Flood and Water Management Act 2010

8 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy: Wales

(1) The Welsh Ministers must develop, maintain and apply a strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales (a “national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy”).

(2) The strategy must specify—

(a) the Welsh risk management authorities,

(b) the flood and coastal erosion risk management functions that may be exercised by those authorities in relation to Wales,

(c) the objectives for managing flood and coastal erosion risk,

(d) the measures proposed to achieve those objectives,

(e) how and when the measures are to be implemented,

(f) the costs and benefits of those measures, and how they are to be paid for,

(g) the assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk for the purpose of the strategy,

(h) how and when the strategy is to be reviewed,

(i) the current and predicted impact of climate change on flood and coastal erosion risk management, and

(j) how the strategy contributes towards the achievement of wider environmental objectives.

(3) The Welsh Ministers must consult the Secretary of State about the national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy, so far as the strategy may affect flood and coastal erosion risk management in England.

(4) The Welsh Ministers must publish a summary of the strategy.

(5) The Welsh Ministers may issue guidance about the application of the strategy.

(6) The Welsh Ministers may, in particular, issue guidance about how Welsh risk management authorities are to comply with the duties under sections 13(1) and 14.

(7) The Welsh Ministers must lay any guidance in draft before the National Assembly for Wales; and it may not be issued if during the period of 40 days beginning with the date of laying (ignoring any periods for which the National Assembly is dissolved or is in recess for more than 4 days) the National Assembly resolves that it should not be issued (in that form).

(8) The Welsh Ministers must lay the strategy before the National Assembly for Wales.