Legalize / United Kingdom / Public General Act

Water Resources Act 1991

Type Public General Act

Publication 1991-07-25

Last updated 2026-04-06

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

articles Not indexed

Reform history JSON API

“highway” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980;

“information” includes anything contained in any records, accounts, estimates or returns;

“inland waters” means the whole or any part of—any river, stream or other watercourse (within the meaning of Chapter II of Part II of this Act), whether natural or artificial and whether tidal or not;any lake or pond, whether natural or artificial, or any reservoir or dock, in so far as the lake, pond, reservoir or dock does not fall within paragraph (a) of this definition; andso much of any channel, creek, bay, estuary or arm of the sea as does not fall within paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition;

“joint planning board” has the same meaning as in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;

“local authority” means the council of any county, county borough, district or London borough or the Common Council of the City of London;

“local statutory provision” means—a provision of a local Act (including an Act confirming a provisional order);a provision of so much of any public general Act as has effect with respect to a particular area, with respect to particular persons or works or with respect to particular provisions falling within any paragraph of this definition;a provision of an instrument made under any provision falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above; ora provision of any other instrument which is in the nature of a local enactment;

“main river” means a main river within the meaning of Part IV of this Act;

“the main river map for England” has the meaning given by section 193(2);

“the main river map for Wales” has the meaning given by section 194(2);

“micro-organism” includes any microscopic, biological entity which is capable of replication;

“minimum acceptable flow”, in relation to any inland waters, means (except in sections 21 and 22 above and subject to section 23(3) above) the minimum acceptable flow as for the time being contained in provisions which are in force under section 21(7) above in relation to those waters;

“the Minister” means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;

“the Ministers” means the Secretary of State and the Minister;

“modifications” includes additions, alterations and omissions, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“mortgage” includes any charge or lien on any property for securing money or money’s worth, and “mortgagee” shall be construed accordingly;

“navigation authority” means any person who has a duty or power under any enactment to work, maintain, conserve, improve or control any canal or other inland navigation, navigable river, estuary, harbour or dock;

“notice” means notice in writing;

“the NRBW” means the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

“owner”, in relation to any premises, means the person who—is for the time being receiving the rack-rent of the premises, whether on his own account or as agent or trustee for another person; orwould receive the rack-rent if the premises were let at a rack-rent,but for the purposes of Schedule 2 to this Act, Chapter II of Part II of this Act and the related water resources provisions does not include a mortgagee not in possession, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State or, in relation to regulations made by the Minister, by those regulations;

“public authority” means any Minister of the Crown or government department, the Agency, the NRBW, any local authority or any person certified by the Secretary of State to be a public authority for the purposes of this Act;

“public sewer” means a sewer for the time being vested in a sewerage undertaker in its capacity as such, whether vested in that undertaker by virtue of a scheme under Schedule 2 to the Water Act 1989, section 179 of or Schedule 2 to the Water Industry Act 1991 or otherwise;

“records” includes computer records and any other records kept otherwise than in a document;

“the related water resources provisions”, in relation to Chapter II of Part II of this Act, means—the following provisions of this Act, that is to say, the provisions—of sections 21 to 23 (including Schedule 5);of sections 120, 125 to 130, 158, 189, 199 to 201, 206(3), 209(3), 211(1) and 216; andof paragraph 1 of Schedule 25; andthe following provisions of the 1995 Act, that is to say, the provisions—of sections 41 and 42 (charging schemes) as they have effect by virtue of subsection (1)(a) of section 41 (licences under Chapter II of Part II of this Act); andof subsections (1) , (1A) and (2) of section 53 (inquiries and other hearings);

“sewage effluent” includes any effluent from the sewage disposal or sewerage works of a sewerage undertaker but does not include surface water;

“sewer” has, subject to subsection (2) below, the same meaning as in the Water Industry Act 1991;

“source of supply” means—any inland waters except, without prejudice to subsection (3) below in its application to paragraph (b) of this definition, any which are discrete waters; orany underground strata in which water is or at any time may be contained;

“street” has, subject to subsection (4) below, the same meaning as in Part III of the New Roads and Street Works 1991;

“subordinate legislation” has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978;

“substance” includes micro-organisms and any natural or artificial substance or other matter, whether it is in solid or liquid form or in the form of a gas or vapour;

“surface water” includes water from roofs;

“trade effluent” includes any effluent which is discharged from premises used for carrying on any trade or industry, other than surface water and domestic sewage, and for the purposes of this definition any premises wholly or mainly used (whether for profit or not) for agricultural purposes or for the purposes of fish farming or for scientific research or experiment shall be deemed to be premises used for carrying on a trade;

“underground strata” means strata subjacent to the surface of any land;

“vessel” includes a hovercraft within the meaning of the Hovercraft Act 1968;

“watercourse” includes (subject to sections 72(2) 113(1), 193(6) and 194(6) above) all rivers, streams, ditches, drains, cuts, culverts, dykes, sluices, sewers and passages through which water flows, except mains and other pipes which—belong to the Agency , the NRBW, or a water undertaker; orare used by a water undertaker or any other person for the purpose only of providing a supply of water to any premises;

“water pollution provisions”, in relation to this Act, means the following provisions of this Act—the provisions of Part III of this Act;sections 161 to 161D, 190, 202, and 203 above; andparagraph 4 of Schedule 25 to this Act and section 211 above so far as it relates to byelaws made under that paragraph.and the following provisions of the 1995 Act, that is to say, the provisions of subsections (1) , (1A) and (2) of section 53.

(1A) For the purposes of the definition of “the appropriate agency” in subsection (1), “Wales” has the meaning given by section 158 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

(2) References in this Act to a pipe, including references to a main, a drain or a sewer, shall include references to a tunnel or conduit which serves or is to serve as the pipe in question and to any accessories for the pipe; and, accordingly, references to the laying of a pipe shall include references to the construction of such a tunnel or conduit, to the construction or installation of any such accessories and to the making of a connection between one pipe and another.

(3) Any reference in this Act to water contained in underground strata is a reference to water so contained otherwise than in a sewer, pipe, reservoir, tank or other underground works constructed in any such strata; but for the purposes of this Act water for the time being contained in—

(a) a well, borehole or similar work, including any adit or passage constructed in connection with the well, borehole or work for facilitating the collection of water in the well, borehole or work; or

(b) any excavation into underground strata, where the level of water in the excavation depends wholly or mainly on water entering it from those strata,

shall be treated as water contained in the underground strata into which the well, borehole or work was sunk or, as the case may be, the excavation was made.

(4) Until the coming into force of Part III of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, the definition of “street” in subsection (1) above shall have effect as if the reference to that Part were a reference to the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950; but nothing in this section shall be taken—

(a) to prejudice the power of the Secretary of State under that Act of 1991 to make an order bringing Part III of that Act into force on different days for different purposes (including the purposes of this section); or

(b) in the period before the coming into force of that Part, to prevent references in this Act to a street, where the street is a highway which passes over a bridge or through a tunnel, from including that bridge or tunnel.

(5) For the purposes of any provision of this Act by or under which power is or may be conferred on any person to recover the expenses incurred by that person in doing anything, those expenses shall be assumed to include such sum as may be reasonable in respect of establishment charges or overheads.

(6) References in this Act to the later or latest of two or more different times or days are, in a case where those times or days coincide, references to the time at which or, as the case may be, the day on which they coincide.

