The following is a proposal for a Member Bill tabled during the Sixth Senedd:
Proposing Member:
Title of the proposed Bill:
Flooding (Wales) Bill
Policy Objectives of the proposed Bill:
The aim of the Bill is to show that Wales acknowledges that the Climate Crisis is exacerbating flooding, and as such that legislative change is needed to strengthen the national response to flooding events. The Bill will also respond to demand from communities in Wales for independent inquiries into significant flooding events.
The purpose of the Bill would be to:
- Establish a National Flood Agency, as a single body dedicated to tackling flooding, which will co-ordinate flood risk management and the response to flooding events.
- Create a duty for the Welsh Government to facilitate independent inquiries into significant flooding events.
- Impose statutory time limits on the publication of flood investigation reports, and address the fact that under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, lead local flood authorities in Wales, on becoming aware of a flood in their area, have unlimited time to investigate, prepare and publish flood investigation reports.
- Establish a permanent fund so that finance is immediately available to get through the initial clean-up stage of any flood event, and ensure that funding is always accessible to assist non-insured residents with the cost of the initial clean-up after a flooding event.
- Place a duty on the Welsh Government to take reasonable steps to protect sites of historic and national significance from flooding.
- Ensure there is an ongoing campaign to improve riparian owners’ awareness of their responsibilities, and create a support system which identifies and assists riparian owners who are not fulfilling their responsibilities.