About the Flood and Development Management Team

Our responsibilities

We are the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), which means we have the power and duty to manage flooding from local sources. We are responsible for:

• groundwater - water occurring below ground in natural formations (typically rocks, gravels and sands)
• surface water (overland runoff)
• ordinary watercourses - all watercourses not designated as main river, COWs or internal drainage board (IDB) watercourses. The operating authority (local authority or IDB) has permissive powers to maintain them but the responsibility to do so rests with the riparian owner

We are also required to:

• develop, maintain and apply a local flood risk strategy
• investigate all flooding incidents, where deemed to be necessary
• maintain a register of assets relevant to flooding
• approve drainage systems for construction work, in their capacity as SuDS Approving Bodies (SABs), and adopt and maintain Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
• co-operate with other National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) authorities, for example through building partnerships and ensuring effective multi-agency working

The Cumbria LLFA Management Group along with other relevant organisations are working to steer local flood risk management activities in Cumberland. Partnership working between the council, Risk Management Authorities, other relevant organisations and local communities is key to managing flood risk in the future, funding future flood schemes and helping communities to become more resilient to flooding.

Through a joint Strategic Flood Risk Management Board with other relevant organisations we are working towards steering local flood risk management activities in Cumberland.

Other risk management authorities areas of responsibility

The Environment Agency is responsible for:

• sea
• main rivers - main rivers are usually larger rivers and streams, you can see a map of the main rivers in England (GOV.UK)
• reservoirs

United Utilities are responsible for sewer flooding.

The Highways Authority is responsible for surface water on or coming from the highway.