Issue - meetings

This report presents a Surface Water Management Plan covering the whole of the Council’s area for member approval.  It  has been prepared following flooding experienced nationally in 2007  which resulted in the publication of the Pitt Review which included a key recommendation for Lead Local Flood Authorities to prepare Local Surface Water Management Plans. 

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agrees to:

i)             Approve the Surface Water Management Plan as attached at Annexe A of the report.

ii)            Approve a review of the Council’s highway drainage maintenance service based on the principles of flood risk management, and to ensure that it is suitably funded. This will be the subject of a further report in due course.

iii)          Ensure that the current resources in the Flood Risk Management team are maintained, subject to the budget process, to enable effective involvement in the development control and highway design procedures.

REASON:   i)   To ensure that the Council has an action plan for managing surface water flood risk, and to influence the development of future strategies for maintenance, investment, planning and engagement.

             ii)   To ensure that surface water drainage infrastructure operates effectively to reduce surface water flood risk in vulnerable areas.

iii) To ensure that development does not increase flood risk. 

Members considered a report which presented the Surface Water Management Plan covering the whole of the Council’s area, at Annex A of the report. This had been prepared following flooding experienced nationally in 2007 which had resulted in the publication of the Pitt Review which included key recommendations for Lead Local Flood Authorities including the preparation of Local Surface Water Management Plans.

The main outcome of the study had identified two principal methods of managing future surface water flood risk, through the maintenance of assets and development control with both these being considered at paragraphs 10 to 14 of the report. A formal partnership would now be formed to prepare the Council’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy to include appropriate community involvement.

The Cabinet Member referred to the complex ownership of drainage systems, with only 10% of the surface water drainage system being identified to date. Much of the system was not within the authorities ownership so partnership working would be required to address many of the issues. With reference to the important points raised by the speaker, earlier in the meeting, he confirmed that Parish Councils would form part of the partnership working and that best practice would be encouraged in dealing with planning applications.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agrees to:

i)             Approve the Surface Water Management Plan as attached at Annexe A of the report.

ii)            Approve a review of the Council’s highway drainage maintenance service based on the principles of flood risk management, and to ensure that it is suitably funded. This will be the subject of a further report in due course. ^1.

iii)          Ensure that the current resources in the Flood Risk Management team are maintained, subject to the budget process, to enable effective involvement in the development control and highway design procedures.

REASON:   i) To ensure that the Council has an action plan for managing surface water flood risk, and to influence the development of future strategies for maintenance, investment, planning and engagement.

             ii)   To ensure that surface water drainage infrastructure operates effectively to reduce surface water flood risk in vulnerable areas.

iii) To ensure that development does not increase flood risk.