New guidance was published today by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure further joined up working between responsible bodies during a flood event.

Flood Risk Management Planning in Scotland: Arrangements for 2012 – 2016 details the involvement of local partnerships and advisory groups, as well as the planned co-ordination with River Basin Management Planning and land-use planning. The guidance sets out the principal arrangements that will support the delivery of flood risk management at the local level.

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The guidance includes:

•Support for local authorities in providing local Flood Risk Management plans

•Further guidance on partnership working and advisory groups

• Content and product process of Flood Risk Management strategies

Launching the document at Scotland’s annual Flood Risk Management Conference, Environment and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "We have made real progress in translating flooding legislation into action to reduce the damage and distress caused by flooding - including record levels of investment in flood protection by local authorities, the creation of a flood forecasting service for Scotland and research to improve our understanding of more natural flood risk approaches."

(GK)