The Ouseburn Barrage Order 2007

17.—(1) The Council shall indemnify the Environment Agency in respect of all reasonable and proper costs incurred, charges paid and expenses met by the Environment Agency—

(a) in the examination or approval of plans under this Part; or

(b) in the inspection of the construction of the specified works or any protective works required by the Environment Agency under this Part.

(2) Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Part, the Council shall indemnify the Environment Agency from all claims, demands, proceedings, costs, damages, expenses or loss which may be made or taken against, or recovered from or incurred by, the Environment Agency by reason of—

(a) any damage to any drainage work so as to impair its efficiency for the purposes of flood defence;

(b) any damage to the fishery;

(c) any raising of the water table in land adjoining the authorised works or any sewers, drains and watercourses;

(d) any flooding or increased flooding of any such lands; or

(e) inadequate water quality in any watercourse or other surface waters or in groundwater,

which is caused by the construction of any of the specified works or any act or omission of the Council, its contractors, agents, workmen or servants whilst engaged upon any such work.

(3) The Environment Agency shall give to the Council reasonable notice of any such claim or demand and no compromise or settlement thereof shall be made without the agreement of the Council which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(4) Prior to incurring any expense which it may seek to recover under this paragraph, the Environment Agency shall, except in a case of urgency, serve notice on the Council informing it of the Environment Agency’s intentions and requiring it within such time as the Environment Agency may reasonably specify to take such steps as may be reasonably practicable to avoid the need for the Environment Agency to incur such costs.

(5) Nothing in this part of this schedule shall impose any liability on the Council in respect of any damage to the extent that it is attributable to the negligent act or omission of the Environment Agency, its officers, servants or, if not the Council, its contractors or agents.