The Board’s operational areas are principally in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire but also include the Unitary Authority of Milton Keynes and other adjoining counties. These Boards have formed a consortium to maximise efficiency. For legal reasons the consortium is known as a lead board consortium whereby the employing body is the Bedfordshire and River Ivel IDB. The Boards are autonomous public bodies, constituted by statutory instrument, under the direct control of the board members. The number of members is set out in the constitution of the board. Membership comprises those elected every three years by the agricultural rate payers and those nominated by local authorities. The latter represent the interests of residential, commercial and industrial property within the Drainage District and in respect of which local authorities make annual payments, Special Levies to the Boards. The proportion of elected and nominated members is based upon the relative contribution from agricultural and non-agricultural land to the Board’s expenses. Boards are responsible for raising income and approving all aspects of the individual Board activities. They make an annual statutory return to Defra, which sets out, in financial and statistical terms, the financial year’s activities. The Bedfordshire and River Ivel Internal Drainage Board has 25 members:
The Buckingham and River Ouzel Internal Drainage Board has 25 members:
The Alconbury and Ellington Internal Drainage Board is constituted to have 25 members. However, there is only one Special Levy paying Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, who does not choose to appoint their full compliment of nominees, therefore, by local agreement, the Board has decided not to fill 3 vacant seats in the elected membership. Currently the Board’s membership comprises:
In each case the non-agricultural areas contribute more than 50% of the Board’s expenditure and therefore are entitled to 50% plus 1 of the total membership. The Boards meet twice a year, in January and June/July, except on election years when an additional meeting is held in November. The two larger Boards also have a General Purposes Committee which has one formal meeting a year plus is called on an ad hoc basis to oversee specific items delegated to them by the main Board. The Boards have appointed a Joint Management Committee to oversee the administration which includes responsibility for employing all personnel, offices and equipment, and provision of vehicles and plant. This committee meets twice a year and has appointed an Executive Committee to oversee the day to day activities of the administration. The Executive Working Group meets quarterly. There are 12 administration and civil engineering staff plus a direct labour force of 10. Only 8 members of staff are full time employees. In 1252 the Romney Marsh Commissions were created to provide a living and working environment in the Romney Marsh. The creation of this local authority recognised that in large drainage sensitive areas it required a combined effort beyond the scope of the individual to successfully manage the environment. This local authority approach was repeated many times, particularly in the seventeenth century, to ensure the best agricultural land in the country was available for production. However, it was not until a Royal Commission of 1928 that the present day Drainage Boards were envisaged. In the subsequent Land Drainage Act of 1930 River Catchment Boards were formed based on the country’s major river basins. Within these Catchment Boards there were areas particularly drainage sensitive, many like Romney Marsh, that had a long history of local water level management authorities. It was these sensitive areas that were designated Internal Drainage Boards; areas within a Catchment Board boundary. Over the centuries these areas have become more populated and peoples expectations in terms of flood protection have increased. Hence the work of Drainage Authorities has become increasingly more vital. There is a greater population in the low lying areas of England dependent on complex systems of land drainage and flood defence than exists in Holland. With over 2 million acres of land, including large areas of development dependent on water level management systems, it is essential that these systems are well managed. Without these works the environment, living and working conditions would suffer. Over the centuries successive British Governments have recognised the need to manage these drainage sensitive areas, initially to maximise food production and more recently to provide safe conditions for a major residential building programme. Drainage Boards have been at the forefront of providing local solutions to these Government initiatives. The Boards with locally elected members in control have the knowledge to ensure that their communities are as safe as possible, able to prosper and enjoy the amenity and biodiversity benefits that are available in well-managed lowland areas. With climate change high on the national and international agenda increased challenges are inevitable as weather patterns become more intense and sea levels rise. Expert opinion leads to the conclusion that large parts of the world will not be able to sustain food production, therefore decisions will have to be made whether to continue to protect the most productive agricultural land in the British Isles or to abandon it and the surrounding communities to the elements. With over 700 years of experience Drainage Boards are ready for the challenges ahead. BEDFORDSHIRE AND RIVER IVEL INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK 2010/11 Click here to view the proposed works in pdf format
BUCKINGHAM AND RIVER OUZEL INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK 2010/11 Click here to view the proposed works in pdf format
ALCONBURY AND ELLINGTON INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK 2010/11 Click here to view the proposed works in pdf format
