1. Local authorities should conceive a definitive map of drainage ditches, streams in their area. They should clearly spell out responsibility for maintenance.

2. A nerve centre should be formed jointly by the Environment Agency and the Met Office. The two agencies will pool data and give more precise flood warnings.

3. New building regulations for flood-prone areas need to be introduced, including recommendation of proper construction materials as well as drainage systems.

4. A greater onus should be put on utility firms for protecting key infrastructure sites.

According to Sir Michael, some had previously been very secretive about their sites. He stated most of the recommendations could easily be achieved within the existing £800m yearly flood defence budget of the government for 2010 to 2011. He added: “Implementing the recommendations will require powerful, Cabinet-level leadership. Also, we can get much better prepared. In fact, we are already better prepared now than last year.”

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Before the games were factored in, the picture was rather bleak. One adds the sports jamboree, and a system, which was creaking, has almost come to a grinding halt. In spite of massive demand, only two data centres – an extension to Telehouse and Stockley Park – have been given the go-ahead within the past two years by EDF Energy that supplies power to the south-east of England.

The City of London has an estimated power demand of 1,000MW. The same is expected to increase by a whopping 80 per cent over the next 5-6 years.

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