Agenda item

 

To consider the Update on the Council’s Flood Risk Management works across the borough & the Six Priority Flood Alleviation Scheme Projects

 

 

Consideration was given to a presentation by Richard Jackson and Andy Saxton,  which provided detail on the Council’s Flood Risk Management works across the borough and the Six Priority Flood Alleviation Scheme Projects.

 

The presentation highlighted:-

 

Part A:- Overview of ongoing flood risk management works across the borough:-

 

§    Section 19 - Storm Babet.

§    Community Engagement.

§    Next Steps – Catcliffe.

§    Investigations carried out following Storm Babet.

§    Projects Delivered in Treeton, Thorpe Salvin, Thrybergh, Brampton-en-le-Morthen and Todwick.

§    Planned Works in Stone, Swinton, Aughton, Firbeck and Wath.

§    Road Gully Maintenance.

§    Connected By Water.

 

Part B:-  Progress Update on the Six Priority Flood Alleviation Scheme Projects:-

 

§    Six Priority Flood Alleviation Schemes.

§    Surveys and Landowner Engagement.

§    Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme.

§    Parkgate & Rawmarsh Flood Alleviation Scheme.

§    Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.

§    Eel Mires Dike Flood Alleviation Scheme.

§    Catcliffe Pumping Station.

§    Culvert Renewal Programme.

§    Culvert Replacement Programme.

 

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and clarified:-

 

·              Could the exact location of the Parkgate and Rawmarsh FAS water storage area be confirmed.  From the map it would appear it was located very near some residential properties that also flooded, so it was important the surface water did not encroach onto existing residents.

 

Officers confirmed the location and explained about maximum water levels before overspills into the embankment.  The overspills would not get up to property levels.  An exact drawing of the location would be provided.

 

·              The six priority schemes were agreed in 2021, but when were these schemes going to be delivered and had funding been secured.

 

Officers confirmed some funding had been allocated from the Environment Agency, but this was subject to business cases being submitted.  Not all the schemes were fully funded as yet.  Further funding for these schemes was being sought so until funding was allocated and secured it was difficult to give a timeframe for schemes to be delivered.

 

Officers were confident the schemes would be delivered and had been prepared for ready status.  However, discussions were ongoing with the Environment Agency and other departments about securing capital investment as part of the budget process.  Hopefully over the next two years the flooding alleviation schemes would be secured.

 

·              Which of the schemes had the highest priority?

 

Officers confirmed there was no priority of the six schemes as they all would make a difference to communities.  A commitment was secured in the previous budget to deliver Whiston Brook and Eel Mires Dyke Schemes.  The schemes were committed to be delivered.

 

·              The commitment to Catcliffe was commended, but when would an update be provided to residents on schemes and the viability of them.  Residents were keen to be engaged in next steps.

 

Officers anticipated having three next steps by June, 2025 and would provide an update in due course.

 

·              Officers were thanked for the tremendous amount of work that had gone into all the schemes, but the land ownership map appeared very complicated.  Was there any further insight or proposed timeframe for when the Laughton Common scheme could be developed.

 

Officers reiterated this would depend on funding and would come down to discussions with Members to determine priorities.  Not everything could be done at once and there would be many issues that come into play, like land ownership. 

 

·              The planned works at Recreation Road at Wath was this funded and was there a timescale.  In terms of the bunding would this be natural or manmade.

 

Officers explained funding had been secured and the bunding was to be a natural earth embankment with works programmed next year.

 

·              Land at Treeton had been addressed by the local farmer so was there any progress.

 

Officers explained that in terms of Shoreland Drive there were two issues; one of works already carried out and the other was the farmer’s land.  Some work had been undertaken to look at the culvert, but on investigation nothing could be found. Flows had now been diverted around the property via a natural ditch.

 

·              Did the syphon system at Woodhouse Mill live up to  expectations.

 

Officers confirmed this had not yet been fully tested, but the Environment Agency gave assurance that measures taken were appropriate.

 

·              With regards to land ownership did officers have any idea on how long it would be before work could start at Whiston and would this have to be done by Compulsory Purchase Order.

 

Officers confirmed negotiations with the landowner were ongoing and approaches were being made as to which parcels of land could be purchased over the next few weeks.

 

Landowners were optimistic and had not shown any negativity towards the scheme.  It was hoped the situation could be mutually resolved without resorting to Compulsory Purchase.

 

·              The scheme to raise Treeton Bridge was this purely to stop debris getting stuck or was it part of the bigger scheme with the uplands.

 

Officers explained that the plans involved lifting the bridge by 900 mm and with this remaining below the embankment would help the flow and, therefore, increase defences.  The modelling proposals were downstream.

 

·              More recently the ford at Hague Lane in Wentworth had resulted in flooding along the road.

 

Officers confirmed the ford at Hague Lane was designed to flood the road.  However, it was quite silted at the moment.

 

·              Was it anticipated that the recently laid surface along Rockingham Road would require excavation for the culvert project.

 

Officers confirmed the surface would have to be interrupted again for the relay of a new highway drain from the Woodman down to Horsehair Park.  It was an ambitious scheme, but was required due to the manhole covers being blown.

 

·              Reference had been made to the mapping system of gullies.  Whilst this would eventually be accessed by the public, could the data be sent by Ward to each Ward Councillor.

 

Officers confirmed the detail would be index routed and based on Wards.  It was hoped to have this mapping completed by March, 2025 and would be sent on to Ward Members.

 

·              With there being no priority for the schemes and there was no guarantee funding would be secured and prices could increase, was the funding required just from the Environment Agency or Central Government.

 

Officers confirmed that most of the funding would come via the Environment Agency and some from Council resources.  Not all funding had been secured and there was still a need for funding bids to be submitted, but this was dependent upon completion of the final designs and accurately detailed costs.

 

·              The Commission wished to place on record thanks and appreciation to the service for their incredible amount of work, particularly following Storm Babet and the amount of investigations undertaken. 

 

·              The road gully maintenance mapping technology was very good and would have the functionality that members of the public and members could feed into.

 

·              The funding for the big six alleviation schemes were necessary, but perhaps Central Government should assist with funding for the major projects.

 

Officers welcomed the comments above and confirmed that the mapping of gullies technology would be publicly available and allow for exact reporting electronically of blocked gullies.

 

It was also noted that Central Government funding had been applied for after the 2019 floods and Storm Babet and the applications had been turned down on both occasions.

 

The Deputy Leader reported that some departments had bridged some of the gaps on some of the schemes in order to protect residential properties, but gaps still remained.

 

It was hoped that with the preparatory work already completed for the schemes should the extra funding become available, the schemes could imminently be delivered once funding was secured.

 

·              During 2022 there was a campaign arranged in the Sitwell Ward with the Environment Agency to help clear Whiston Brook.  If Members started the process of seeking volunteers, would officers be willing to get involved.

 

Officers confirmed they were always looking for activity to get volunteers to help with maintenance work and welcomed any support.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the presentation be received and the contents noted.

 

(2)  That an update on Option 1 for Catcliffe and Treeton be shared once this was available.

 

(3)  On completion of the gully mapping exercise, the data be shared with Elected Members on a Ward basis.