Sustainable Flood Management Sub-Group
Under section 2(4) of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 Scottish Ministers, SEPA and the responsible authorities (as yet undefined) must promote sustainable flood management. However no definition of sustainable flood management is given. A Sub-Group was therefore set up to consider what sustainable flood management might mean in practice.
The Members
Scottish Executive Members: Alan Burdekin (Chair), Gillian Hood, Tom Harvie-Clark.
Non-Scottish Executive Members: David Wilson (Scottish Water), June Graham (SEPA), Prof. Alan Werrity (University of Dundee), Prof. Charles Ainger (CIWEM), David Howell (SNH), John Greaves (COSLA), Jonathan Chapman (Environment Agency), Peter Bolton (Independent Consultant) and Mike Donaghy (Environmental LINK).
The Work of the Group
The Sub-group met on four occasions.
At its final meeting the Sub-Group agreed the following draft definition for sustainable flood management:
"Sustainable flood management provides the maximum possible social and economic resilience* against flooding, by protecting and working with the environment, in a way which is fair and affordable both now and in the future.";
* 'resilience' means: 'able to recover quickly and easily'. The Executive uses it to deliver the 'four As': Awareness + Avoidance + Alleviation + Assistance.
This definition was presented to NTAG on September 23, 2004.
The Sub-Group also produced a set of draft objectives and principles for sustainable flood management. The Sub-Group has also started work on indicators to help stakeholders assess if their actions comply with sustainable flood management objectives and principles.
The Sub-Group reported to NTAG on the 23rd September 2004.
Relevant Information
The European Commission (in communication COM(2004)472 final) explained the Commission's view on flood risk management.
David Howell from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) presented feedback from a good practice seminar on sustainable flood managment held on June 17,2004. Paper - What is Sustainable Flood Management?