1) Do you have a dedicated annual budget for flood remediation? If so, please state it in pounds.
Yes – We have a Flood Revenue Budget of £822,000 to cover all costs associated with the resource and responsibilities of a Lead Local Flood Authority.
2) What was your annual dedicated budget for flood remediation last year? Please state your answer in pounds.
The Flood Revenue Budget for 2024/25 was £822,000 to cover all costs associated with the resource and responsibilities of a Lead Local Flood Authority.
3) In the last ten years, how many floods have you had from surface water/fluvial flooding? (Surface water/fluvial flooding is defined as ‘flooding that occurs when the volume and intensity of rainfall overwhelms local drainage systems.’; a flood is defined as ‘any case where land not normally covered by water becomes covered by water’)
Following the definition, we do not keep records to this extent; many of which will be on private land. Significant floods causing property flooding are detailed in a Section 19 Flood Investigation Report and these can be viewed on our website at Flood investigations, reports and studies – Flood Risk Management
In relation to the Highway, Devon County Council have in the past 10 years received 19,333 public reports of flooding or standing water, and there has been 13,643 flooding or standing water defects, as defined in the Council’s Highway Safety Policy, recorded.
4) What was the cost to the council of the repairs and clean-up of your most recent flood (as per the definition above)?
Clear up and repair costs for individual floods are not recorded separately. However, the clear up costs for the named storms (including flooding, fallen trees, landslips etc) are recorded. For the most recent named storms, Eowyn and Herminia, on 24th-26th January 2025, costs currently total £109,961.74. This cost does not include ongoing damage repair to assets.
5) Which of the following have you planned to invest in to remediate floods? Please select all that apply.
i. Installing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) / ii. Require all news builds/developments to include SuDS:
As part of our statutory consultee role for surface water management proposals for new major development.
iii. Increasing drainage maintenance:
In the last two years, highway capital funding has been specifically allocated for drainage works. The revenue cleaning allocation has been increased for 2025/26, which will be targeted at highway drainage maintenance.
iv. Enhance green spaces to improve drainage and act as a natural buffer:
Yes, where appropriate through natural flood management measures.
6) Have any of the floods your council has experienced in the last ten years resulted in ‘sewer flooding’, where sewers become overwhelmed?
Yes.