Forward planning

The estate isn’t flooded but some neighbouring bits of land have vanished after the torrents of recent rain. Why’s that? Because my estate manager, whom I inherited from the previous owner, keeps our drains and ditches in good order and the local council neglects theirs. Possibly because its leaders think paying inflated salaries to an overblown town clerk and his minions, and what amounts to wages for councillors, is a better way to spend the Council Tax.