ADA gives a cautious welcome to Chancellor’s Spending Review plans for Defra

ADA gives a cautious welcome to the Chancellor’s spending review plans today and, as always, the devil will be in the detail of how the available money is divided up and spent. ADA also welcomes the proposed drive to seek efficiencies in the way flood risk management is procured and delivered by the Environment Agency (EA), long arguing that much better trusted-partner collaborative working with risk management authority partners would go a long way to helping the EA achieve that. Whilst the money available for flood risk management work on the ground has increased, available budget for day-to-day support spending in the Defra family is being squeezed. What we must ensure is that front-line service, especially on routine flood risk maintenance, does not suffer from that squeeze and that we are very careful about how and where a more automated flood warning process is used. The above plans, however, do not kick in until next year and we are currently seeing the direct effects of a contraction on budgets this year with several areas reporting significant reductions in money available to carry out routine maintenance operations. So whilst the next three years look to be well positioned, there is an immediate need to manage and maintain our river and drainage systems in preparation for next winter and very few professionals would take any betting odds on what our weather could throw at us. If we have another winter, the like of what we saw in 2023-24, there will be a lot of questions to answer by government about why there was a gap in spending which left the country vulnerable when our flood risk assets are in the worst state of repair they have been in for many years.

Innes Thomson. ADA’s CEO, commenting on the spending review said “The Chancellor has made forward commitments which are welcome across the industry, but we have the rest of this year and a winter to endure with reduced asset resilience and little or no money to carry out basic maintenance on certain important watercourses. I’m not comfortable relying on a wing and a prayer to get us through this period and we need to urgently reinstate maintenance works which have been halted”

Notes to Editors

ADA

ADA is the membership organisation for those involved in drainage, water level and flood risk management. Its members include Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), the Environment Agency, Regional Flood Defence Committees, Local Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, the Northern Ireland Rivers Agency, Consultants, Contractors and Suppliers.

ADA is involved in a wide range of work for and on behalf of its members helping to exchange ideas towards solving common problems and finding new, better ways of working. ADA responds to consultations from the Government, either on behalf of members or assisting with individual member responses. It represents all interests nationally and locally in relation to drainage, water level and flood risk management, for example, in relation to legislation and public inquiries. ADA acts together with other organisations to pursue the Association’s objectives, including linking to Europe through ADA’s membership of EUWMA, the European Union of Water Management Associations.

ADA obtains and shares information on matters of importance and interest to members, and provides advice on technical and administrative problems. ADA is supported by a volunteer network of branches which bring together members for meetings at a regional level. ADA organises exhibitions and meetings for the benefit of members, maintains a website at www.ada.org.uk and publishes the quarterly ADA Gazette.

ADA is a limited company with offices based at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. ADA welcomes enquiries from the press and can be contacted during normal weekday office hours on 02476 992889 or by e-mail at admin@ada.org.uk.

For press enquiries please contact:
Eur Ing J Innes Thomson BSc CEng FICE
Chief Executive
Association of Drainage Authorities
Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LG
e-mail: innes.thomson@ada.org.uk
Website: www.ada.org.uk

Ian Moodie MSci
Technical Manager
Association of Drainage Authorities
Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
Office Tel: 02476 992 889
Email: ian.moodie@ada.org.uk

Ryan Dixon
Publications & Communications Officer
Association of Drainage Authorities
Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
Office Tel: 02476 992 889
Email: ryan.dixon@ada.org.uk

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