The puts forward a draft SI (Statutory Instrument) titled: The English Drainage Boards (Alternative Valuation Calculation) Regulations 2024.
The IDBs (Internal Drainage Boards) are independent, locally funded and operated, statutory public bodies, responsible for water level management and flood risk in areas of 鈥榮pecial drainage need鈥�.
There are 112 independent IDBs in England and they are mainly funded locally through drainage rates paid directly by agricultural landowners (on agricultural land and buildings) and special levies paid by local authorities (on other land).
The boards currently use a land valuation calculation to allocate expenses between landowners and local authorities. In many areas however, the 1990s rating data used for this is missing or incomplete which means that currently existing IDBs cannot extend their boundaries, and new ones cannot be established.
Support for new IDBs
A change via the Environment Act 2021 setting out a new land valuation calculation will enable more up-to-date data to be used and this requires government to consult on a draft SI.
This consultation is currently accepting responses until 19 April 2024 and will be of particular interest to landowners and farmers that pay drainage rates to IDBs.
NFU Environment adviser Zoe Moore said: 鈥溁始一藈elcomes the publication of this consultation as we know there are areas across the country where there is support among members for the establishment of new IDBs to enable more coordinated management of lowland watercourses and flood assets.
鈥淲ithout the changes set out in this draft Statutory Instrument these new IDBs cannot be established.鈥�
鈥�We know there are areas across the country where there is support among members for the establishment of new IDBs to enable more coordinated management of lowland watercourses and flood assets.鈥�
NFU Environment adviser Zoe Moore
皇家华人will be submitting a response representing members views and will be looking to receive input from members shortly. We would also encourage members to read and respond to this consultation individually if they wish to do so.
The draft SI will only apply to England and English IDBs. The Senedd Cymru will publish a separate SI covering Wales and Welsh drainage districts.