Note to clarify statements made in the Minutes of the Environment and - PDF document

Note to clarify statements made in the Minutes of the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 23 July which were approved at the meeting held on 17 September 2013. The Environment Agency request that the Committee add this note to the Minutes of the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 23 July 2013. The note clarifies some of the statements made in the Minutes. 1. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (d): The EA prioritises its flood and coastal risk management work according to government policy and treasury guidance. Periodic reviews, (every 10 years) will be undertaken to consider factors that might influence or affect the EA work plan. EA clarification: The reference to periodic reviews relates to the reviews of the Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy. These will consider if any factors that might affect the Strategy, such as changes to funding policy and revisions to climate change projections, have occurred. Major changes such as a decision to construct a Severn Barrage could prompt an earlier review. 2. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (f): Funding is prioritised according to a benefit/cost ratio. Based on current legislation/guidance, the EA takes into consideration cost, economic benefit, environmental impact and potential risk before setting its spending priorities. There are no guarantees that prioritised work, however viable, will receive funding. EA clarification: The EA is required to spend taxpayers’ money where it delivers the greatest flood risk benefit and so focuses its work where it benefits most people and property. Investment is prioritised following government policy and treasury guidance. When investing money the EA assesses the costs, economic benefits, environmental impact and flood risk to set its spending priorities. If the costs of carrying out work are higher than the economic benefits, then the work is not economically justified. Treasury rules are that public funding should not be spent on works that are not economic. If the benefits are greater than the costs then the work is viable but funding is still not guaranteed. 3. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (g): The Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy covers the northern coastline from Lavernock Point, near Cardiff to Gloucester and along the southern coastline to Hinkley Point in Somerset (incorporating Gloucestershire, South West and Wales). The main aim of the strategy will be to assess, and subsequently manage tidal flood risk over the next 100 years. The strategy to be reviewed every 10 years to allow for changes in government legislation. EA clarification: The reviews will consider if any factors that might affect the Strategy, such as changes to funding policy and revisions to climate change projections, have occurred. 4. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (k) : In estimating the remaining life of flood defences, the EA used the latest government

approved projections of climate change. The projections were then used to consider the impact of rising sea levels on the standard of protection offered. EA clarification: The EA has estimated the remaining life of the defences and has used latest government approved projections of climate change to model the impact of sea level rise on the standard of protection offered by the defences. 5. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (l): The original Strategy identified a number of concerns. These included; food security, risks to livelihood, the falling value of land and properties, rising insurance premiums and what constituted a dequate compensation. Another concern related to the EA’s proposals for the managed realignment of flood defences, and the creation of inter- tidal habitat. EA clarification: The EA produced public brochures on the long term Strategy for managing tidal flood risk in the Severn Estuary early in 2011. This followed high level policies set out in the Shoreline Management Plan produced by the Severn Estuary Coastal Group (which includes the EA and Gloucestershire County Council). A number of concerns were raised at that time. One of the greatest concerns was with proposals for managed realignment of flood defences to allow for creation of compensatory inter- tidal habitat to meet the UK’s obligations under the Habitats Regulations (2010). 6. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (m): The Government has a statutory obligation under the Habitats Regulations (2010) to compensate for inter-tidal habitat lost through coastal squeeze. Compensatory habitat creation is an essential element in the future of sustainable flood risk management, enabling the EA to legally maintain or improve flood defences along the Severn Estuary. As part of its work the EA estimated how much inter-tidal habitat will be lost in continuing to maintain and improve defences, and how to compensate for this to keep the strategy legal. To satisfy the government’s statutory obligations, realignment and habitat creation projects will only be taken forward with the agreement of land and property owners and following input from local communities. EA clarification: Continuing to maintain and/or improve tidal flood defences causes a loss of internationally important habitat. The Habitats Regulations (2010) requires compensatory habitat to be created to replace that which is lost. One method of compensating for the loss of habitat is the managed realignment of defences. These projects can provide protection for property and some land outside the new defences is used for habitat creation. Managed realignment is only taken forward with the agreement of land and property owners, and with input from the community. 7. Statement in Minutes - Key points highlighted during the presentation (n): Conscious of the level of concern surrounding the original strategy, the EA has agreed to allow more time in helping local communities understand the management of flood risk, and welcomes local knowledge and input into shaping the revised strategy. EA clarification: In response to concerns raised, the EA has been extensively engaging with communities and their representatives, explaining the Strategy, current and potential future flood risk and exploring flood risk management options with them based on this. The EA has welcomed their local knowledge and input into shaping the revised Strategy. 2