Anglian Water has established a series of Multi-Agency Groups (MAGS) by bringing together the different agencies with responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act. This includes local councils, the Environment Agency, Highway Authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities.

Anglian Water’s Rob Kelly, who is currently on secondment into the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance as Water Management Director, explains what really happens to the water system during periods of heavy rainfall and the power a multi-agency approach can have on effective water management.

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is warning that the Government response to the Commission’s study on reducing the risks of surface water flooding published in November 2022. “does not meet the scale of the challenge and lacks the urgency required to meet the threat.”

The Environment Agency has set out its plans to publish new national risk information for flooding and coastal erosion, including future scenarios accounting for climate change.

A new report from CIWEM, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, is warning that only a third of local authorities have enough staff to manage flash flood risk.

The National Infrastructure Commission is calling for a £12 billion investment in effective drainage measures to tackle surface water flooding in England and for water companies to play a key role in managing and investing in flood risk infrastructure.

Central Bedfordshire Council has gone out to tender with a regeneration and business consultancy framework contract, including a Lot for the provision of land drainage and specialist design/checking support, worth an estimated £40 million in total.

Councils in England could face a funding black hole of over £50 billion over the next six years, with local authorities warning they will have to resort to providing the ‘bare minimum’ if no extra funding is made available.