Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009

49 District flood risk advisory groups

(1) Each flood risk management district is to have one or more district flood risk advisory groups (“district advisory groups”).

(2) The function of each district advisory group is to advise SEPA on any matter which—

(a) relates to—

(i) the preparation of any of the documents mentioned in subsection (3),

(ii) the review and updating of any such document,

(iii) any assessment (of possible contribution of alteration etc. of natural features and characteristics) under section 20, and

(iv) the review and updating of any such assessment, and

(b) is within the remit of the group.

(3) The documents mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(i) are—

(a) the flood risk assessment for the district,

(b) the document (under section 13) identifying—

(i) potentially vulnerable areas in the district, and

(ii) local plan districts,

(c) each flood hazard map and flood risk map for the district,

(d) the flood risk management plan for the district.

(4) SEPA must, in preparing, reviewing and updating the documents referred to in subsection (3) and in carrying out or reviewing any assessment under section 20, have regard to any advice given by a district advisory group for the district.

(5) The number of district advisory groups, and their remits, membership and procedure are to be such as SEPA may determine.

(6) SEPA may determine the remit of a district advisory group for any flood risk management district by reference to one or more of the following—

(a) a particular geographical area,

(b) any other particular aspect of flood risk management within the district.

(7) In determining the number of district advisory groups for any flood risk management district and their remits and membership, SEPA must seek to ensure appropriate representation of the interests of—

(a) the persons specified or referred to in section 30(5)(a) to (d), and

(b) such other persons as appear to SEPA to have an interest in flood risk management for the district.

(8) SEPA may pay to members of a district advisory group such expenses and allowances as it may determine.