Economy & Place Scrutiny Committee

19 March 2019

Report of the Director of Economy & Place

 

CYC Flood Defences Action Plan – Biannual Update

 

Summary

 

1.        This report presents an update on the work of the Environment Agency to renew existing and provide new flood defences across the city, following the flooding in December 2015.  Members are asked to provide feedback on progress to date.

 

Background

 

2.        The flooding in late December 2015 followed an intense period of rainfall across November and December due to the impacts of Storms Desmond and Eva. Record river levels were observed in many river catchments across the north of England. More than 4000 homes and 2000 businesses flooded across Yorkshire with 453 properties and 174 businesses flooded in York.

 

3.        Funding was allocated to the Environment Agency (EA) following the floods to renew existing and provide new flood defences across the city, £17m was allocated to the Foss Barrier improvements and £45m to the wider flood defences across the city.

 

Progress Update

 

4.        A range of interventions have been identified by the Environment Agency and these are in various stages of feasibility, design and pre-planning, the first schemes have been submitted for planning and construction will commence in the next few months. City of York Council continues to work in partnership with the EA on all schemes.

 

5.        An update on progress has been supplied by the Environment Agency; this can be seen in Annex 1.

 

 

 

 

Consultation

 

6.        Public consultation on the York Five Year Plan was held in late November 2016 and quarterly newsletters have been developed by the EA to further inform on progress. Biannual updates are received by this Scrutiny Committee and quarterly updates are given to the Executive Member for the Environment Decision Sessions.

 

7.        Detailed public consultation events have been held in a range of communities following feasibility and further refinement of the preferred options.  Details of the programme of consultation are included in Annex 1.

 

8.        Ongoing liaison will continue between the Executive Member for Environment and the CYC Flood Risk Manager, and future briefings to the Economy & Place Scrutiny Committee will be made to ensure key outputs and decisions are supported by CYC and to provide formal opportunities for members and the public to consult. Further recommendations will be made for agreement at these sessions.

 

Options

 

9.        The principal options open to members are to comment on and review the work undertaken to date and the future work identified to date and the representations made by the Environment Agency.

 

Council Plan

 

10.    Improved provision of flood defences supports a prosperous city for all through safer communities for residents, businesses and visitors, a wide range of consultation events will ensure this is in line with the needs and expectations of local communities.

 

Implications

 

11.    Financial – Funding is allocated directly to the EA, the additional funding of £45M is available to be directed towards key flood risk projects in the city in the short term. The extent of required works may require wider funding and Defra funding bids will be developed. There are likely to be contribution requirements as part of this wider work and submissions have been made to secure these.

 

12.    Property – The Site Investigation programme will include sites under CYC ownership and/or control, consultation will be carried out with Estates teams and all relevant agreements will be put in place.

 

13.    Human Resources (HR) – No implications

One Planet Council/Equalities – No implications

Legal – No implications

Crime and Disorder – No implications

Information Technology (IT) – No implications

 

Risk Management

 

14.    No known risks are identified at this time, detailed risk management work will be developed as the business case and detailed design works commence.

Recommendations

15.    Members are asked to note the update report and the evidence presented by the Environment Agency in the session, feedback is sought from Members on all content.

 

 

Contact Details:

 

Author:

Chief Officer Responsible for the report:

Steve Wragg

Flood Risk Manager

Highways

01904 553401

Neil Ferris

Director of Economy & Place

 

Report Approved

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Date 6/03/19

 

Wards Affected: 

 

All

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For further information please contact the author of the report

 

Background Papers: None

 

Annexes:  Annex 1 - E&P Scrutiny Flood Defences Action Plan March 19