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.
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 London Surface Water Strategic Group (LSWSG) was set up
following severe flash flooding affecting the city in 2021. The LSWSG is
overseeing a programme of improvements to address this. 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. The organisations represented have committed
resources (people and money) to begin and continue this work.
Members of the LSWSG:
- London Boroughs –
maximum total of six representatives drawn from Chair and vice chairs of London
Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee and/or Thames Regional Flood and
Coastal Committee (RFCC) Strategic Partnership Leads
- Mayor of London –
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy
- Environment Agency –
London Area Director
- Transport for London –
Chief Health, Safety and Environment Officer
- Thames Water –
Strategic Resource and London Operations Director
- London Fire Brigade –
Assistant Commissioner
- Thames RFCC –
Independent Member
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. Your leadership
will encourage a collaborative approach 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.
This is a unique
opportunity to transform London’s relationship with rain, ultimately resulting
in a more resilient, more collaborative city which is ready to face the
challenges that climate change brings.
The Strategic Group
under your leadership will:
Drive the co-ordination and collaboration of
the LSWSG and wider partners to enable a step change in reducing surface water
flood risk in London.
- Oversee the delivery of
a strategy and implementation plan by our agreed contractors to manage surface
water flood risk across London in collaboration with all key stakeholders.
- Lead the implementation
of the strategy and plan including creating opportunities for enhanced
collaboration and gaining commitment to deliver actions needed on the ground.
- Identify and secure
funding to help deliver the plan.
- Review and promote
cross-partner responsibilities and empowerment necessary for successful
delivery of the plan.
- Co-ordinate the raising
and sustaining of awareness of Londoners to surface water flood risk,
describing future solutions and empower people to take action to help manage
the risk.
The LSWSG under your
leadership may direct the creation of one or more task and finish groups,
consultants or other suitable sub-groups, to make more rapid progress on
particular issues and report back to 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. Your leadership
will encourage a collaborative approach 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.
This is a unique
opportunity to transform London’s relationship with rain, ultimately resulting
in a more resilient, more collaborative city which is ready to face the
challenges that climate change brings.
The Strategic Group
under your leadership will:
- Drive the co-ordination and collaboration of
the LSWSG and wider partners to enable a step change in reducing surface water
flood risk in London.
- Oversee the delivery of a strategy and
implementation plan by our agreed contractors to manage surface water flood
risk across London in collaboration with all key stakeholders.
- Lead the implementation of the strategy and
plan including creating opportunities for enhanced collaboration and gaining
commitment to deliver actions needed on the ground.
- Identify and secure funding to help deliver the
plan.
- Review and promote cross-partner
responsibilities and empowerment necessary for successful delivery of the plan.
- Co-ordinate
the raising and sustaining of awareness of Londoners to surface water flood risk,
describing future solutions and empower people to take action to help manage
the risk.
The LSWSG under your
leadership may direct the creation of one or more task and finish groups,
consultants 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 senior stakeholders, including local and national government, and
other London based organisations to ensure effective collaboration and
alignment of goals.
4. With
the LSWSG, identify funding and investment opportunities to resource the necessary
actions needed for the strategy and plan to be successfully implemented.
5. Working
through the LSWSG, and through London Councils for London Boroughs, ensure
partners effectively deliver their nominated actions in the implementation plan
and strategy.
6. With
support of the Greater London Authority and London Councils ensure the LSWSG
takes account of London’s diverse communities and representative organisations
to allow effective 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 in the UK and overseas.
9. With
the support of the project officer and secretariat, instigate the monitoring 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.