Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed Annette Senior (Emergency Planning Officer), Alan Bamforth (Planner) and Steve Lister (Engineer) who presented the submitted report on progress that had been made by the Council to improve further the resilience against future flooding and information that had been shared with affected communities.

 

It was noted that a number of national, regional and local reviews had taken place. The main national review was the Sir Michael Pitt review in which all flooded areas were visited and an interim report was published on 17th December, 2007. The interim report contained fifteen urgent recommendations and seventy two interim conclusions. The report was broken down into four main areas:

 

-          Flood Risk Management (climate change – developing understanding of forecasting and building and planning)

 

-          Critical National Infrastructure/Loss of Essential Services (protecting our infrastructure – information sharing – single points of failure/complete loss)

 

-          Emergency Response (local risk register, business continuity, emergency planning, improved communication links with agencies and dams and reservoirs)

 

-          Recovery Arrangements

 

An overview of the urgent recommendations was set out in the report.

 

Consultation on the interim report closed on 31st March, 2008 with a final report having been published on 25th June, 2008 entitled “Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods”.

 

The Government’s response to the final report and its recommendations was due in November, 2008 following which appropriate actions would have to be taken by the responsible organisations. The recommendations, together with the respective responsible agency were submitted.

 

In this progress report, four main areas had been explored and reviewed and the officers outlined the submitted detail as follows:

 

-          Drainage : Steve Lister

-          Forward Planning : Alan Bamforth

-          Emergency Planning : Annette Senior

-          Communications and Marketing : Annette Senior

 

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued. The Chairman welcomed James Meade (Environment Agency) and Mike Smith (Yorkshire Water) who along with the officers answered, where possible, the questions asked.

 

Issues covered included:

 

-          work done with the Association of British Insurers to address issues raised by customers regarding increased insurance premiums and excess levels

 

-          implementation of the fifteen recommendations

 

-          financing of the pumps and ancillaries at Catcliffe

 

-          financing of the flood study report commissioned in respect of Dinnington and Laughton Common

 

-          monitoring of sandbags by parish councils and implications for areas not parished

 

-          monitoring of sandbag expiry dates

 

-          allocation of the £30.6 million Restoration Grant

 

-          storage lakes at Waverley

 

-          progress/timescales regarding Whiston Brook

 

-          costings of flood sacks and advantages/disadvantages in relation to ordinary sandbags

 

-          frequency of gulley cleaning

 

-          acknowledgement that agencies were working well together but could anything more be done

 

-          need for lists of vulnerable people from agencies but also from communities as not all lists would be exhaustive

 

-          sequential testing

 

-          Bellwin formula outdated and possible need for a one day scrutiny review

 

-          laying of impermeable surfaces on front and rear gardens by householders

 

-          clarification needed on specific duty being placed on economic regulators to build resilience in the critical infrastructure and the responsible agency

 

-          need for discussion with partners regarding establishing oversight and scrutiny committees to review work by public sector bodies and essential service providers in order to manage flood risk, underpinned by a legal requirement to co-operate and share information

 

-          reviewing of oversight and scrutiny committee annual summary of actions regarding managing flood risk by Government officers and the Environment Agency

 

-          need to build resilience among people by informing them what local authorities are not responsible for and what they need to take more responsibility for

 

-          restoration of Council properties following the flood

 

-          need to take account of alleviation for future flooding

 

-          need to take account of all the measures recommended from the Recovery Group

 

In concluding the debate, Mike Smith undertook to supply a position statement regarding reinstatement and James Meade reassured the meeting and emphasised the excellent working relationship established between the Council and the Environment Agency.

 

The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and contributions.

 

Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.

 

(2) That the future financial implications for the Council be noted.

 

(3) That the Director of Planning and Regeneration present a report to the Corporate Management Team to examine the potential impact upon planning policy and development within the borough.

 

(4) That, to facilitate effective monitoring of the situation, one or two joint meetings per year with partners be scheduled into the Committee’s meeting cycle.

 

(5) That outstanding answers to questions posted today by Members be channelled through Cath Saltis, Head of Scrutiny Services.