Flood Defences

Funding

The Environment Agency operates within the flood defence policy and guidance set out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Regional and local flood defence committees oversee and authorize the Agency's flood defence work. A majority of local authority members make up the Sussex Local Flood Defence Committee.

Before it can take action the Agency must gain the approval of the Flood Defence Committee. Where capital investment is proposed, approval from DEFRA is also needed. Planning permissions are often required.

The Flood Defence Committee decides how much levy to raise on the local councils to fund the work. In Sussex the levy is raised on the West and Fast Sussex County Councils and Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority. This money is later refunded to the local authority from Central Government.

In addition to the local authority levy, money can also come from DEFRA as grant aid specifically for major capital works. It can be up to 65% of the cost, with the remainder coming from the local council levy.