(7) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) references in this Act to more than one Minister of the Crown, in relation to anything falling to be done by those Ministers, are references to those Ministers acting jointly; and

(b) any provision of this Act by virtue of which any function of a Minister of the Crown is exercisable concurrently by different Ministers, shall have effect as providing for that function also to be exercisable jointly by any two or more of those Ministers.

(8) Sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 has effect (by virtue of sub-paragraph (2)(b) of that paragraph) so that references in this Act to things done under or for the purposes of provisions of this Act, the Water Industry Act 1991 or the Land Drainage Act 1991 include references to things done, or treated as done, under or for the purposes of the corresponding provisions of the law in force before the commencement of this Act.

(9) Subject to any provision to the contrary which is contained in Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989 or in the Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991, nothing in any local statutory provision passed or made before 1st September 1989 shall be construed as relieving any water undertaker or sewerage undertaker from any liability arising by virtue of this Act in respect of any act or omission occurring on or after that date.

Other supplemental provisions

Crown application

222

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, this Act binds the Crown.

(2) No contravention by the Crown of any provision made by or under this Act shall make the Crown criminally liable; but the High Court may, on the application of the appropriate body, declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown which constitutes such a contravention.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (2) above, the provisions of this Act shall apply to persons in the public service of the Crown as they apply to other persons.

(4) If the Secretary of State certifies that it appears to him, as respects any Crown premises and any powers of entry exercisable in relation to them specified in the certificate, that it is requisite or expedient that, in the interests of national security, the powers should not be exercisable in relation to those premises, those powers shall not be exercisable in relation to those premises.

(5) Subject to subsection (4) above, the powers conferred by sections 154, 156, 160, 162(3) and 168 above shall be exercisable in relation to land in which there is a Crown or Duchy interest only with the consent of the appropriate authority.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be taken as in any way affecting Her Majesty in her private capacity; and this subsection shall be construed as if section 38(3) of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (interpretation of references to Her Majesty in her private capacity) were contained in this Act.

(7) Nothing in this Act, as read with the other provisions of this section, shall be construed as conferring any power of levying drainage charges in respect of lands below the high-water mark of ordinary spring tides.

(8) Section 74 of the Land Drainage Act 1991 (Crown application), so far as it relates to land in which there is a Crown or Duchy interest, shall apply in relation to the flood defence provisions of this Act as it applies in relation to that Act; but nothing in this subsection shall affect any power conferred by this Act for the purposes both of the Agency’s or the NRBW's functions under those provisions and of other functions of the Agency or the NRBW.

(9) In this section—

“the appropriate authority” has the same meaning as it has in Part XIII of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by virtue of section 293(2) of that Act;

“the appropriate body” means—in relation to any act or omission of the Crown in England, the Agency;in relation to any act or omission of the Crown in Wales, the NRBW;

“Crown or Duchy interest” means an interest which belongs to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or of the Duchy of Lancaster, or to the Duchy of Cornwall, or belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department;

“Crown premises” means premises held by or on behalf of the Crown.

(10) The provisions of subsection (3) of section 293 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (questions relating to Crown application) as to the determination of questions shall apply for the purposes of this section.

(11) This section shall apply in relation to sections 3, 4 and 10 of the Water Act 2003 as it applies in relation to the provisions of this Act.

Exemption for visiting forces

223

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Application to Isles of Scilly

224

(1) Subject to the provisions of any order under this section, this Act shall not apply in relation to the Isles of Scilly.

(2) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Council of the Isles of Scilly, by order provide for the application of any provisions of this Act to the Isles of Scilly; and any such order may provide for the application of those provisions to those Isles with such modifications as may be specified in the order.

(3) An order under this section may—

(a) make different provision for different cases, including different provision in relation to different persons, circumstances or localities; and

(b) contain such supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, including provision saving provision repealed by or under any enactment.

(4) The power of the Secretary of State to make an order under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Short title, commencement and extent

225

(1) This Act may be cited as the Water Resources Act 1991.

(2) This Act shall come into force on 1st December 1991.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) to (6) of section 2 and to section 224 above, to the extension of section 166(3) above to Scotland and to the extension, by virtue of any other enactment, of any provision of this Act to the territorial sea, this Act extends to England and Wales only.

(4) Nothing in this Act, so far as it extends to Scotland, shall authorise the Agency to acquire any land in Scotland compulsorily.

SCHEDULE 1

Membership

1

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a member shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of his appointment and shall, on ceasing to be a member, be eligible for re-appointment.

(2) A member may at any time by notice to the appropriate Minister resign his office.

(3) The appropriate Minister may remove a member if he is satisfied—

(a) that that member has been absent from meetings of the Authority for a period of more than three consecutive months without the permission of the Authority;

(b) that that member has been adjudged bankrupt, that his estate has been sequestrated or that he has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors; or

Remuneration, pensions etc.

2

(1) The Authority shall pay to its members such remuneration, and such travelling and other allowances, as may be determined by the appropriate Minister.

(2) The Authority shall, if so required by the appropriate Minister—

(a) pay such pension, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of a person who has been or is a member; or

(b) make such payments towards provision for the payment of a pension, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of such a person,

as may be determined by the appropriate Minister.

(3) If, when any member ceases to hold office, the appropriate Minister determines that there are special circumstances which make it right that that member should receive compensation, the Authority shall pay to him a sum by way of compensation of such amount as may be so determined.

(4) Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Schedule—

(a) the Authority may enter into a contract with any person under which, in consideration of payments made by the Authority by way of premium or otherwise, that person undertakes to pay to the Authority such sums as may be provided in the contract in the event of any member of the Authority or of any of its committees meeting with a personal accident, whether fatal or not, while he is engaged on the business of the Authority;

(b) any sum received by the Authority under any such contract shall, after deduction of any expenses incurred in the recovery of that sum, be paid by the Authority to, or to the personal representatives of, the person in respect of whose accident the sum is received;

and the provisions of the Life Assurance Act 1774 shall not apply to any such contract.

(5) The approval of the Treasury shall be required for the making of a determination under this paragraph.

Staff

3

(1) The Authority may, with the approval of the Secretary of State as to terms and conditions of service, appoint such officers and employees as it may determine.

(2) No member or other person shall be appointed by the Authority to act as chief executive of the Authority unless the Secretary of State has consented to the appointment of that person.

(3) The Authority may—

(a) pay such pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any persons who have been or are its officers or employees as it may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, determine;

(b) make such payments as it may so determine towards provision for the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons;

(c) provide and maintain such schemes as it may so determine (whether contributory or not) for the payment of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons.

(4) Any reference in sub-paragraph (3) above to pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons as are mentioned in that sub-paragraph includes a reference to pensions, allowances or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of any of the Authority’s officers or employees who suffer loss of office or employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.

(5) If any person—

(a) on ceasing to be an officer or employee of the Authority, becomes a member; and

(b) was by reference to his office or employment with the Authority a participant in a pension scheme maintained by the Authority for the benefit of any of its officers or employees,

the Authority may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, make provision for him to continue to participate in that scheme, on such terms and conditions as it may with the consent of the Secretary of State determine, as if his service as a member were service as an officer or employee of the Authority.

(6) Provision made by virtue of sub-paragraph (5) above shall be without prejudice to paragraph 2 above.

(7) The consent of the Treasury shall be required for the giving of an approval under this paragraph.

Proceedings of Authority

4

Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule and to section 106 of this Act, the Authority may regulate its own procedure (including quorum).

Delegation of powers

5

Subject to section 106 of this Act, anything authorised or required by or under any enactment to be done by the Authority may be done—

(a) by any member, officer or employee of the Authority who has been authorised for the purpose, whether generally or specially, by the Authority; or

(b) by any committee or sub-committee of the Authority which has been so authorised.

