Our roles and responsibilities

Our primary roles and responsibilities as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Act are outlined below.

Power to request information

We have statutory power to request information from all persons in order to effectively fulfill our flood risk management responsibilities.

Flood incident investigation

We have the right to:

• investigate and record details of local significant flooding incidents that the LLFA becomes aware of and publish the results of the investigation
• identify which partner authorities have relevant flood risk management functions and establish the action taken or intended to be taken in response
• notify other risk management authorities where necessary and publish the result of any investigation carried out

Assets register

We have the right to:

• identify and collate details of structures that are likely to have significant effect on the management of flood risk
• maintain a register of structures or features considered to have a significant effect on local flood risk
• keep records of information about such structures or features, including ownership and state of repair - the register should be made available for inspection

Flood risk management strategy

We have the right to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management. Local flood risk sources include surface runoff, groundwater and ordinary watercourses (including lakes and ponds, but excluding reservoirs and main rivers).

Works powers

We have statutory power to carry out works to manage flood risk from surface runoff and groundwater, consistent with the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

Powers to designate

We have power:

• along with the Environment Agency (EA), to designate private or third party structures and features affecting flood risk, in particular those features on private land
• to require owners of designated structures to seek our formal approval in advance of undertaking any alteration, demolition or replacement works on these structures
• where an individual/organisation makes a change to a designated feature without formal approval, to issue an ‘enforcement notice’ setting out the steps to be undertaken to restore the feature (an individual may appeal against a designation notice, refusal of consent, conditions on consent or an enforcement notice)

Statutory consultee on drainage proposals on all developments

• the LLFA has responsibility for assessing and approving proposed drainage systems in new developments and redevelopments, subject to exemptions and thresholds.
• SuDS will be subject to national standards (yet to be published) being developed by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The LLFA may adopt and maintain SuDS serving more than one property subject to satisfactory completion and agreement.

Page last updated: 07 March 2017