OXFORDSHIRE’S flood management strategy will be discussed today.

Under new legislation, Oxfordshire County Council must put together a flood risk strategy, setting out how the authority plans to reduce the likelihood of flooding.

It is now beginning the process of doing so, and the draft strategy will be discussed by the county council’s cabinet at 2pm today.

The cabinet, made up of the authority’s leading councillors, has been asked to approve the draft strategy for public consultation.

Sue Scane, the council’s director for environment and economy, said: “The purpose of the strategy is to state how the county council, in conjunction with other flood and water management authorities, intends to work together effectively in order to manage areas identified as being at risk of flooding within the county.”

As part of the strategy, developers wanting to build 10 homes or more will have to submit sustainable drainage plans, which must be approved before work can start. The council is proposing to encourage sustainable drainage systems, such as ponds, to reduce a development’s impact on flooding.

It will also encourage individual parishes to have their own plans relating to flooding and tackling any concerns around volunteers undertaking tasks such as clearing ditches.