Section 7: National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy: England
32.This section requires the Environment Agency to develop a national strategy (“the strategy”) for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, to maintain it (which includes reviewing and updating it), and monitor its application (see subsection (1)).
33.Subsection (2) requires that the strategy must set out at least:
the English risk management authorities;
their functions;
the objectives of the strategy;
the measures proposed to achieve those objectives;
how and when the measures are to be implemented and the strategy reviewed;
the approximate costs and benefits of these measures and how they will be paid for;
the assessment of risk that is relied on in preparing the strategy as well as the current and predicted impact of climate change on managing these risks; and
how the strategy will contribute to wider environmental objectives. This relates to the sustainable development duty at section 27 and the environmental works powers at sections 38 and 39.
34.The Environment Agency must also publish a summary of this strategy (see subsection (4)).
35.The Environment Agency must consult the general public as well as the other English risk management authorities, and the Scottish Executive and Welsh Ministers where their territory may be affected, in drawing up the strategy (see subsection (3)).
36.Subsections (5) and (6) provide for the Environment Agency to issue guidance about the application of the strategy, which may in particular include guidance about the exercise of the duties to co-operate and the powers to enter into arrangements and to require information.
37.The strategy and any guidance must be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of State (subsections (7) and (8)). The approved strategy and any guidance must be laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State and may not be issued if, during the period specified in subsection (9), either House of Parliament resolves that it should not be issued in that form.
