Surface water
flooding is one of the greatest unmitigated risks in London and
following decades of urban development and the increasing impact of climate
change, surface water presents one of the greatest risks to households,
businesses and the London economy. A new strategy is being co-developed by
responsible agencies in the city to establish a long-term plan for managing
surface water across the capital and an independent chair is sought to lead the
group.
The position of
Chair of the London Surface Water Strategic Group (LSWSG) provides a unique
opportunity to drive the strategic co-ordination and collaboration necessary to
create a step-change in London’s resilience to surface water flooding. As
Chair, you will lead a senior-level, multi-agency group of partners in
developing and delivering an ambitious new vision and world-leading strategy
for London.
We require a visionary,
dynamic chair to unite and harness the commitment of the many partners,
including the public, in creating a London that is not only much more resilient
to the rising risk of surface water flooding, but a more sustainable and
equitable city.
You should have
a good understanding of the London political environment but remain impartial
in your role as chair. You should have the necessary technical skills and
understanding of London’s water management. You need to be able to drive
change, build consensus whilst at the same time challenge the normal
constraints of partnership working to deliver a cohesive surface water strategy
and implementation plan to help protect Londoners, visitors and businesses long
into the future.
This is a
‘hands on’ role over a period of five years during which you will be
responsible for both steering the development of the strategy as well as its
subsequent implementation. This will include raising awareness of flood risk
and the long-term adaptation actions needed to mitigate this risk. As chair, with
support from your dedicated project team, you will work closely with the team
of consultants who will be appointed to develop the strategy and associated
action plans to support its implementation.
The complexity of
raising awareness in London is just one of the challenges you and the LSWSG
face. The position requires someone
who is
passionate about the role, understands how surface water can affect people's
lives and is empathetic. Accordingly, you will be committed to the objective of
making London and London’s communities, resilient to the direct and indirect
impacts of surface water flooding, now and in the future.
The LSWSG was
set up following severe flash flooding affecting the city in 2021. The LSWSG is
overseeing a programme of improvements to address this. It comprises
senior-level representatives from London’s Lead Local Flood Authorities and other
organisations with a flood risk management or strategic governance role. The
LSWSG has made considerable progress already to identify all relevant
stakeholders and begin raising awareness of the work underway to create a pan
London strategy, as well as defining the scope of work. You will work with the
LSWSG to take this initial work to the next stage and beyond. You will lead the
LSWSG and report on progress.
We need someone
who can provide a vision for the future that national and local government and
all partners in London can engage in to deliver a greener, more sustainable
future for London.
Members of the LSWSG:
You will lead the LSWSG, whose purpose it is to drive
greater collaboration between the partners to manage surface water flooding and
lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address
surface water flood risks in London. You will work collaboratively with the
members of the LSWSG to ensure the LSWSG identifies and delivers effective
solutions to mitigate the impacts of surface water flooding in the city. You
will, where necessary, broker differences of opinion.
Key outcomes of the role
• Drive the co-ordination and collaboration of
the LSWSG and wider partners to enable a step change in surface water flood
risk in London.
• Deliver a strategy and implementation plan
to manage surface water flood risk across London in collaboration with all key
stakeholders.
You will lead the LSWSG, whose purpose it is to drive
greater collaboration between the partners to manage surface water flooding and
lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address
surface water flood risks in London. You will work collaboratively with the
members of the LSWSG to ensure the LSWSG identifies and delivers effective
solutions to mitigate the impacts of surface water flooding in the city. You
will, where necessary, broker differences of opinion.
Key outcomes of
the role
• Drive the co-ordination and collaboration of
the LSWSG and wider partners to enable a step change in surface water flood
risk in London.
• Deliver a strategy and implementation plan
to manage surface water flood risk across London in collaboration with all key
stakeholders.
• Drive forward implementation of the strategy
and plan including creating opportunities for enhanced collaboration to deliver
actions needed on the ground.
• Identify and secure funding to help deliver
the plan.
• Raise and sustain awareness of Londoners on
surface water flood risk and empowering people to take action to help manage
the risk.
In agreement with the LSWSG, you may direct the creation of
one or more task and finish groups, or other suitable sub-groups, to make more
rapid progress on particular issues and report back to the LSWSG.
Key
Responsibilities:
1. Provide strategic direction and leadership to
the LSWSG in the development and implementation of a comprehensive surface
water flooding strategy for London.
2. Maintain and enhance the LSWSGs’ commitment
to working together to manage the risk of surface water flooding.
3. Liaise with key stakeholders, including local
and national government, and other London based organisations to ensure
effective collaboration and alignment of goals.
4. Identify funding opportunities to resource
the necessary actions needed for the strategy and plan to be successfully
implemented.
5. Work with local authorities and risk
management authorities to ensure that the strategy and implementation plan can
be effectively delivered.
6. Work with London’s diverse communities and
representative organisations to ensure engagement and involvement with the
strategy and implementation plan.
7. As a public facing role, you will need to
engage with and represent the LSWSG in relevant forums, meetings, and
governmental committees while speaking for the LSWSG nationally and
internationally.
8. Facilitate the sharing of knowledge,
resources, and best practices within the LSWSG and with external partners.
9. Monitor and evaluate the progress and success
of the LSWSG initiatives, reporting back to stakeholders on a regular basis.
10. Ensure that the LSWSG operates with
transparency and accountability, adhering to relevant regulations and
guidelines.