Flood and Water Management Act 2010

7 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy: England

(1) The Environment Agency must develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England (a “national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy”).

(2) The strategy must specify—

(a) the English risk management authorities,

(b) the flood and coastal erosion risk management functions that may be exercised by those authorities in relation to England,

(c) the objectives for managing flood and coastal erosion risk,

(d) the measures proposed to achieve those objectives,

(e) how and when the measures are to be implemented,

(f) the costs and benefits of those measures, and how they are to be paid for,

(g) the assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk for the purpose of the strategy,

(h) how and when the strategy is to be reviewed,

(i) the current and predicted impact of climate change on flood and coastal erosion risk management, and

(j) how the strategy contributes towards the achievement of wider environmental objectives.

(3) The Agency must consult the following about the national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy—

(a) the English risk management authorities,

(b) the public,

(c) so far as the strategy may affect flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales, the Welsh Ministers, and

(d) so far as the strategy may affect flood and coastal erosion risk management in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.

(4) The Agency must publish a summary of the strategy.

(5) The Agency may issue guidance about the application of the strategy.

(6) The Agency may, in particular, issue guidance about how English risk management authorities are to comply with the duties under sections 13(1) and 14.

(7) The Agency must submit a draft of the strategy and any guidance under this section to the Secretary of State for review.

(8) On a review, the Secretary of State may—

(a) approve the draft strategy or guidance, with or without modification, or

(b) reject it.

(9) The Secretary of State must lay any approved strategy or guidance before Parliament; and it may not be issued if during the period of 40 days beginning with the date of laying (ignoring any periods for which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or for which both Houses are adjourned for more than 4 days) either House of Parliament resolves that it should not be issued (in that form).