Interests of members

6

(1) A member who is in any way directly or indirectly interested in any matter that is brought up for consideration at a meeting of the Authority shall disclose the nature of his interest to the meeting; and, where such a disclosure is made—

(a) the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting; and

(b) the member shall not take any part in any deliberation or decision of the Authority, or of any of its committees or sub-committees, with respect to that matter.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above, a general notification given at a meeting of the Authority by a member to the effect that—

(a) he is a member of a specified company or firm; and

(b) is to be regarded as interested in any matter involving that company or firm,

shall be regarded as a sufficient disclosure of his interest in relation to any such matter.

(3) A member need not attend in person at a meeting of the Authority in order to make a disclosure which he is required to make under this paragraph if he takes reasonable steps to secure that the disclosure is made by a notice which is taken into consideration and read at the meeting.

(4) The Secretary of State may, subject to such conditions as he considers appropriate, remove any disability imposed by virtue of this paragraph in any case where the number of members of the Authority disabled by virtue of this paragraph at any one time would be so great a proportion of the whole as to impede the transaction of business.

(5) The power of the Secretary of State under sub-paragraph (4) above includes power to remove, either indefinitely or for any period, a disability which would otherwise attach to any member, or members of any description, by reason of such interests, and in respect of such matters, as may be specified or described by the Secretary of State.

(6) Nothing in this paragraph precludes any member from taking part in the consideration or discussion of, or voting on, any question whether an application should be made to the Secretary of State for the exercise of the power conferred by sub-paragraph (4) above.

(7) In this paragraph references to a meeting of the Authority include references to a meeting of any of its committees or sub-committees.

Vacancies and defective appointments

7

The validity of any proceedings of the Authority shall not be affected by a vacancy amongst the members or by a defect in the appointment of a member.

Minutes

8

(1) Minutes shall be kept of proceedings of the Authority, of its committees and of its sub-committees.

(2) Minutes of any such proceedings shall be evidence of those proceedings if they are signed by a person purporting to have acted as chairman of the proceedings to which the minutes relate or of any subsequent proceedings in the course of which the minutes were approved as a correct record.

(3) Where minutes of any such proceedings have been signed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above, those proceedings shall, unless the contrary is shown, be deemed to have been regularly convened and constituted.

Application of seal and proof of instruments

9

(1) The application of the seal of the Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of any member, officer or employee of the Authority who has been authorised for the purpose, whether generally or specially, by the Authority.

(2) In this paragraph the reference to the signature of a person includes a reference to a facsimile of a signature by whatever process reproduced; and, in paragraph 10 below, the word “signed” shall be construed accordingly.

Documents served etc. by or on the Authority

10

(1) Any document which the Authority is authorised or required by or under any enactment to serve, make or issue may be signed on behalf of the Authority by any member, officer or employee of the Authority who has been authorised for the purpose, whether generally or specially, by the Authority.

(2) Every document purporting to be an instrument made or issued by or on behalf of the Authority and to be duly executed under the seal of the Authority, or to be signed or executed by a person authorised by the Authority for the purpose, shall be received in evidence and be treated, without further proof, as being so made or issued unless the contrary is shown.

(3) Any notice which is required or authorised, by or under any enactment not contained in this Act, to be given, served or issued by or to the Authority shall be in writing.

Interpretation

11

In this Schedule—

“the appropriate Minister”, in relation to any person who is or has been a member, means the Minister or the Secretary of State, according to whether that person was appointed as a member by the Minister or the Secretary of State; and

“member” means any member of the Authority, including the chairman and the deputy chairman.

SCHEDULE 2

Powers to transfer functions or property

1

(1) The appropriate agency may at any time apply to the Ministers for an order under this Schedule transferring to the appropriate agency any of the functions or property of a navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority.

(2) The power to make an order under this Schedule shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(3) Any transfer of functions or property which could be effected by an order under this Schedule may, with the consent of the Ministers, be effected by agreement between the appropriate agency and the other body concerned.

(4) Where, in accordance with this paragraph, the appropriate agency may apply for an order transferring any functions or property of another body, that body may itself apply for such an order.

(5) For the purposes of this Schedule the references in sub-paragraph (1) above to a navigation authority, to a harbour authority and to a conservancy authority shall each include a reference to a body which no longer has any members but which, if it had members, would be such an authority

Consultation with affected body

2

(1) Before determining whether to make an order on an application under paragraph 1 above, the Ministers shall—

(a) consult whichever of the following is not the applicant, that is to say, the appropriate agency and the body from which any functions or property are proposed in the application to be transferred; and

(b) consider any representations made with respect to the application by the appropriate agency or, as the case may be, by any such body.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above shall not require the Ministers to consult, or consider representations from, any body which no longer has any members.

Public consultation

3

(1) If the Ministers propose to make an order on an application under paragraph 1 above, they shall prepare a draft order, and shall cause notice of their intention to make an order—

(a) to be published in the London Gazette and in such other manner as they think best adapted for informing persons affected; and

(b) to be served on—

(i) the appropriate agency;

(ii) any body (other than one no longer having any members) from which any functions or property are proposed to be transferred; and

(iii) any such navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority not falling within paragraph (ii) above as appears to the Ministers to be affected by the proposals.

(2) A notice under sub-paragraph (1) above shall specify—

(a) the place where copies of the draft order, and of any map to which it refers, may be inspected and obtained; and

(b) the time (not being less than twenty-eight days) within which, and the manner in which, objections to the draft order may be made.

(3) Before making any order on an application under paragraph 1 above, the Ministers—

(a) shall consider any objections which may be duly made to the draft order; and

(b) may, if they think fit, cause a local inquiry to be held with respect to any such objections;

and, in making the order, the Ministers may make such modifications in the terms of the draft as appear to them desirable.

Supplemental provisions of order

4

(1) An order under this Schedule may contain such incidental, supplementary, consequential and transitional provisions as the Ministers consider necessary or expedient.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) above, the provision that may be included in an order by virtue of that sub-paragraph shall include such provisions as the Ministers consider necessary or expedient with respect to—

(a) the transfer of assets and liabilities, the payment of compensation and other financial adjustments;

(b) the amendment, adaptation or repeal of local enactments; and

(c) the application, subject to such modifications as may be specified in the order, of provisions corresponding to those originally made by or under Part IX of the Water Resources Act 1963.

Objection to final order by affected bodies

5

(1) After making an order under this Schedule, the Ministers, if an objection—

(a) has been duly made by the appropriate agency or any other body on which notice is required to be served under paragraph 3 above; and

(b) has not been withdrawn,

shall serve notice of the making of the order and of the effect of the order on the appropriate agency or, as the case may be, that body.

(2) Where a notice is required to be served under sub-paragraph (1) above, the order shall not have effect before the end of a period of twenty-eight days from the date of service of that notice.

(3) If, within the period of twenty-eight days mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above, any body (including the appropriate agency) on which notice has been served under sub-paragraph (1) above gives notice to one of the Ministers objecting to the order, and the objection is not withdrawn, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

Public notice of order

6

(1) After making an order under this Schedule, the Ministers shall publish in the London Gazette, and in such other manner as they think best adapted for informing persons affected, a notice—

(a) stating that the order has been made; and

(b) naming a place where a copy of the order may be seen at all reasonable hours.

