The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central) considered a report by the Director of Commissioning on a collaborative working proposal for the management of local flood risk, including the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy between Shropshire Council and Staffordshire County Council.

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy set out roles and responsibilities for flood risk management, the risk of flooding across Shropshire, where funding could be found to manage flood risk, what the Council’s policies were as a Lead Local Flood Authority and the authority’s objectives and actions to help it manage local flood risk.

The collaborative approach to flood risk management with Staffordshire County Council would bring about efficiencies through selected joint procurement of services and sharing of resources and expertise.  Some of these services might be delivered by Shropshire Council.

In relation to recommendation 3 set out in the officer’s report, the Portfolio Holder noted that the Government had now confirmed that Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 would not be implemented.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Commissioning (Central) approved as follows:

A.        The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy as the strategy for the management of local flood risk in Shropshire.

B.        An agreement with Staffordshire County Council to deliver collaborative working approaches across the Local Flood Risk Management service based on an annual project plan.

C.        [subject to confirmation of implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 by Defra] The implementation of a joint Sustainable Drainage Approving Body (SAB) between Shropshire Council and Staffordshire County Council, with a SAB hub based in Shropshire, to be operational in time for implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.