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Local authorities are required to deal with matters which are beyond the scope of the individual. This need was
first recognised in this Country in 1252 with the creation of the Romney Marsh Commissioners, whose corporate
planning and combined effort was required to create a living and working environment within the Romney Marsh.
This model approach was repeated many times, particularly in the seventeenth century, and preceded by centuries
any other form of truly local administration. These historic areas of drainage sensitivity are today within
Drainage Districts, the Boards being the direct descendents of the early Commissioners with similar
responsibilities.
The only thing that was changed over the centuries is that these areas are more populated; people's expectations
in terms of flood protection are substantially higher, and the nation's dependence on the food produced within
them has increased dramatically.
The need for a public authority to provide a service in areas dependent upon flood defence and land drainage
was established long ago. The work of Drainage Authorities is today as vital as it has ever been.
The Country is as dependent as Holland upon drainage in low lying areas. Without a complex system for flood
defence and land drainage the development of homes and factories and the productive use of farmland would not
be possible in large areas of the Country. Drainage Authorities are responsible for maintaining and updating
these systems to allow millions of people to live and work within these areas.
Drainage districts have been established in the most drainage sensitive parts of the country being the low
lying areas, much below sea level, constantly at risk from flooding. The drainage districts, administered by
approximately 200 drainage boards, vary in size from a few hundred acres to over 100,000 acres, aggregating in total to some
3 million acres. Thus unlike other statutory authorities which blanket-cover the country, drainage boards only
administer districts which directly benefit from their operations which include the improvement and maintenance
of river, drainage channels and pumping stations. Over 2 million acres of land, including large areas developed
with residential and industrial property depend on pumping stations to evacuate water to prevent permanent
flooding and water logging.
In all drainage districts it is of paramount importance that open drainage channels are regularly dredged and
vegetation controlled. In some districts, underground storm water culverts need to be kept in good repair and
maintained. Without all these essential works the environment and conditions for persons living and working in
the areas would become intolerable; everyone would suffer. Services would become inoperable; properties and
gardens would be affected and prime agricultural land would be unable to yield the wide range of crops and this
could create food shortages with associated price increases.
Drainage boards have the advantage of being locally based, providing a local service to the community with
locally elected members in control.
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Duties and Powers
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A drainage board has powers to undertake works on any watercourse within its district, other than 'main river',
(such districts usually being defined on a sealed map), but it is more likely that 'main watercourses' will have
been designated by the board. These form the major network into which other 'field' ditches, maintained by the
Landowner/farmer, and storm sewers from urban areas can successfully drain.
Drainage Boards may also make byelaws for securing the efficient working of their drainage systems. Any breach
of a byelaw is a criminal offence and, where a contravention occurs, the necessary action can be taken to remedy
the breach and reasonable expenses recovered.
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The Land Drainage Acts (1991 and 1994) provide for:-
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- General supervision over all aspects of land drainage within the district;
- Improving and maintaining the drainage system, including the operation of pumping stations;
- Regulating activities in and alongside the drainage system, other than on those waterways designated as
main river and under the Environment Agency's control;
- Duties to conservation;
- Raising income to support land drainage works.
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Executive Authority
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The boards are autonomous public bodies under the direct control of the board members. The number of members is
set out in the constitution of the board and these vary depending upon the size of the drainage district. The
members referred to are those elected every three years by the agricultural ratepayers. In addition to the
elected members are those nominated by local authorities, who represent the interests of residential ,
commercial and industrial property within the District and in respect of which local authorities make payment
to the board.
The proportion of elected and nominated members is based upon the relative contribution from agricultural and
non agricultural land to the board's expenses.
The boards are responsible for raising income and approving all aspects of the board's activities. They make an
annual statutory return to DEFRA/WO, which sets out in financial and statistical terms the year's activities.
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South Holland IDB
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The SHIDB consists of 21 Members of which 10 are elected and 11 are nominated by local authorities. The Board
was reconstituted in 1991 when the number of elected members reduced from 23 to 10. The number of elected
members is therefore set out in the constitution of the Board, and agricultural ratepayers elect them every
three years. In addition to the elected members are those nominated by South Holland District Council and
Boston Borough Council, who represent the drainage interests of residential, commercial and industrial property
within the Drainage District.
The proportion of elected and nominated members is based upon the relative contribution to the Board's expenses
from agricultural and non-agricultural land (currently 47% comes from agriculture and 53% comes from local
authorities).
The Board meets four times a year in February, May, August, with the AGM in November. The Chairman is also able to call additional meetings should urgent business
arise. There are 8 Committees, each of which is responsible for a particular area of the Board's activities,
however the 'Chairman's Committee' is the only one with delegated authority to take decisions between Board
meetings.
There are twenty two employees headed by the Board's Chief Executive Officer who currently deliver all of the services
provided by the Board.
The following table shows how employment levels have reduced since the Board's offices and workshop were built
at 'Marsh Reeves', Foxes Lowe Road, Holbeach in 1985:
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12.0
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19.5
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31.0
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61%
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3.0
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4.0
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4.0
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25%
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7.0
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5.5
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11.0
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36%
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22.0
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29.0
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46.0
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52%
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This reduction has occurred over a time when regulation has actually increased ten fold, through streamlining
processes, greater use of and reliance on Information Technology, and increased mechanisation in the field.
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Corporate Structure
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Click here to view the Organisation Chart.
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