Decision details

To North Yorkshire Council bidding for £90,000 from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy to produce a Coastal Adaptation Plan for Flat Cliffs.

As Risk Management Authority, North Yorkshire Council, under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, is required to act in a manner that is consistent with the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England and work collaboratively with other RMAs. Climate resilient places and communities that are ready to adapt to flooding and coastal change are at the core of the Strategy. The plans aim to discharge our responsibilities as RMA and work with other stakeholders in supporting the affected communities to plan and adapt to coastal change. The Coastal Adaptation Plan and Coastal Change Management Area will form a key part of the emerging NYC Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

Under the Do-Nothing option, awareness of the coastal erosion risk amongst residents may remain low. There would be no forward planning for managing the consequences of coastal erosion. Residents would be unprepared for the loss of properties creating difficulties for the Risk Management Authority to manage the process when the time comes for residents to have to leave. Significant mental health burden for residents becoming suddenly aware of the risks in an emergency situation, and with no forward plan for dealing with the risks residents may be left feeling unsupported and isolated. Whilst the cost of this option is zero in the present day, it may increase the costs to the Risk Management Authorities for dealing with the issue as the properties become at imminent risk of loss.

North Yorkshire Council is the lead Authority of the Environment Agency funded Cell 1 Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme. Under the option of Do-Minimum, North Yorkshire Council will continue to monitor coastal change from the ongoing Cell 1 Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme to inform the likely remaining life span of the properties. The cost of this option would be minimal because the monitoring data is funded and so only RMA staff time for reviewing timescales would be required. However, this option poses the same risks as the Do-Nothing option in terms of community preparedness, and increased costs to the RMAs for dealing with the issue as the properties become at imminent risk of loss,