Decision details

Background:

As a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Kent County Council has been acting as a statutory consultee for surface water within the planning process since April 2015. KCC is required to provide technical advice and guidance on planning applications in relation to surface water drainage strategies, designs and maintenance arrangements put forward by developers via the Local Planning Authority for major developments. The Drainage and Planning Policy Statement sets out the drainage requirements that KCC will require when reviewing surface water management provisions, which will seek to deliver the requirements of the Non-Statutory Technical Standards and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). With recent changes in the NPPF and publication of DEFRA’s 25-Year Environment Plan, the Drainage and Planning Policy Statement has been revised to be consistent with them. 

Options:

·         Stay with present policy – these powers remain as they were and do not reflect recent changes in planning policy or lessons learned from performing this function. 

·         Revise Policy to be consistent with NPFF and DEFRA’s 25-Year Enforcement Plan

As Cabinet Member for Environment, I agree to adopt the Drainage and Planning Policy.