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY OF THE BEDFORD GROUP OF INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARDS From 2001, the Bedford Group of Internal Drainage Boards comprises three IDBs in the upper reaches of the Great Ouse catchment, largely in Bedfordshire, but also Milton Keynes, small areas in north Oxfordshire, north Buckinghamshire, north Hertfordshire and south-east Cambridgeshire. The Group manages a total of 1147 km of watercourses within its Drainage District, serving an agricultural area of 37736 ha and an urban area of 7176 ha. The Bedford Group aims to reduce the risk from flooding to people and the developed environment by the provision of technically, environmentally and economically sound and sustainable defence measures in accord with local needs and central government policy. In order to achieve this, it employs measures including prioritisation of drainage activities according to flood risk and adjacent land use, and a commitment to development control issues in order to cater for the extensive development pressures in and adjoining the Drainage District. The Group intends to play a positive role in fulfilling its statutory and other responsibilities for nature conservation. Policies include:
To help implement these policies, the Bedford Group has produced a Conservation Handbook which provides the background information needed to enable it to carry out its duties in an environmentally sensitive manner. This includes information on current legislation, relevant contacts in other organisations, arrangements for consultation and survey, and locations of protected sites and species, all of which need to be considered when planning works. Importantly it also provides a best practice guide for watercourse management operations and identifies enhancement opportunities. The Group gratefully acknowledges the kind assistance of the Environment Agency, English Nature and Bedfordshire County Council in reviewing the Handbook. It is intended to supplement the use of this Handbook by regular training of both ground staff and supervisors. This leaflet summarises the principal points. The intention of the Bedford Group is to ensure that the watercourses for which it is responsible are as morphologically and biologically diverse as is consistent with maintaining appropriate flood protection. Particular care will be taken within statutorily protected sites such as Flitwick Moor, Fancott Meadows and Tebworth Marsh Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also Wildlife Trust Reserves. Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species and statutorily protected species will be given special attention when considering future works. Attention will be given to:
Features of importance include banks with a mix of taller and shorter vegetation, steep earth banks, shelves at water level, stands of marginal vegetation such as reeds, in-channel vegetation, riffles and pools and gravel bars and shoals. Adjacent features such as old trees, tall hedge-lines and bushes are also important. Best Practice The Bedford Group operates a rolling programme of works. This will be sent to the Environment Agency and also to English Nature where a SSSI is concerned or where it is believed that protected or priority species may be present. The programme will be sent to the relevant County Ecologist who will then disseminate it to the other relevant conservation interests. In Milton Keynes, the programme will be sent to the Milton Keynes Parks Trust. No works will be carried out on or adjacent to SSSIs without prior consultation with English Nature, on or adjacent to Wildlife Trust reserves without prior consultation with the relevant Wildlife Trust or on or adjacent to County Wildlife Sites or Local Nature Reserves without prior consultation with the County Ecologist unless they are undertaken as part of emergency operations. Surveys at different levels of detail may be needed prior to work. Data obtained from the consultation process, from the Group’s database or from the supervisor's walk-over will identify what, if any, surveys are required. If it is possible that protected species could be affected by proposed works then an ecological assessment will be made by appropriately licensed and trained personnel. River Corridor Surveys will be carried out on watercourses with a work return period of 2-6 years where it is intended to modify any long-running management programme or, as a one-off, undertake any work within the channel with the exception of hand clearance. They will also be undertaken on watercourses with a work return period of more than 6 years where any work other than hand work will be undertaken within the channel. Timing of works will be, as far as possible, to benefit the ecological interest of the watercourse and adjacent land. For example, the bird breeding season from mid-March to mid-July will be avoided wherever possible and woody vegetation cutting will normally be undertaken in winter as this provides the best chance of regeneration. However, the Bedford Group operates throughout the year and it is not always able to gain access to land at the optimum time both for conservation purposes and to have watercourses in a suitable condition to minimise flood risk during the September to May maximum risk period. In general, spring and summer works will be confined to watercourses which have least ecological value. Bank vegetation maintenance may be required to provide a passage for floodwater, prevent succession from grass to trees and shrubs, increase the root mat (thus reducing erosion risk) and increase amenity use. Wherever the watercourse width and the standard of service demanded allow, cutting will be restricted to one bank only. A fringe at the bottom of the bank will provide a continuum between terrestrial and aquatic communities. Continuity of less frequently managed habitat is important but grassland will not be allowed to become invaded by scrub where conservation interest is high or it would affect flood water conveyance and access for channel maintenance. The bird breeding season and the seed setting season mid-March – mid-July will be avoided as far as possible and grass banks will be mown earlier only if ground-nesting birds are not present. Piles of cut vegetation may be retained as they are important for mammals and reptiles. Tree maintenance may be necessary to provide access to a channel for maintenance work, to remove the risk of trees falling into the channel or to remove low-growing limbs that accumulate floating wrack and thus reduce