Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 implementation: report to the Scottish Parliament - 2020

4. Joint Responsible Authority Progress

4.1 Background

Flood risk management is the process of assessing, organising and implementing actions to deal with flood risk. Multiple organisations are involved in managing flood risk. It is therefore essential that an integrated approach, that balances national consistency and strategic decisions with local knowledge and accountability is adopted.

4.1.1 Delivering Responsibilities Collectively

Responsibilities for flood risk management are divided between different organisations. Strong partnerships, founded on common aspirations, are needed to deliver coordinated or joint actions, aligned investment planning and efficient use of resources. Finding new ways to share skills, expertise and services is important to delivering partnership working. A summary of key partnership groups contributing towards flood risk management in 2020 is outlined in Annex B.

4.2 Selecting and Implementing Sustainable Actions

The main output of the flood risk management planning process is a set of sustainable actions being taken to reduce overall flood risk across Scotland. The Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans incorporate a wide spectrum of actions, ranging from flood protection schemes to emergency flood plans to awareness raising activities.

Published in 2016, Scottish Government's Options Appraisal Guidance provides guidance for SEPA and the responsible authorities on the economic, social and environmental aspects of options appraisal for actions promoted under the Act. The requirement for an update to this guidance has been recognised and is planned for 2021, before the second FRM cycle.

This guidance ensures that options are identified and evaluated within a structured appraisal process, ensuring options are assessed in a consistent way, with alternative options considered and investment decisions justified. Sustainable solutions are likely to be a combination of actions.

4.2.1 Appraisal and Prioritisation for Cycle Two

In 2020, SEPA continued to progress plans for the development of the 2021 FRM Strategies for the second FRM Cycle. The Scottish Government and local authorities are working with SEPA to develop an appraisal and prioritisation method that includes the opportunities, ambitions, and challenges presented by the second cycle.

4.3 Strategic Drainage Partnerships - A Place-based Approach to Surface Water Management

Our urban areas in particular face mounting challenges with surface water drainage and related flooding. Despite considerable capital investment, the continued densification of our towns and cities is adding to the pressure on drainage systems that are already at capacity and the "total asset" that needs to be flood resilient continues to increase. An integrated, place-based approach focused on blue-green infrastructure has the potential to deliver multiple benefits for our communities to help overcome these challenges.

The long established Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership and Edinburgh and Lothians Strategic Drainage Partnership demonstrate the benefits of this approach. In Aberdeen, the Sustainable Growth Agreement brings together multiple stakeholder to drive innovation in managing rainwater and waste water, with the aim of significantly reducing flows to the combined sewer, increase resilience and contributing to place.

In 2020, the City of Edinburgh Council also published their Vision for Water Management as part of their climate adaptation planning. This supports a sustainable approach to river, coastal and storm water management across the city, placing resilience at the heart of the city's future success.

4.4 Natural Flood Management (NFM)

Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures reduce, slow or otherwise manage flood waters across catchments and along the coast; they include salt marsh creation, wetland restoration, floodplain reconnection, woodland planting, leaky dams. The Scottish Government, SEPA, local authorities and other partners continue to work together to deliver NFM in Scotland.

As highlighted in Chapter 2.4, alongside multiple partners such as Tweed Forum and SEPA, Scottish Government have this year continued to support the long running Eddleston Water research project, which is developing an evidence base to improve our understanding of NFM, including its specific impact on flood risk.

There are over 100 actions with an NFM component identified within the 2015-21 FRM Strategies and 2016-22 LFRMP's and SEPA have, in 2020, continued to support the responsible authorities in the delivery of these actions.

In addition to flood risk mitigation, NFM also frequently delivers other benefits. Opportunities to integrate NFM delivery with other drivers has been examined - as part of their actions, a number of local authorities have assessed River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) and NFM opportunities within their flood studies.

The NFM Network Scotland has also continued to gain membership in 2020. This online resource brings together practitioners, researchers and communities to share knowledge, best practice and experience of implementing NFM.

4.4.1 CIRIA Natural Flood Management Guidance

For natural flood management to have any significant impact, schemes need to be technically robust. However, there is a lack of suitable guidance covering on the ground delivery. To address this gap, CIRIA commissioned work in late 2019 to develop a good practice guidance for the delivery of NFM. This guidance will present case studies, develop a design philosophy, and design criteria to ensure the right outcomes are delivered. The guidance will also signpost how designing for multiple benefits can unlock different funding sources. SEPA are part funders of this work and are supporting its delivery. Completion of the guidance is expected late 2021.

4.5 Promoting Flood Resilient Properties

4.5.1 Flood Re and Flood Resilience

Flood Re is a flood reinsurance scheme that ensures that flood insurance remains affordable to those who need it. Flood Re helps to enable home insurance and associated premiums to remain affordable to residents in areas at risk of flooding.

Stakeholders from across Scotland have worked with the insurance industry to develop the scheme to ensure the voices of Scotland's communities at risk of flooding are heard. Flood Re was launched in 2016 and will be in place until 2039.

Those benefiting from Flood Re should become more aware of their flood risk and, if possible, take action to reduce their risk by making flood resilient property repairs and installing property level protection.

4.5.2 Property Flood Resilience Delivery Group (PFRDG) and Action Plan

Property level protection and resilience measures are an essential and cost effective part of a sustainable and proactive approach to flood risk management. However, these measures are not being widely taken up in Scotland even though they can reduce flood risk and speed up the drying out and cleaning up processes post-flood.

The Scottish Government are part of the multi-stakeholder Property Flood Resilience Delivery Group (PFRDG), which was set up to discuss what support home and business owners might need to make their properties flood resilient. In 2020, the group has continued to remotely meet on a regular basis and deliver actions aligned to the key aims within the Living with Flooding: Action Plan (2019) such as building a better evidence base and influencing policy.

As outlined in Chapter 2.4, this has included the publication of a research report to investigate the uptake of Property Flood Resilience measures in Scotland. A further ClimateXChange led research study was commissioned in 2020 on understanding the barriers to uptake of PFR in Scotland, this study is due for completion in Spring 2021.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Defra and the devolved administrations to help residents and business owners take actions to protect their property.