18 December 2005

                                                                                    Ewan Larcombe

67 Lawn Close

                                                                                    Datchet SL3 9LA

Mr D Lunn

RBWM Town Hall

St Ives Road

Maidenhead SL6 1RF

Dear Mr Lunn,

COMPLAINT:  Administrative failure in respect of Defra ‘Making Space for Water’ consultation document on flooding strategy.

You will remember that I enquired about the RBWM response to this consultation by way of a ‘Public Question’ at the Council Meeting on 13 December and was informed that the RBWM response came via the Local Government Association.  Since then I have had the opportunity to examine the LGA response, which I find to be inadequate.

I am now aware that in mid 2004 Defra circulated and invited responses to the strategy consultation document that considered the adverse human and economic consequences of flooding.  The main themes were risk management, the sustainable approach, planning and building, and public awareness.  Open for comments for a three month period that closed on November 1 2004, as far as I am aware the RBWM apparently neither submitted a response themselves nor passed the documents on to their Parish Councils or other interested organisations for consideration.  I am therefore not satisfied that the local people with their respective flooding issues have been properly consulted, or that their views have been properly recorded and considered as part of the consultative process. What good is a nationwide consultation on flooding if it fails to reach those people who are most affected?

Under the RBWM complaints procedure I need to offer you the chance to deal with my complaint before I consider a complaint of maladministration to the Ombudsman.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ewan Larcombe