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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change |
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Date |
13 April 2022 |
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Present |
Councillors Widdowson |
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Apologies |
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15. Declarations of Interest
The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or discloseable pecuniary interests she might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.
16. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 9 March 2022 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
17. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the session under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
18. York 5 Year Flood Plan Update
The Executive Member considered a report which provided her with an update on the York Five Year Flood Plan and sought feedback on its content. The Flood Risk Manager and the Project Director, Environment Agency were in attendance to present the report and respond to questions.
Key points raised during the presentation of the report included:
· The Bishopthorpe scheme was completed in April 2022, which brought the total number of properties better protected from flooding over the target of 2,000.
· The Environment Agency had been working closely with local schools in the Clifton and Rawcliffe areas where construction was ongoing.
· 100 trees had been planted at various sites throughout York, and many more were planned to be planted in winter 2022. The commitment to plant 5 trees for every one removed was reiterated.
· Recent flooding in York had tested the newly installed defences which had performed well and there had been some minor delays to work in Clementhorpe and Clifton as a result of the floods.
· There were concerns around forecasting and City of York Council was working with the Environment Agency to improve the accuracy of forecasts in future.
· The works at Germany Beck were progressing well, although there were some issues around biodiversity and heritage.
· The Flood Risk Management Plan consultation had been completed and an update to the local flood risk management strategy was in progress.
· The DEFRA funded innovation programme was exploring natural flood risk management solutions in the Swale, Ure and Nidd catchment areas and how such solutions can be incentivised and supported.
The Executive Member thanked officers and the Environment Agency for their cooperation and improved communication with residents. She highlighted the work done on tree planting at Lord Deramore’s School and called for all developers in York to pledge to plant 5 new trees for each one removed.
Resolved:
i. That the updated report and evidence presented by the Environment Agency be noted with the Executive Member’s feedback on all content.
ii. That the proposed amendments and updates to the consultation stage Humber Flood Risk Management Plan be endorsed and officer approval of the final publication stage document in June 2022 be supported.
Reason: To support delivery of flood resilience interventions in York across the wider River Ouse catchment.
Cllr P Widdowson, Executive Member
[The meeting started at 3.01 pm and finished at 3.14 pm].