Investment in flooding and coastal erosion relies heavily on public sector contributions. Councils are keen to play a part in securing wider contributions, but complex and time consuming processes make this difficult to achieve in practice.
Key messages
- Investment in flooding and coastal erosion relies heavily on public sector contributions. Councils are keen to play a part in securing wider contributions, but complex and time consuming processes make this difficult to achieve in practice.
- Private sector and community contributors are more likely to come forward if public funding models are fit for purpose and deliver local, place based solutions. The LGA is calling for a more flexible funding model, and for capital and revenue funding to be devolved into a single place based pot to allow local areas to support a more diverse set of outcomes that meet local priorities.
- Councils are well placed to provide local leadership of flood and coastal erosion work, subject to the right funding and powers. We look forward to working with DEFRA to ensure that these are provided through the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) strategy for England.
- Tax relief for private sector contributions should be extended to all flood alleviation projects (not just those grant funded by the Environment Agency) to incentivise private investment.
Download the full submission
LGA response to DEFRA call for evidence on coastal erosion and flooding policy