Recent storm flooding has highlighted the important work of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) in managing water levels and reducing the flood risk to our communities. Operations at their 625 pumping stations protect more than 9% of the total land area in England, maintaining more than 22,000km of watercourses. St Germans Pumping Station in King’s Lynn pumped the equivalent of 32,325 Olympic-sized swimming pools from October-December 2023 alone.

I am chairman of the Local Government Association Special Interest Group (SIG) – Funding mechanism for IDBs. The SIG is lobbying the Government for a fairer and sustainable funding system for IDBs.