Government told planning is too inconsistent
The government has been slated by MPs for adopting a stop/start approach to flood maintenance investment.
In a report published last week, the House of Commons environment audit select committee urges ministers to adopt a 鈥榤ore strategic鈥� approach to funding flood risk management.
It says the government must avoid the fluctuations in flood investment which saw spending on the issue cut in the early years of the 2010 Parliament before being boosted to the tune of 拢2.3bn over five years following the 2013/14 Somerset floods.
This March鈥檚 Budget saw a further 拢700m of investment announced following last winter鈥檚 flooding in the north of England.
The MPs said that while the extra funding was welcome, the government should heed the advice of the 2008 Pitt Review that flood spending should receive above inflation increases due to the growing risks of inundation due to climate change.
The committee said the government鈥檚 estimate that its extra funding would protect 300,000 properties was 鈥渙ptimistic鈥�.
The committee also criticised the admission by floods minister Rory Stewart, when giving evidence, that the 拢700m would be partially distributed on the basis of 鈥榩olitical calculation鈥�.
The MPs described this approach as an 鈥渆conomically inefficient way of allocating government resources鈥�, which highlighted how it is 鈥渃ontinuing to take a reactive rather than proactive approach to funding flood risk management鈥�.
The report also raised concerns over the government鈥檚 partnership-based approach to funding flood defences, under which it seeks 15% of the cost of projects from councils or private companies.
It said that if the government or Environment Agency was unable to attract additional funds, 鈥渋mportant flood protection schemes will not get the go-ahead鈥�.
And the MPs urged the government to push ahead with making sustainable urban drainage systems, which capture and store rainwater, a default feature of all new development.
In a report published last week, the House of Commons environment audit select committee urges the government to adopt a 鈥榤ore strategic鈥� approach to funding flood risk management.
It says ministers must avoid the fluctuations in flood investment which saw spending on the issue cut in the early years of the 2010 Parliament before being boosted to the tune of 拢2.3bn over five years following the 2013/14 Somerset floods.
This March鈥檚 Budget saw a further 拢700m of investment announced following last winter鈥檚 flooding in the north of England.
The MPs said that while the extra funding was welcome, the government should heed the advice of the Pitt review that flood spending should receive above inflation increases due to the growing risks of inundation due to climate change.
The committee said the government鈥檚 estimate that its extra funding would protect 300,000 properties was 鈥渙ptimistic鈥�.
The committee also criticised the admission by floods minister Rory Stewart, when giving it evidence, that the 拢700m would be partially distributed on the basis of 鈥榩olitical calculation鈥�.
The MPs described this approach as an 鈥渆conomically inefficient way of allocating government resources鈥�, which highlighted how Whitehall is 鈥渃ontinuing to take a reactive rather than proactive approach to funding flood risk management鈥�.
The report also raised concerns over the government鈥檚 partnership-based approach to funding flood defences, under which it seeks 15% of the cost of projects from councils or private companies.
It said that if the government or Environment Agency was unable to attract additional funds, 鈥渋mportant flood protection schemes will not get the go-ahead鈥�.
And the MPs urged the government to push ahead with making sustainable urban drainage systems, which capture and store rainwater, a default feature of all new development.
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