conveyance. The Group's practice is to retain old trees and manage as few trees as possible, as lightly as possible. Felling is the last resort. When gaining access for channel works it may be possible to leave a ‘tunnel’ within overhanging trees. If material must be burned it will be done away from important or vulnerable areas. Where acceptable, it may be heaped above flood levels eg to form otter holts or make "habitat piles" for invertebrates and nesting birds. Pollarding may be undertaken in appropriate areas between November and March following assessment for presence of bats. Where access is needed over hedges, then coppicing may be undertaken. A rotation of coppicing along a river helps maintain various stages of tree growth and refuge and cover for wildlife. In-channel weed maintenance is undertaken to increase conveyance, reduce water levels, prevent silt deposition and protect the functioning of structures which may otherwise become clogged. Where possible, weed will be cut in patches so as to retain areas for re-colonisation or along the centre of the channel only, leaving the margins which concentrates flow into a central channel. Where trees provide shade so that in-channel growth is inhibited, they will normally be retained. Leaving an uncut base to the bed of the channel is important and a further 0.25m wide on both banks is desirable where the watercourse is wide enough to allow this. De-silting operations are most often undertaken, with additional work on the banks only where and when required e.g. where slips have occurred. The need for works is entirely related to flood defence needs so as to maintain capacity, stabilize banks and to maintain conveyance. Reforming (removing firm material) and re-grading (bed and banks) requires a site-specific approach, always involving an ecologist, often involving River Corridor Survey and sometimes involving an Environmental Impact Assessment. Protection of existing ecological interest is paramount in de-silting operations and riffles, areas of cobbles and gravels will be left untouched or replaced. One working bank only will normally be used, being chosen for ease of access, sensitivity of vegetation present, adjacent land use including presence of crops and the need to minimise works along the channel. Variation in the long-section as well as the cross-section of a watercourse will be an objective. Enhancements will be considered where possible and working undertaken wherever possible to mimic natural fluvial processes. Spoil may be incorporated into adjacent land via thin spreading, usually within 2-10m of the watercourse. On pasture, spoil may be placed into a trench and then covered with the topsoil. Conservation Achievements A conservation database has been established by the Bedford Group, compatible with those for its other activities. Data is entered on a GIS system and this includes statutorily protected sites, other sites of conservation importance, Biodiversity Action Plan species, protected species and priority habitats. It is intended that information will be exchanged with other data bases such as that being established by Bedfordshire County Council and various Biological Records centres. The Group appreciates data given by English Nature and the River Ivel Project. Water Level Management Plans have been completed for all hydrologically-sensitive SSSIs within the Drainage District. These are Flitwick Moor, Fancott Woods and Meadows and Tebworth Marsh. The latter two sites were in satisfactory hydrological condition and required the maintenance of the status quo but Flitwick Moor requires technically demanding solutions to deal with the problems of nutrient-rich flood waters entering typically low-nutrient areas. Replacement of structures is required together with in-channel works and creation of a flood storage area. The Plan was written in collaboration with English Nature, Bedfordshire County Council and the Wildlife Trust who are working to acquire land whilst the Group completes the design. Enhancement works have now been undertaken on a variety of watercourses. For example, pollarding has been undertaken on a tributary of the River Ouzel at Ivinghoe and in-stream flow deflectors have been provided in the River Ivel at Stotfold. Adjacent to the River Ivel, a flood bank has been seeded with flower-rich seed and, at the request of the Wildlife Trust, a pond and scrape have been provided. Creation of a new willow-lined back channel has been created at Padbury, Bucks. Bio-Diversity Action Plans (BAPs) Click the links below to view the BAPs for the individual Boards: Alconbury & Ellington Board BAP Bedfordshire & River Ivel Board BAP Buckingham & River Ouzel Board BAP Internal Drainage Boards are operating authorities as described in PPS25 – Development and Flood Risk. In this capacity the Bedford Group advises Planning Authorities as to the appropriate surface water and flood risk management measures required for development both within the Drainage District and outside the district if such development is considered by the IDB to have an impact on the Drainage District. MARSTON VALE SURFACE WATERS PLAN The Marston Vale Surface Waters Plan is available in paper format, on request, or alternatively the Executive Summary, can been downloaded from the link below. To request paper copies of the Marston Vale Surface Waters Plan, Executive Summary and Appendices please email contact@idbs.org.uk or telephone 01234 354396. MARSTON VALE SURFACE WATERS PLAN - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Provide land drainage, flood risk management and surface water management to achieve safe, prosperous communities that enjoy the amenity and biodiversity benefits of the water environment.
Click here to see the Boards' Organisational chart in pdf format Personnel:
Consultants:
Links to Environment Agency Flood Warning Procedures Bedford Group of IDBs Internal Drainage Boards are responsible for providing a water-level management service within their drainage districts. During times of heavy rainfall and high river levels the Boards:
The Board’s priorities during flooding are:
The Board provides a 24 hour contact number (07764 239891) and during severe emergencies operates extended office hours. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |