................................................................................................................. 23 INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARDS .................................................................................................... 23 DISTRICT AND BOROUGH COUNCILS ............................................................................................ 24 THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ..................................................................................................... 25 HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY ............................................................................................................. 26 HIGHWAYS AGENCY ................................................................................................................. 28 RIPARIAN OWNERS .................................................................................................................. 28 PARISH COUNCILS .................................................................................................................... 29 OTHER BODIES ........................................................................................................................ 29 5. LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, GOVERNANCE AND SCRUTINY ............................................. 32 LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS ............................................................... 32 STRATEGIC FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT BOARD ............................................................................ 32 LOCAL FLOOD RISK OPERATIONAL GROUP ................................................................................... 33 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE LEADERSHIP GROUP .................................................................................. 34 THE LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUM .................................................................................................. 34 REGIONAL FLOOD AND COASTAL COMMITTEES ............................................................................. 34 SCRUTINY ARRANGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... 34 FULL COUNCIL ......................................................................................................................... 35 CABINET ................................................................................................................................. 35 CROSS-CATCHMENT WORKING .................................................................................................. 36 6. ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL FLOOD RISK IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ................................ 37 HISTORIC FLOODING IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE .............................................................................. 37 POTENTIAL FLOOD RISK IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE .......................................................................... 40 Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) (October 2013) Prioritisation ................................................................................................................... 40 Assessment of Priority ..................................................................................................... 41 Results of Priority Assessment ........................................................................................ 42 7. STRATEGY OBJECTIVES FOR MANAGING LOCAL FLOOD RISK .................................... 49 OBJECTIVE 1: COLLABORATIVE APPROACH ................................................................................... 51 Partnership working ........................................................................................................ 51 Secure and Optimise Human Resources ......................................................................... 51 Public Engagement in Strategy Development and Delivery ........................................... 53 OBJECTIVE 2: LOCAL FLOOD RISK ............................................................................................... 53 Surface Water Management Plans ................................................................................. 53 Flood Reporting, Recording and Investigating ................................................................ 54 Asset Maintenance ......................................................................................................... 57 Asset Register.................................................................................................................. 58 Data Management Protocols .......................................................................................... 59 OBJECTIVE 3: ENHANCE THE NATURAL AND HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT .............................................. 59 Undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitat Regulation Assessment and Water Framework Directive Compliance Check.............................................................. 60 Additional Flood Storage Attenuation ............................................................................ 60 Natural Resilience ........................................................................................................... 61 Evaluation of impact of flooding on historic assets ........................................................ 61 Evaluation of impact of flooding on environmental assets ............................................ 61 Provide Blue and Green infrastructure ..........................................................................