Wednesday December 3rd 2008, Church House Conference Centre, 09:15 - 14:00

Reducing the Impact of Any Future Flooding

"The lives of people and businesses were turned upside down by last summer's floods, and the human and financial costs will be felt for some time to come. The first anniversary today will be a difficult time for many of those who have lost loved ones, as well as the communities who are still trying to recover. The actions we are taking now and in the future in response to this important final report will go a long way to ensuring we are better prepared to deal with future events."

Rt. Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State, DEFRA, 25th June 2008

Overview

Last summer we saw the huge devastation and disruption to people's lives and livelihoods that flooding can cause. Sir Michael Pitt’s recent report on the floods highlighted how traditional flood defences are not always appropriate or cost effective. In his review, which was released on June 25th, he said that “urgent and fundamental changes" are needed to improve flood defences, his review recommends a 25-year plan be drawn up on flooding and a dedicated Cabinet Committee created.

Earlier this year, the Government outlined at least £34.5 million of the £2.15 billion total Government flood and coastal erosion spend over the next three years would be allocated to implement the final recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt's report. Hilary Benn MP announced that part of this funding will be used to take forward work in several key areas including: assisting the development of surface water management plans in high priority areas, improving reservoir safety and an initial contribution to a major national floods exercise to ensure we are better prepared for the future.

The Government will also develop a Long Term Investment Strategy for flood defence with the Environment Agency.In the last year, the Department for the environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) has overseen work by other Government departments and agencies to improve the country's preparedness to deal with flooding events in several key areas, including.

Agenda

As the Government attempts to improve the country's preparedness to deal with flooding events, this forum will offer a timely opportunity to address how this will be achieved.

09:15	Coffee and Registration
09:50	Opening Remarks by Chair Mary Dhonau, Chief Executive, National Flood Forum
10:00	Strategic Opportunities for Reducing Flood Risk The Environment Agency's role in planning and flood risk The strategic approach to development and flood risk Implementing the Recommendations of the Pitt Review How can local authorities enforce their given powers to protect new homes from flood risk Effectively applying flood planning rules at local level Best practice David Rooke, Head of Flood Risk Management, Environment Agency
10:20	Examining the new PPS25 Practical Guide and Applying it Effectively in Your Plan and Design Work      Comprehensive overview of PPS25 Benefits of the PPS25 approach in reducing flood risk to communities Examining the selection of case studies and the value of the different strategies they explore Peter Bide, Flooding, Coastal Erosion and Water Team, Planning - Resources and Environment Policy Division, Department for Communities and Local Government
10:40	Developing an Integrated Approach to Urban Flood Management and Sustainable Drainage Assessing and managing flood risks Storing, treating and mobilizing water: towards an integrated approach Sustainable drainage and surface water management Sustainable drainage systems: o Barriers to development o Responsibilities for operations/maintenance What needs to change? The key role of local authorities Best Practice Tony Poole, Principal Engineer Drainage, Department of Regeneration – Making Great Places, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
11:00	Coffee and Networking
11:20	The 2007 Floods: Lessons Learned What we faced - Outlining the scale of the problem What we did - the Recovery What we learnt - Planning for future resilience Duncan Jordan, Group Director, Environment, Gloucestershire County Council
11:40	Insuring Flood Risk Sites Overview of potential flood risks and their cost to the industry Developing strategies for flood management and developing flood risk assessment tools Developing planning and flood risks – challenges and solutions ABI’s recommended measures and designs – implementing their advice Justin Jacobs, Head Property, Motor and Liability, Association of British Insurers
12:00	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Close

 

Audience

Delegates will be comprised of central, local and regional government, universities, academics, charities, emergency services, regulators, insurance companies, engineers, planning experts, environmental experts, unions, environment consultants, civil and environmental engineers, property developers, urban designers and planners, architects, insurance companies, interest groups and all those with a vested interest in flooding and related issues.

 

STePS Search a unique pan Government search and retrieval tool: