Local authorities are the most obvious candidates to co-ordinate flood management in the future, the chief executive of the Environment Agency has said. As the Met Office predicted that rain levels were likely to double in the next 100 years, Baroness Young said there needed to be more clarity about which organisations should take the lead on dealing with floods. She added that local authorities were best placed to ‘hold the ring', as they controlled development and could liaise well with water companies and other crucial bodies. But the general management of flood prevention could be overseen by the Environment Agency, she added. The Department for Communities and Local Government was due this week to announce the allocation of a second tranche of money to assist flood-damaged areas. An additional £10m was likely to be earmarked for areas hit by flooding two weeks ago, a spokeswoman said. Westminster City Council is to review its flood defences. The capital hasn't flooded since 1928, but the House of Parliament, Downing Street and most of Whitehall are located on a flood plain.
