North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee publishes new business plan

Rochdale during the Boxing Day 2015 floods

Ambitious and clear flood priorities have been published this week (Monday 9 September) by the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC).

Following consultation, development over the summer, and approval at its July meeting, the RFCC has now published its new Business Plan which set its priorities until 2022.

The Plan sets priorities for the Committee and its core partners (Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authorities and United Utilities) but it will also be a means of communicating and engaging with those who will benefit from its work and a wider group of partners with whom the Committee seeks to build stronger links.  

The six priority areas identified in the Business Plan align with those set out in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, including the drive to achieve multiple benefits from flood resilience projects, and the need to use and manage land sustainably.

The RFCC Business Plan is being circulated to stakeholders and community flood action groups and can be found on The Flood Hub website, created on behalf of the Committee, here:

• thefloodhub.co.uk/north-west-rfcc/#section-5

In order to implement the plan, it will be supported each financial year by an action plan setting out the actions in more detail. There is already an action plan in place for 2019/20. The RFCC will monitor the delivery of the action plan through quarterly meetings to ensure the committee remains on track to deliver it and adapt to change accordingly.

RFCC Chair, Adrian Lythgo said: “We need to be clear about the flood risk we face both now and as a result of climate change, and to prioritise investment that results in sustainable protection for communities and businesses. Our business plan underpins that approach.  These are not just words and aspirations. The RFCC plays an integral part in the partnership approach to flood funding and our Business Plan focusses on delivery while outlining a transparent overview of our activities."

RFCCs are committees set up by the government to decide on local priorities, raise local levies and approve programmes of work. They also support the Environment Agency and local authorities in working with communities and others to increase resilience to flooding and coastal change, and to identify and secure funding.