(2) In the case of an order to which sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 5 above applies, a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a) shall not be published until the end of the period of twenty-eight days mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph; and

(b) shall state whether or not the order is to be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

Challenge of order

7

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, if any person aggrieved by an order under this Schedule desires to question its validity on the ground—

(a) that it is not within the powers of this Schedule; or

(b) that any requirement of this Schedule has not been complied with in relation to the order,

he may, within six weeks after the first publication of the notice required by paragraph 6 above, make an application for the purpose to the High Court.

(2) Where an application under sub-paragraph (1) above is duly made to the High Court, that Court, if satisfied—

(a) that the order is not within the powers of this Schedule; or

(b) that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by any requirements of this Schedule not having been complied with,

may quash the order either generally or in so far as it affects the applicant.

(3) The preceding provisions of this paragraph—

(a) shall not apply to any order which is confirmed by Act of Parliament under section 6 of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945; and

(b) shall have effect in relation to any other order which is subject to special parliamentary procedure by virtue of the provisions of this Schedule as if, for the reference to the first publication of the notice required by paragraph 6 above, there were substituted a reference to the date on which the order becomes operative under that Act of 1945.

(4) Except as provided by this paragraph, the validity of an order under this Schedule shall not, either before or after the order has been made, be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.

Effect of order or agreement

8

(1) Where, by virtue of an order or agreement under this Schedule, property is transferred to the appropriate agency on the terms that—

(a) the body from which it is transferred shall continue liable for the repayment of, and payment of interest on, any sum borrowed in connection with the property; and

(b) the appropriate agency shall make payments to that body in respect of amounts paid by that body by reason of its continuing so liable,

any payment so made by the shall be deemed to be a capital payment or an annual payment, according as the amount in respect of which it is made was paid in or towards repayment of the loan or by way of interest thereon.

(2) Property vested in the appropriate agency by virtue of an order or agreement under this Schedule shall not be treated as so vested by way of sale for the purpose of section 12 of the Finance Act 1895 (which provides for charging stamp duty in the case of certain statutory transfers by way of sale).

(3) A land transaction by which property is vested in the appropriate agency by virtue of an order or agreement under this Schedule is exempt from charge for the purposes of stamp duty land tax.

(4) Relief under sub-paragraph (3) must be claimed in a land transaction return or an amendment of such a return.

(5) In this paragraph—

“land transaction” has the meaning given by section 43(1) of the Finance Act 2003;

“land transaction return” has the meaning given by section 76(1) of that Act.

Ministers’ expenses

9

(1) The costs incurred by the Ministers in connection with the making and notification of an order under this Schedule shall be paid by the applicant for the order; and, if there is more than one, the Ministers may apportion the costs between the applicants.

(2) The Ministers may require any applicant for an order under this Schedule to give security for the payment of any costs payable by the applicant under this paragraph.

(3) The reference in sub-paragraph (1) above to any costs incurred in connection with the making and notification of an order under this Schedule includes a reference to any costs incurred in relation to any such order under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945.

Compensation for officers and staff

10

(1) The Ministers shall by regulations make provision requiring the payment by the appropriate agency, subject to such exceptions or conditions as may be prescribed, of compensation to or in respect of persons who—

(a) are, or but for any military or other designated service of theirs would be, the holders of any such situation, place or employment as may be prescribed; and

(b) suffer loss of employment, or loss or diminution of emoluments, in consequence of any order or agreement under this Schedule.

(2) Regulations under this paragraph may be so framed as to have effect as from a date earlier than that on which they are made; but so much of any regulations as provides that any provision is to have effect as from a date earlier than that on which they are made shall not place any person other than the appropriate agency in a worse position than he would have been in if the regulations had been so framed as to have effect only as from the date on which they are made.

(3) Regulations made under this paragraph may include provision as to the manner in which, and the person to whom, any claim for compensation under this paragraph is to be made, and for the determination of all questions arising under the regulations.

(4) In this paragraph “military or other designated service” means any such service in any of Her Majesty’s forces or other employment (whether or not in the service of Her Majesty) as may be prescribed by regulations under this paragraph.

Power to amend local enactments

11

(1) If it appears to the Ministers by whom an order is made under this Schedule that any local enactment passed or made before the relevant date—

(a) is inconsistent with any of the provisions of that order; or

(b) requires to be amended or adapted, having regard to any of the provisions of that order,

those Ministers may by order repeal, amend or adapt that enactment to such extent, or in such manner, as they may consider appropriate.

(2) Any order under this paragraph may include such transitional, incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as the Ministers may consider necessary or expedient.

(3) The power to make an order under this paragraph shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4) In this paragraph “relevant date” means the date which was the second appointed day for the purposes of section 133 of the Water Resources Act 1963.

(5) The provisions of this paragraph shall have effect without prejudice to the exercise of any other power to repeal, amend or adapt local enactments which is conferred by any other enactment.

Interpretation

12

(1) In this Schedule “local enactment” means—

(a) a local or private Act;

(b) a public general Act relating to London;

(c) an order or scheme made under an Act, confirmed by Parliament or brought into operation in accordance with special parliamentary procedure; or

(d) an enactment in a public general Act amending a local or private Act or any such order or scheme.

(2) References in this Schedule to the Ministers, in a case in which all the functions in question are exercisable in Wales and all the property in question is situated there, shall have effect as references to the Secretary of State.

SCHEDULE 3

Power to make order

1

(1) The relevant Minister may by order made by statutory instrument—

(a) alter the boundaries of the area of any regional flood defence committee; or

(b) provide for the amalgamation of any two or more such areas.

(2) Where an order under this Schedule makes provision by reference to anything shown on a main river map, that map shall be conclusive evidence for the purposes of the order of what is shown on the map.

(3) The power to make an order under this Schedule shall include power to make such supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the relevant Minister considers appropriate.

(4) In the case of an order under this Schedule amalgamating the areas of any two or more regional flood defence committees, the provision made by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) above may include provision determining—

(a) the total number of members of the amalgamated committee; and

(b) the total number of such members to be appointed by the constituent councils of that committee;

and subsections (6) and (7) of section 11 of this Act shall apply in relation to so much of an order under this Schedule as is made by virtue of this sub-paragraph as they apply in relation to an order under subsection (5) of that section.

(5) In this paragraph and the following paragraphs of this Schedule “the relevant Minister” —

(a) in relation to any alteration of the boundaries of an area where the whole or any part of that area is in Wales, means the Ministers;

(b) in relation to the amalgamation of any two or more areas where the whole or any part of any one of those areas is in Wales, means the Ministers; and

Consultation and notice of intention to make order

2

(1) Before making an order under this Schedule, the relevant Minister shall—

(a) consult such persons or representative bodies as he considers it appropriate to consult at that stage;

(b) prepare a draft order;

(c) publish a notice complying with sub-paragraph (2) below in the London Gazette and in such other manner as he considers appropriate for bringing the draft order to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it if it is made.

(2) A notice for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c) above with respect to a draft order shall—

(a) state the relevant Minister’s intention to make the order and its general effect;

(b) specify the places where copies of the draft order and of any map to which it refers may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times during the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date on which the notice is first published otherwise than in the London Gazette; and

(c) state that any person may within that period by notice in writing to the relevant Minister object to the making of the order.

(3) The relevant Minister shall also cause copies of the notice and of the draft order to be served on every person carrying out functions under any enactment who appears to him to be concerned.

Objections to draft order and making of order

3

(1) Before making an order under this Schedule, the relevant Minister—

(a) shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made with respect to the draft order and are not withdrawn; and

(b) may, if he thinks fit, cause a local inquiry to be held with respect to any such representations or objections.

