| Synopsis: |
Over [pound]1 million is spent annually by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) on drainage and flood protection schemes. The Department has been considering since 1990 how developers could be charged for these costs. A number of charging methodologies have been considered by the Department but have not been put into practice. The NIAO recommends that the Drainage Order should be amended, to include provision for a free-standing power to charge, and this should be be introduced as soon as possible. At the same time the Rivers Agency should review the likely income from different charging methodologies, the pros and cons of methodologies, and prepare a strategy paper setting out the preferred option. This report also reviews the Sustainable Urban Drainage Schemes (SUDS), which is intended to restrict storm water discharges from development sites, and concludes that further feasibility studies are needed before the SUDS approach is introduced. |