The Secretary of State has confirmed a reorganisation of internal drainage governance across the Upper Ouse catchment. The Upper Ouse Water Management Board Order 2026 (SI 2026/61), made on 27 January 2026 under section 3 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, comes into force on 1 April 2026. It confirms an Environment Agency scheme, with modifications, to consolidate three internal drainage districts and constitute a new board.
The Order abolishes the Alconbury and Ellington Internal Drainage Board, the Bedfordshire and River Ivel Internal Drainage Board, and the Buckingham and River Ouzel Internal Drainage Board. Their districts are amalgamated and constituted as a single area: the Upper Ouse Internal Drainage District. The previous three-way electoral split within the Alconbury and Ellington district is removed; from commencement the new district has a single electoral division.
Governance is re‑set on a transitional basis. On 1 April 2026, the new Board is constituted with 14 elected members. For the first term, those members are appointed by the Secretary of State and serve until the expiry of one year from the first 1 November following their appointment, after which elections proceed in accordance with Schedule 1 to the 1991 Act. Part 2 of Schedule 1 continues to govern any appointments by charging authorities.
Operational continuity is secured through automatic transfer provisions. On commencement, all property, rights, duties and liabilities of the three abolished boards vest in the Upper Ouse Water Management Board. The Scheme operates as conclusive evidence of transfer without the need for further deeds or assignments, ensuring assets, contracts and ongoing obligations continue seamlessly.
Financial provisions address both ongoing rates and historic arrears. The new Board may recover arrears of drainage rates levied for periods ending before 1 April 2026 as if they had been levied by the successor body. The accounts of each abolished board must be made up to the day before commencement and audited as though the Scheme had not taken effect.
The instrument extends to England and Wales but applies in England only. In line with Schedule 3 to the Land Drainage Act 1991, the Secretary of State published a notice of intent and notified relevant local authorities and bodies; no objections were received. The Order confirms the Environment Agency’s Scheme with modifications, and the text of the Scheme is set out in the Schedule.
For charging authorities paying the special levy and for ratepayers within the district, the reorganisation primarily changes the identity of the charging body rather than the underlying statutory regime. From 1 April 2026 the Upper Ouse Water Management Board becomes the successor for billing, recovery and governance purposes under the 1991 Act framework.
Service delivery across the catchment is brought under a single statutory body. Asset stewardship, maintenance obligations and enforcement responsibilities transfer to the new Board, which will exercise functions for the Upper Ouse Internal Drainage District in accordance with the Land Drainage Act 1991 and any byelaws it adopts or continues.
The Order is signed for the Secretary of State by William Harrington, Head of Rural Flood Risk at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Explanatory Note states that a full impact assessment has not been produced, as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.