(2) Where notice of a draft order has been published and given in accordance with paragraph 2 above and any representations or objections considered under sub-paragraph (1) above, the relevant Minister may make the order either in the terms of the draft or in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, or may decide not to make the order.

(3) The relevant Minister shall not make a modification of a draft order in so far as the modification is such as to include in the area of any regional flood defence committee any tidal waters which, if the order had been made in the form of the draft, would have been outside the area of every regional flood defence committee.

Procedure for making of order

4

(1) Where the relevant Minister makes an order under this Schedule, he shall serve notice of the making of the order on every person (if any) who—

(a) is a person on whom notice is required to have been served under paragraph 2(3) above; and

(b) has duly made an objection to the making of the order that has not been withdrawn.

(2) Where a notice is required to be served under sub-paragraph (1) above with respect to any order, the order shall not have effect before the end of a period of twenty-eight days from the date of service of the last notice served under that sub-paragraph.

(3) If before an order takes effect under sub-paragraph (2) above—

(a) any person who has been served with a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above with respect to that order serves notice objecting to the order on the Minister (or, in the case of an order made jointly by the Ministers, on either of them); and

(b) the objection is not withdrawn,

the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

(4) A statutory instrument containing an order under this Schedule which is not subject to special parliamentary procedure under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Notice after making of order

5

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, after making an order under this Schedule, the relevant Minister shall publish in the London Gazette, and in such other manner as he considers appropriate for bringing the order to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it, a notice—

(a) stating that the order has been made; and

(b) naming the places where a copy of the order may be inspected at all reasonable times.

(2) In the case of an order to which sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 4 above applies, the notice—

(a) shall not be published until the end of the period of twenty-eight days referred to in that sub-paragraph; and

(b) shall state whether or not the order is to be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

Questioning of order in courts

6

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, if any person desires to question the validity of an order under this Schedule on the ground—

(a) that it is not within the powers of this Schedule; or

(b) that any requirement of this Schedule has not been complied with,

he may, within six weeks after the date of the first publication of the notice required by paragraph 5 above, make an application for the purpose to the High Court.

(2) On an application under this paragraph the High Court, if satisfied—

(a) that the order is not within the powers of this Schedule; or

(b) that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by a failure to comply with any of the requirements of this Schedule,

may quash the order either generally or in so far as it affects the applicant.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a) shall not apply to any order which is confirmed by Act of Parliament under section 6 of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945; and

(b) shall have effect in relation to any other order which is subject to special parliamentary procedure by virtue of the provisions of this Schedule as if the reference to the date of the first publication of the notice required by paragraph 5 above were a reference to the date on which the order becomes operative under that Act of 1945.

(4) Except as provided by this paragraph the validity of an order under this Schedule shall not, either before or after the order has been made, be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.

SCHEDULE 4

Part I — MEMBERSHIP OF FLOOD DEFENCE COMMITTEES

Terms of membership

1

(1) Members of a flood defence committee (that is to say a regional flood defence committee or a local flood defence committee), other than those appointed by or on behalf of one or more constituent councils, shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of their appointment.

(2) The first members of a local flood defence committee appointed by or on behalf of any one or more constituent councils—

(a) shall come into office on the day on which the committee comes into existence or, in the case of a member who is for any reason appointed after that day, on the day on which the appointment is made; and

(b) subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, shall hold office until the end of May in such year as may be specified for the purposes of this paragraph in the scheme establishing the committee.

(3) Any members of a flood defence committee appointed by or on behalf of any one or more constituent councils who are not members to whom sub-paragraph (2) above applies—

(a) shall come into office at the beginning of the June next following the day on which they are appointed; and

(b) subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, shall hold office for a term of four years.

(4) If for any reason any such member as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) above is appointed on or after the day on which he ought to have come into office, he shall—

(a) come into office on the day on which he is appointed; and

(b) subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, hold office for the remainder of the term.

(5) References in this paragraph and the following provisions of this Schedule to a member of a flood defence committee include references to the chairman of such a committee.

Membership of constituent council as qualification for membership of committee

2

(1) Members of a flood defence committee appointed by or on behalf of any one or more constituent councils may be members of that council, or one of those councils, or other persons.

(2) Any member of a flood defence committee appointed by or on behalf of a constituent council who at the time of his appointment was a member of that council shall, if he ceases to be a member of that council, also cease to be a member of the committee with whichever is the earlier of the following—

(a) the end of the period of three months beginning with the date when he ceases to be a member of the council; and

(b) the appointment of another person in his place.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above a member of a council shall not be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the council by reason of retirement if he has been re-elected a member of the council not later than the date of his retirement.

Disqualification for membership of committee

3

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a person shall be disqualified for appointment as a member of a flood defence committee if he—

(a) is a paid officer of the Authority; or

(b) is a person who has been adjudged bankrupt, or whose estate has been sequestrated or who has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors; or

(c) within the period of five years before the day of his appointment, has been convicted, in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, of any offence and has had passed on him a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months without the option of a fine; or

(d) is disqualified for being elected or for being a member of a local authority under Part III of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 (accounts and audit) or Part III of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (legal proceedings).

(2) Where a person is disqualified under sub-paragraph (1) above by reason of having been adjudged bankrupt, the disqualification shall cease—

(a) unless the bankruptcy order made against that person is previously annulled, on his discharge from bankruptcy; and

(b) if the bankruptcy order is so annulled, on the date of the annulment.

(3) Where a person is disqualified under sub-paragraph (1) above by reason of having had his estate sequestrated, the disqualification shall cease—

(a) unless the sequestration is recalled or reduced, on the person’s discharge under section 54 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985; and

(b) if the sequestration is recalled or reduced, on the date of the recall or reduction.

(4) Where a person is disqualified under sub-paragraph (1) above by reason of his having made a composition or arrangement with, or having granted a trust deed for, his creditors, the disqualification shall cease—

(a) if he pays his debts in full, on the date on which the payment is completed; and

(b) in any other case, at the end of five years from the date on which the terms of the deed of composition or arrangement, or of the trust deed, are fulfilled.

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c) above the date of the conviction shall be taken to be—

(a) the ordinary date on which the period allowed for making an appeal or application with respect to the conviction expires; or

(b) if such an appeal or application is made, the date on which it is finally disposed of or abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.

(6) Section 92 of the Local Government Act 1972 (proceedings for disqualification) shall apply in relation to disqualification under this paragraph for appointment as a member of a flood defence committee as it applies in relation to disqualification for acting as a member of a local authority.

Vacation of office by disqualifying event

4

(1) The office of a member of a flood defence committee shall become vacant upon the fulfilment of any of the following conditions, that is to say—

(a) the person holding that office is adjudged bankrupt, is a person whose estate is sequestrated or makes a composition or arrangement with, or grants a trust deed for, his creditors;

(b) that person is convicted, in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, of any offence and has passed on him a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months without the option of a fine;

(c) that person is disqualified for being elected or for being a member of a local authority under Part III of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 (accounts and audit) or Part III of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (legal proceedings); or

(d) that person has, for a period of six consecutive months been absent from meetings of the committee, otherwise than by reason of illness or some other cause approved during the period by the committee.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d) above, the attendance of a member of a flood defence committee—

(a) at a meeting of any sub-committee of the committee of which he is a member; or

(b) at any joint committee to which he has been appointed by that committee,

shall be treated as attendance at a meeting of the committee.

Resignation of office by members of regional committee

5

(1) The chairman of a regional flood defence committee may resign his office at any time by giving notice to the chairman of the Authority and to one of the Ministers.

