Motion NDM7278 as amended:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the damage and devastation caused to communities across Wales as a result of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

2. Pays tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services, agency staff, public service workers and community volunteers in responding to the effects of adverse weather and storm damage in recent weeks.

3. Recognises that climate change will make adverse weather occurrences, including instances of serious flooding, more likely in future.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) ensure that the investigations being carried out into the cause of flooding are published and subject to scrutiny from affected communities, the Senedd and independent authorities, including the Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee;

b) make additional financial and practical support available to individuals and businesses affected by the flooding;

c) make additional funding available for local authorities to conduct emergency repairs of flood defences and other critical infrastructure;

d) publish new planning policy and flood maps this year to take a stronger stance on development in the flood plain and reflect the growing risks from climate change;

e) publish a new Flood Risk Assessment for Wales alongside a new Flood and Coastal Strategy this year and use this to prioritise flood defence schemes that protect the communities at highest risk of flooding from all sources – coastal, river and surface water;

f) increase financial and practical support to local authorities to accelerate the development of new flood defence schemes.

5. Further calls on the Welsh Government to work with stakeholders to ensure that local communities and businesses are provided with continuing support beyond the initial clean-up operation to help them recover in the long-term, and to understand the actions required to mitigate future flooding events.