The Environment Audit Committee report released today states that funding for river maintenance has decreased by 6 per cent from 2010-15.
The report has exposed that whilst the government claims funding has increased every five years, this has only been due to the establishment of emergency funding in response to the 2013 floods.
The report stated: "During the last Parliament funding was initially cut and only increased due to the reactive funding injection following the winter 2013–2014 floods.
"This is worrying because the independent Worsfold review demonstrated a relationship between flood maintenance spending and the good condition of critical flood defences.
"As the money required to maintain these defences fell, so did the number of these defences which meet the Environment Agency’s required condition.
"Any decline in the condition of critical assets represents a real world and unacceptable risk to local communities at risk of flooding.
"We are concerned that the Government only released this review when we requested it and it has been published only on our website."
The report also expressed concerns about the level of flooding infrastructure.
The report stated: "Nationally significant infrastructure is not currently protected to a consistent standard.
"Infrastructure companies should be mandated to report their target resilience level, why this target is appropriate and what progress they are making to achieve it.
"While there was national policy in place to plan for future flooding events this did not always translate through to the local level.
"Government should, in the short term, provide more support to local authorities to enable them to adopt a plan and, in the medium term, support and encourage local authorities to develop joint local plans that properly take account of flood risk management.
Agricultural land needs sustained maintenance budgets
NFU environment forum chair Mark Pope said: "Sustained and increased maintenance budgets are vital to ensure repairs are made to river channels and flood defence structures.
"An unacceptable flood risk is posed to urban and rural communities and productive agricultural land when this maintenance is not undertaken.
"We support the government’s decision to secure a further total £3bn in capital works from 2016-21.
"But we’re questioning whether an annual maintenance budget of £170m is sufficient - the Environment Agency reports that £170m is at the lower end of the budget required for maintenance works.
"This increases the likelihood of both river channels and flood defence structures falling into disrepair."
Suitable compensation for farmers
The NFU and other farming unions across the UK continue to lobby for greater transparency in funding for flood and coastal risk management.
Government has stated that part of the addition £700m pledged by the government during the 2016 budget will be assigned to Natural Flood Risk Management.
Mark Pope added: "The NFU believes that that Natural Flood Risk Management, in the right location, does have a role to play in mitigating flood risk as part of a total catchment management so long as there is suitable compensation for farmers.
"Partnerships are crucial to the development of Natural Flood Management, with funding for these flood mitigation services being provided by all stakeholders who benefit.
"However Natural Flood Risk Management is not a panacea solution and will never replace the need for river maintenance and the construction of hard-engineered structures."