(2) Any other member of such a committee may resign his office at any time by giving notice to the chairman of the committee and also, if he was appointed by one of the Ministers, to that Minister.

Resignation of office by members of local committee

6

(1) The chairman of a local flood defence committee may resign his office at any time by giving notice to the chairman of the regional flood defence committee.

(2) Any other member of a local flood defence committee may resign his office at any time by giving notice to the chairman of that local flood defence committee.

Appointments to fill casual vacancies

7

(1) Where, for any reason whatsoever, the office of a member of a flood defence committee becomes vacant before the end of his term of office, the vacancy—

(a) shall, if the unexpired portion of the term of office of the vacating member is six months or more, be filled by the appointment of a new member; and

(b) may be so filled in any other case.

(2) A person appointed by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) above to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office for so long only as the former member would have held office.

Eligibility of previous members for re-appointment

8

Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, a member of a flood defence committee shall be eligible for reappointment.

Appointment of deputies

9

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a person nominated by one or more constituent councils may act as deputy for a member of a flood defence committee appointed by or on behalf of that council or those councils and may, accordingly, attend and vote at a meeting of the committee, instead of that member.

(2) A person nominated under sub-paragraph (1) above as deputy for a member of a flood defence committee may, by virtue of that nomination, attend and vote at a meeting of a sub-committee of that committee which—

(a) has been appointed by that committee under Part II of this Schedule; and

(b) is a committee to which the member for whom he is a deputy belongs.

(3) A person acting as deputy for a member of a flood defence committee shall be treated for the purposes for which he is nominated as a member of that committee.

(4) A person shall not act as deputy for a member of a flood defence committee unless his nomination has been notified to such officer of the Authority as is appointed to receive such nominations.

(5) A nomination under this paragraph shall be in writing and may apply either to a particular meeting or to all meetings during a stated period or until the nomination is revoked.

(6) A person shall not act as deputy for more than one member of a flood defence committee.

(7) Nothing in this paragraph shall entitle a person to attend and vote at a meeting of a local flood defence committee by reason of his nomination as deputy of a member of a regional flood defence committee.

Payments to past and present chairmen and to members

10

(1) The Authority shall pay to any person who is a chairman of a flood defence committee such remuneration and allowances as may be determined by the relevant Minister with the consent of the Treasury.

(2) If the relevant Minister so determines in the case of any person who is or has been chairman of a flood defence committee, the Authority shall pay or make arrangements for the payment of a pension in relation to that person in accordance with the determination.

(3) If a person ceases to be chairman of a flood defence committee and it appears to the relevant Minister that there are special circumstances which make it right that that person should receive compensation in respect of his ceasing to be chairman, the relevant Minister may require the Authority to pay to that person a sum of such amount as that Minister may determine with the consent of the Treasury.

(4) The Authority may pay to any person who is a member of a flood defence committee such allowances as may be determined by the relevant Minister with the consent of the Treasury.

(5) In this paragraph—

“pension”, in relation to any person, means a pension (whether contributory or not) of any kind payable to or in respect of him, and includes an allowance, gratuity or lump sum so payable and a return of contributions with or without interest or any other addition; and

“the relevant Minister”—in relation to the regional flood defence committee for an area the whole or the greater part of which is in Wales and in relation to any local flood defence committee for any district comprised in the area of such a regional flood defence committee, means the Secretary of State; andin relation to any other flood defence committee, means the Minister.

Part II — PROCEEDINGS OF FLOOD DEFENCE COMMITTEES

Appointment of sub-committees, joint sub-committees etc.

11

(1) For the purpose of carrying out any functions in pursuance of arrangements under paragraph 12 below—

(a) a flood defence committee may appoint a sub-committee of the committee;

(b) two or more regional or two or more local flood defence committees may appoint a joint sub-committee of those committees;

(2) The number of members of any sub-committee and their terms of office shall be fixed by the appointing committee or committees or, in the case of an under sub-committee, by the appointing sub-committee.

(3) A sub-committee appointed under this paragraph may include persons who are not members of the appointing committee or committees or, in the case of an under sub-committee, the committee or committees of whom they are an under sub-committee; but at least two thirds of the members appointed to any such sub-committee shall be members of that committee or those committees, as the case may be.

(4) A person who is disqualified for being a member of a flood defence committee shall be disqualified also for being a member of a sub-committee or under sub-committee appointed under this paragraph.

Delegation of functions to sub-committees etc.

12

(1) Subject to section 106 of this Act and to any other express provision contained in any enactment, a flood defence committee may arrange for the carrying out of any of their functions—

(a) by a sub-committee, or an under sub-committee of the committee or an officer of the Authority; or

(b) by any other regional or, as the case may be, local flood defence committee;

and two or more regional or two or more local flood defence committees may arrange to carry out any of their functions jointly or may arrange for the carrying out of any of their functions by a joint sub-committee of theirs.

(2) Where by virtue of this paragraph any functions of a flood defence committee or of two or more such committees may be carried out by a sub-committee, then, unless the committee or committees otherwise direct, the sub-committee may arrange for the carrying out of any of those functions by an under sub-committee or by an officer of the Authority.

(3) Where by virtue of this paragraph any functions of a flood defence committee or of two or more such committees may be carried out by an under sub-committee, then, unless the committee or committees or the sub-committee otherwise direct, the under sub-committee may arrange for the carrying out of any of those functions by an officer of the Authority.

(4) Any arrangements made by a flood defence committee under this paragraph for the carrying out of any function shall not prevent the committee from discharging their functions themselves.

(5) References in the preceding provisions of this paragraph to the carrying out of any functions of a flood defence committee include references to the doing of anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the carrying out of any of those functions.

(6) A regional flood defence committee shall not, under this paragraph, make arrangements for the carrying out in a local flood defence district of any functions which fall to be carried out there by the local flood defence committee.

Rules of procedure

13

(1) A flood defence committee may, with the approval of the relevant Minister, make rules for regulating the proceedings of the committee.

(2) Nothing in section 105 or 106 of this Act shall entitle the Authority to make any arrangements or give any directions for regulating the proceedings of any flood defence committee.

(3) In this paragraph “relevant Minister” has the same meaning as in paragraph 10 above.

Declarations of interest etc.

14

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the provisions of sections 94 to 98 of the Local Government Act 1972 (pecuniary interests of members of local authorities) shall apply in relation to members of a flood defence committee as those provisions apply in relation to members of local authorities.

(2) In their application by virtue of this paragraph those provisions shall have effect in accordance with the following provisions—

(a) for references to meetings of the local authority there shall be substituted references to meetings of the committee;

(b) in section 94(4), for the reference to provision being made by standing orders of a local authority there shall be substituted a reference to provisions being made by directions of the committee;

(c) in section 96, for references to the proper officer of the local authority there shall be substituted a reference to an officer of the Authority appointed for the purposes of this paragraph; and

(d) section 97 shall apply as it applies to a local authority other than a parish or community council.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4) below, a member of a flood defence committee shall be disqualified, for so long as he remains such a member and for twelve months after he ceases to be such a member, for appointment to any paid office by the Authority or any regional flood defence committee.

(4) Sub-paragraph (3) above shall not disqualify any person for appointment to the office of chairman of a local flood defence committee.

Authentication of documents

15

(1) Any notice or other document which a flood defence committee are required or authorised to give, make or issue by or under any enactment may be signed on behalf of the committee by any member of the committee or any officer of the Authority who is generally or specifically authorised for that purpose by a resolution of the committee.

(2) Any document purporting to bear the signature of a person expressed to be authorised as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be deemed, unless the contrary is shown, to be duly given, made or issued by authority of the committee.

