Regional Flood Defence Committee's

Regional Flood Defence Committees. (RFDC’s)

RFDC’s have a great deal of power over what happens locally to manage flood risk.

For example;

• they determine environment agency Flood defence policy within their area the jurisdiction.
• they are required to approve medium and long-term business needs plans for their area.
• they determine each year the agency's local three-year business plan and approve a programme of work for the following year.
• They determine the local levy on council tax for work that cannot be funded from the environment agency's central government grant in aid.
• they monitor the Agency’s performance.

In other words if the committee chooses to exercise their powers it holds sway over what happens in your locality. Get involved!

Each committee has about 20 members. Local councillors appointed by the local government association are in majority. The  minority are appointed by DEFRA from people an interest in flooding who respond to advertisements that appear in late January each year.

You should do two things;

• Monitor what your RFDC is doing. Contact the committee services officer at your regional environment agency office to get hold of agenda and papers. These should be on Agency website. However in the past performance has been patchy and the documents have been difficult to find. If you think that the committee will be dealing with something of relevance to your situation or, perhaps more importantly, think that the committee is neglecting something that is vital to you attend its meeting. Meetings are open to the public and some Chairman will allow observers to make statements before committee business starts. A list of the committee dates follows.  If you do go with us know how you get on because we are very keen to make the  RFDC system work for people and local businesses.
• Consider applying for membership of your local committee. DEFRA is keen to diversify committee membership and will be making this year's advertising more user-friendly. Local advertisements will be placed towards the end of January and we will carry Web links to the DEFRA website as soon as information on the 2006 membership drive is posted.  Good luck!

Tom Crossett,

20th January 2006

click here for list of RFDC meeting dates for 2008

click here for more information