Purpose

Proposed
decision:
 
The Cabinet Member for
Environment:
 
1. Endorse the proposed
expansion of the River Stour Internal Drainage Board
District
 
2. Endorse the trial expansion
of the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board and the joint working
arrangement between the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board and
Kent County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority.
 
Reason for the decision
 
The
River Stour Internal Drainage Board and Upper Medway Internal
Drainage Board are seeking to expand their districts under the Land
Drainage Act 1991 Section 3 (1) to align with the full extent of
the natural catchment boundary.

 
Prior
to the expansion order being granted by DEFRA the Internal Drainage
Boards must consult with key stakeholders including the County
Council. KCC does not sit on the Boards
 
Endorsement from KCC is intended to form part of
the formal consultation process led by the
Internal Drainage Board and does not constitute final
endorsement of the expansion. The decision is
therefore conditional and subject to:

The
outcome of the stakeholder consultation.
Endorsement by other key stakeholders.
Final
approval by Defra via an Expansion Order.

 
Should
Defra be satisfied with the consultation responses, they can
proceed to grant and enact the expansion order for the
Internal Drainage Board (IDB) under Section 3 of the
Land Drainage Act 1991
 

 
Background – Provide brief additional context
 
Kent
County Council and the Internal Drainage Boards are Risk Management
Authorities for flood risk in Kent. Internal
Drainage Boards are local independent public bodies responsible for
managing water levels, drainage and flood risk within a defined
low-lying area, known as an Internal Drainage Board
District.

 
The
River Stour Internal Drainage Board and Upper Medway Internal
Drainage Boards are proposing to expand their districts to align
with catchment boundaries. The expansion will streamline governance
and improve oversight of planning which impacts on their
watercourses and brings practical and environmental
benefits, allowing the Internal Drainage Board to take a
more joined-up and efficient approach to managing water levels and
reducing flood risk across the whole catchment.

 
With
oversight of the catchment, the Internal Drainage Boards can plan
and carry out maintenance more effectively, respond quickly to
issues upstream that may impact communities or land downstream, and
apply its powers more consistently. 
 
There
are no risks for Kent County Council associated with the expansion
of the Internal Drainage Board Districts over and above the annual
income shortfall from consenting of works to ordinary watercourses.
The loss of income will be offset by reallocating staff resource to
projects which bring external funding and there will be no net cost
to the authority.
 
The expansion
is considered to provide benefits for both Kent County Council and
local communities by offering improved coordination of watercourses
and flood risk management, increased resources through joint
delivery of projects and improved communication with communities
through a single point of contact.
 
 
Options (other options considered but
discarded)
 
Not to
support the expansion, however the expansion is considered to bring
benefits to Kent County Council and local communities as per the
above paragraph.
 
How the proposed decision supports the

Framing Kent's Future
- Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
 
The Internal Drainage
Board expansions will deliver against Priority 3 –
Environmental Step Change, Pledge 5.Working with partners, improve
the safety and wellbeing of Kent’s residents and the economy
of Kent through appropriate flood risk management, including the
promotion of sustainable flood risk management practices in
development, regeneration and land management, utilising natural
processes where appropriate.
 
How the
proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022
-2026:
Securing Kents Future
- Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
 

-      
The expansion of the Internal Drainage Boards will
not place any additional burden on the budget
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Environment I agree
to:
 
1. ENDORSE the proposed expansion of the River
Stour Internal Drainage Board District and 
 
2. ENDORSE the trial expansion of the Upper
Medway Internal Drainage Board and the joint working arrangement
between the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board and Kent County
Council as Lead Local Flood Authority