(3) In this paragraph “signature” includes a facsimile of a signature by whatever process reproduced.

Proof and validity of proceedings

16

(1) A minute of the proceedings of a meeting of a flood defence committee, purporting to be signed at that or the next ensuing meeting by—

(a) the chairman of the meeting to the proceedings of which the minute relates; or

(b) by the chairman of the next ensuing meeting,

shall be evidence of the proceedings and shall be received in evidence without further proof.

(2) Where a minute has been signed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above in respect of a meeting of a committee or sub-committee, then, unless the contrary is shown—

(a) the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held;

(b) all the proceedings had at any such meeting shall be deemed to have been duly had; and

(c) that committee or sub-committee shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and have had power to deal with the matters referred to in the minute.

(3) The validity of any proceedings of a flood defence committee shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members of the committee or by any defect in the appointment of such a member.

SCHEDULE 5

Application of Schedule

1

(1) This Schedule applies in the case of any draft statement prepared under section 21 or 22 of this Act.

(2) References in this Schedule, in relation to a statement for amending the provision for determining the minimum acceptable flow of any inland waters, to the inland waters to which the statement relates are references to the inland waters to which the proposed amendment relates.

Notice of proposed statement

2

(1) Before submitting the draft statement to the Secretary of State, the appropriate agency shall publish a notice—

(a) stating the general effect of the draft statement;

(b) specifying the place where a copy of the draft statement, and of any relevant map or plan, may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times during the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of first publication of the notice; and

(c) stating that any person may within that period, by notice in writing to the Secretary of State, object to the approval of the statement.

(2) A notice under this paragraph shall be published either—

(a) at least once in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality in which the inland waters to which the draft statement relates are situated; or

(b) in any other manner which, in any particular case, may be certified by the Secretary of State to be expedient in that case.

(3) Not later than the date on which the notice is first published in pursuance of sub-paragraph (2) above, the appropriate agency shall serve a copy of the notice on—

(a) every local authority or joint planning board whose area comprises any inland waters to which the draft statement relates;

(b) any water undertaker having the right to abstract water from any such inland waters;

(c) any other water undertaker which was consulted in relation to the draft statement in pursuance of section 21(3)(b) of this Act;

(d) the drainage board for any internal drainage district which comprises any such inland waters or from which water is discharged into any such inland waters;

(e) any navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority having functions in relation to any such waters or any related inland waters;

(f) if any such waters or any related inland waters are tidal waters in relation to which there is no such navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority, the Secretary of State for Transport;

(g) any person authorised by a licence under Part I of the Electricity Act 1989 to generate electricity who has a right to abstract water from any such waters or related inland waters.; and

(h) every person who—

(i) has given notice to the appropriate agency requesting it to notify him of action taken in connection with the determination of a minimum acceptable flow for any inland waters to which the draft statement relates; and

(ii) if the appropriate agency have required him to pay a reasonable charge for being so notified, has paid that charge.

(4) The appropriate agency shall also publish a notice in the London Gazette—

(a) stating that the draft statement has been submitted to the Secretary of State;

(b) naming the areas in respect of which a copy of a notice is required to be served under sub-paragraph (3)(a) above;

(d) where the notice required by sub-paragraph (1) above is published in a newspaper, giving the name of the newspaper and the date of an issue containing the notice.

(5) In this paragraph “related inland waters” has the same meaning as for the purposes of subsection (3) of section 21 of this Act is given by subsection (8) of that section.

Duty to provide copy of draft statement

3

The appropriate agency shall, at the request of any person, furnish him with a copy of the draft statement on payment of such charge as the appropriate agency thinks reasonable.

Approval of draft statement

4

(1) The Secretary of State may approve the statement either in the form of the draft or in that form as altered in such manner as he thinks fit.

(2) Where the Secretary of State—

(a) proposes to make any alteration of a statement before approving it; and

(b) considers that any persons are likely to be adversely affected by it,

the appropriate agency shall give and publish such additional notices, in such manner, as the Secretary of State may require.

(3) Sub-paragraph (4) below shall apply if, before the end of—

(a) the period of twenty-eight days referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 above;

(b) the period of twenty-five days from the publication in the London Gazette of the notice under sub-paragraph (4) of that paragraph; or

notice of an objection is received by the Secretary of State from any person on whom a notice is required by this Schedule to be served, or from any other person appearing to the Secretary of State to be affected by the draft statement, either as prepared in draft or as proposed to be altered.

(4) Where this sub-paragraph applies and the objection in question is not withdrawn, the Secretary of State, before approving the statement, shall either—

(a) cause a local inquiry to be held; or

(b) afford to the objector and to the appropriate agency an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(5) Where under this paragraph an objection is received by the Secretary of State from—

(a) the drainage board for any internal drainage district which comprises any inland waters to which the draft statement relates or, as the case may be, from which water is discharged into any such inland waters; or

(b) such an association or person claiming to represent a substantial fishery interest affected by the statement as is certified by the Minister to appear to him to represent such an interest,

sub-paragraphs (1) to (4) above and paragraph 5 below shall have effect as if references to the Secretary of State (except the first reference in sub-paragraph (3) above) were references to the Ministers.

Notice and inspection of approved statement

5

(1) Where a statement is approved under this Schedule, whether in the form of the draft proposed by the appropriate agency or with alterations, the Secretary of State shall give notice to the appropriate agency—

(a) stating that the statement has been approved, either without alteration or with alterations specified in the notice; and

(b) specifying the date (not being earlier than twenty-eight days after the date of the notice under this paragraph) on which the statement shall have effect;

and the appropriate agency shall forthwith publish the notice.

(2) The appropriate agency shall keep a copy of every statement, as approved under this Schedule, available at its offices for inspection by the public, free of charge, at all reasonable times.

SCHEDULE 6

Notice of draft order

1

(1) An application to the Secretary of State for an order under section 27A(1) or 39B(3) of this Act (an “order”) shall be accompanied by a draft of the proposed order.

(2) Before submitting a draft order to the Secretary of State, the appropriate agency shall publish a notice—

(a) stating the general effect of the draft order;

(b) specifying the place where a copy of the draft order, and of any relevant map or plan, may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times during the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of first publication of the notice; and

(c) stating that any person may within that period, by notice to the Secretary of State, object to the making of the order.

(3) A notice under this paragraph shall be published either—

(a) at least once in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in the area to which the draft order relates; or

(b) in any other manner which, in any particular case, may be certified by the Secretary of State to be expedient in that case.

(4) Not later than the date on which the notice is first published in pursuance of sub-paragraph (2) above, the appropriate agency shall serve a copy of the notice on—

(a) every local authority (in its capacity as the local planning authority), joint planning board , National Park authority or corporate joint committee whose area consists of, includes or is included in the area to which the draft order relates;

(b) any relevant water undertaker;

(i) whose district consists of, includes or is included in the area to which the draft order relates;

(ii) from whose district water is discharged into any relevant source of supply; or

(iii) into whose district water is discharged from any relevant source of supply;

(d) any navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority having functions in relation to—

(i) any relevant source of supply; or

(ii) any related inland waters;

(e) if a relevant source of supply or related inland waters are tidal waters in relation to which there is no such navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority, the Secretary of State for Transport;

(f) any person authorised by a licence under Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989 to generate electricity who is (in that capacity) the holder of a licence to abstract water under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of this Act from—

(i) any relevant source of supply; or

(ii) any related inland waters;

(g) Natural England, if the area to which the order relates is or includes England, or part of it; and

(h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(i) the Broads Authority (established under the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988), if the area to which the order relates is or includes the Broads (as defined in that Act), or part of it.

