The government departments issue consultations on a regular basis.
The ICE Policy and Innovation Teams lead the compilation of responses that have an impact on the ICE membership. Consultation responses rely on the significant knwoledge that is provided by the ICE Expert Panels. The ICE Regions and Associated Socities also input a significant into the ICE's Consultation responses.
Below are Consultations that have responded to in the last three to six months.
Affordable water: a consultation on the Government’s proposals following the Walker Review of Charging
The ICE Water Expert Panel and the ICE South West Region have recently responded to the Defra consultation on the Walker Review’s proposals for charging for water. The consultation follows on from the 2009 Independent Review of Charging for Household Water and Sewerage Services, which investigated the pressures on water supplies in England and Wales and provided evidence that charging for water through metering may be an effective method of demand management for water. The potential increase in water charges would have significant impact in the South West where water bills are already higher than in most other parts of the country.
The consultation response can be downloaded at the following link: Information-resources/Document-Library/ICE-Walker-Review-Consultation
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy
The ICE has recently responded to consultations opened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy. A working group comprised of representatives of both the ICE Maritime and Water Panels and chaired by Ben Hamer, spent two months reviewing and debating the various merits of the government’s proposed strategy and the funding mechanisms that it means to employ to achieve it. The working group also received significant contributions from the ICE Regions, which allowed for a better understanding of how this strategy will impact the entire country.
ICE views spending on infrastructure generally, and Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management specifically, as a worthwhile investment for the tangible benefit of the Nation and not simply as a cost. The consultation documents outline a significant shift in government policy. There is a clear move away from centralised funding towards a requirement for innovative, private sources of funding. This increases the pressure on local authorities to seek funding from alternative sources and to implement flood and water management strategies in their specific locations. Although this shift to greater subsidiarity is not unwelcome, clarity must be provided by the national strategy and sub-national interests must still be considered.
The full ICE Consultation is available to download and view at the following link.
Information-resources/Document-Library/FCERM-Funding-2011
Information-resources/Document-Library/FCERM-Strategy-2011