Issue - meetings

This report presents the findings and recommendations arising from the formal investigation into the impact of intense rainfall across the city on 13 August 2018.

Resolved:  (i)      That the report at Annex 1 be noted and the key recommendations, as summarised below, be supported:

a)   City of York Council (CYC) to work with all partners to develop an increased understanding of flood resilience through the update of the Local Flood Risk Strategy and the communications around the York Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS).

b)   CYC to support the findings of the ongoing gulley management review.

c)   CYC to raise awareness of surface water management techniques with planning partners and internal highways design teams.

d)   CYC Flood Risk Management team to prepare a report for the Executive recommending the need to develop and fund a network of digital rain gauges in the city.

e)   All ongoing investigations and works detailed in the report to be completed.

f)    CYC to take a lead to ensure the ownership, management, operation and maintenance of Westfield Beck Pumping Station is clarified, as this played an important role during the event.

(ii)      That a report on any outstanding issues from this event be brought to the Decision Session with the next quarterly Flood Plan report, with the emphasis on those areas where internal flooding took place.

Reason:     In order to respond appropriately to the effects of this event, resolve the issues that arose and provide increased understanding and awareness of the risk of surface water flooding across York communities.

The Executive Member considered a report which presented the results and recommendations of an investigation carried out by the council’s Flood Risk Management Team into the impact of the intense rainfall that occurred across the city on 13 August 2018.

The council had investigated all recorded incidents and worked with partners in Yorkshire Water and the Foss Internal Drainage Board to gather further information on the impact and causes of flooding.  The Investigation Report, attached as Annex 1 to the cover report, detailed the 13 August event from the forecasting phase though to the location of the 123 flooded areas, individual findings and actions in respect of each area (listed by ward in the table annexed to the Investigation Report), and the resulting recommendations. 

Officers noted that the Haxby / Wigginton public consultation meeting mentioned in paragraph 10 of the cover report had been deferred to later in the year.  In response to questions from the Executive Member, they confirmed that:

·        It was intended to made information from the digital rain gauge network publicly available in the future.

·        A drainage solution had been identified for Carr Lane (no.1 on the table), with work programmed to start in April;

·        Further enquiries would need to be made in respect of run-off from the new hospital on Haxby Road and progress on some of the ongoing schemes listed in the table.

Resolved:  (i)      That the report at Annex 1 be noted and the key recommendations, as summarised below, be supported:

a)   City of York Council (CYC) to work with all partners to develop an increased understanding of flood resilience through the update of the Local Flood Risk Strategy and the communications around the York Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS).

b)   CYC to support the findings of the ongoing gulley management review.

c)   CYC to raise awareness of surface water management techniques with planning partners and internal highways design teams.

d)   CYC Flood Risk Management team to prepare a report for the Executive recommending the need to develop and fund a network of digital rain gauges in the city.

e)   All ongoing investigations and works detailed in the report to be completed.

f)    CYC to take a lead to ensure the ownership, management, operation and maintenance of Westfield Beck Pumping Station is clarified, as this played an important role during the event.

(ii)      That a report on any outstanding issues from this event be brought to the Decision Session with the next quarterly Flood Plan report, with the emphasis on those areas where internal flooding took place.

Reason:     In order to respond appropriately to the effects of the event, resolve the issues that arose and provide increased understanding and awareness of the risk of surface water flooding across York communities.