(5) Where an application for an order is made, the appropriate agency shall also publish a notice in the London Gazette—

(a) stating that the draft order has been submitted to the Secretary of State;

(b) naming the areas of each of the authorities or boards in respect of which a copy of the notice is required to be served under sub-paragraph (4)(a) above;

(d) where the notice required by sub-paragraph (2) above is published in a newspaper, giving the name of the newspaper and the date of an issue containing the notice.

(6) In this paragraph—

(a) where a draft order makes provision generally (rather than for a specified geographical area), references to the area to which the order relates are to the whole area (whether England, Wales or both of them) in relation to which the order is applied;

(b) references to a National Park authority are to a National Park authority established under Part 3 of the 1995 Act;

(ba) references to a corporate joint committee are to a corporate joint committee to which Part 6 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 applies by virtue of regulations under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021;

(i) if the draft order relates only to particular sources of supply (or a class of them) in an area, any of those sources of supply (or any source of supply in that class) in that area;

(ii) otherwise, any source of supply in the area to which the draft order relates;

(d) a “relevant water undertaker”, in relation to a draft order, means a water undertaker which is the holder of a licence to abstract water under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of this Act from—

(i) a relevant source of supply; or

(ii) a source of supply which is related to a relevant source of supply;

(e) for the purposes of paragraph (d) above, a source of supply (the “related source”) is related to a relevant source of supply if it appears to the appropriate agency that, having regard to the extent to which the level or flow of water in the related source depends on the level or flow of the waters in the relevant source of supply, the ability of the water undertaker to abstract water from the related source in accordance with its licence may be substantially affected as a result of the draft order;

(f) “related inland waters” are inland waters the level or flow of which may, in the appropriate agency's opinion, be affected by changes in the level or flow of the waters in a relevant source of supply.

Duty to provide copy of draft order

2

Where an application for an order is made, the appropriate agency shall, at the request of any person, furnish him with a copy of the draft order on payment of such charge as the appropriate agency thinks reasonable.

Making of order

3

(1) Where an application for an order is made, the Secretary of State may make the order either in the form of the draft or in that form as altered in such manner as he thinks fit.

(2) Where the Secretary of State—

(a) proposes to make any alteration of an order before making it; and

(b) considers that any persons are likely to be adversely affected by it,

the appropriate agency shall give and publish such additional notices, in such manner, as the Secretary of State may require.

(3) Sub-paragraph (4) below shall apply if before the end of—

(a) the period of twenty-eight days referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(b) of paragraph 1 above;

(b) the period of twenty-five days from the publication in the London Gazette of the notice under sub-paragraph (5) of that paragraph; or

notice of an objection is received by the Secretary of State from any person on whom a notice is required by this Schedule to be served, from any other person appearing to the Secretary of State to be affected by the order (either as prepared in draft or as proposed to be altered) or, in a case where the Secretary of State directed the appropriate agency to apply for the order, from the appropriate agency.

(4) Where this sub-paragraph applies and the objection in question is not withdrawn, the Secretary of State, before making the order, may take such steps as he sees fit and, in particular, may—

(a) cause a local inquiry to be held; or

(b) afford to the objector and to the appropriate agency an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(5) Where—

(a) the order (whether as prepared in draft or as proposed to be altered) relates to any tidal water situated in Wales (or in an area of the sea adjoining either the coast of Wales or an area of sea forming part of Wales); and

(b) no navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority has functions in relation to that tidal water,

the Secretary of State shall not make the order except with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.

Notice and inspection of final order

4

(1) Where an order is made under section 27A(1) or 39B(3) of this Act, whether in the form of the draft proposed by the appropriate agency or with alterations, the Secretary of State shall give notice to the appropriate agency—

(a) stating that the order has been made, either without alteration or with alterations specified in the notice; and

(b) specifying the date (not being earlier than twenty-eight days after the date of the notice under this paragraph) on which the order shall have effect;

and the appropriate agency shall forthwith publish the notice.

(2) The appropriate agency shall keep a copy of every order made under section 27A(1) or 39B(3) of this Act available at its offices for inspection by the public, free of charge, at all reasonable times.

SCHEDULE 7

Applications for licences of right under paragraph 30 or 31 of Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989

1

(1) Paragraphs 30 and 31 of Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989 shall continue to apply (notwithstanding the repeals made by the Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 but subject to the following provisions of this Schedule) in relation—

(a) to any application made under either of those paragraphs which is outstanding immediately before the coming into force of this Act; and

(b) to any appeal against a determination made, on an application under either of those paragraphs, either before the coming into force of this Act or, thereafter, by virtue of paragraph (a) above;

but for the purposes of any such application or appeal any reference in those paragraphs to a provision of the Water Resources Act 1963 which is re-enacted in this Act shall have effect, in relation to a time after the coming into force of this Act, as a reference to the corresponding provision of this Act.

(2) Where an application for the grant of a licence by virtue of paragraph 30 or 31 of Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989 has been made before the end of the period within which such an application was required to be made under that paragraph, then—

(a) sections 24 and 48 of this Act and Part II of the Gas Act 1965 shall have effect, until the application is disposed of, as if the licence had been granted on the date of the application and the provisions of the licence had been in accordance with the proposals contained in the application; and

(b) for the purposes of those sections and Part II of the said Act of 1965 any licence granted on the application shall be treated as not having effect until the application has been disposed of.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph an application for the grant of a licence by virtue of paragraph 30 or 31 of Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989 above shall be taken to be disposed of on (but not before) the occurrence of whichever of the following events last occurs, that is to say—

(a) the grant, on the determination of the application by the appropriate agency, of a licence the provisions of which are in accordance with the proposals contained in the application;

(b) the expiration, without a notice of appeal having been given, of the period (if any) within which the applicant is entitled to give notice of appeal against the decision on the application;

(d) the grant, variation or revocation, in compliance with a direction given by the Secretary of State in consequence of such an appeal, of any licence;

and in this sub-paragraph any reference to a decision includes a reference to a decision which is to be treated as having been made by virtue of any failure of the appropriate agency to make a decision within a specified time.

(4) Subject to the other provisions of this Schedule, any licence granted by virtue of this paragraph shall have effect as a licence under Chapter II of Part II of this Act; and, so far as necessary for the purposes of this paragraph, anything done under or for the purposes of a provision of the Water Resources Act 1963 applied by paragraph 30 or 31 of Schedule 26 to the 1989 Act, shall have effect as if that paragraph applied the corresponding provision of this Act and that thing had been done under or for the purposes of that corresponding provision.

Section 48 of this Act

2

Subsection (2) of section 48 of this Act shall not afford any defence to an action brought before 1st September 1992 if the licence referred to in that subsection is a 1989 Act licence of right; and there shall be no defence afforded to such an action by that subsection as applied by paragraph 1(2) above.

Section 55 of this Act

3

No application shall be made under section 55 of this Act (variation of licence on application of owner of fishing rights) in respect of any 1989 Act licence of right.

Section 60 of this Act

4

(1) Where the plaintiff in any action brought against the appropriate agency in pursuance of section 60 of this Act (liability of the appropriate agency for derogation from protected right) is entitled to a protected right for the purposes of Chapter II of Part II of this Act by reason only that he is the holder of, or has applied for, a licence of right, it shall be a defence for the appropriate agency to prove—

(a) that the plaintiff could have carried out permissible alterations in the means whereby he abstracted water from the source of supply in question; and

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