Issue - meetings

The Executive Member will consider a report which will provide her with an update on the York 5 Year Flood Plan.

Resolved:

i.             That the updated report and the evidence presented by the Environment Agency in the session be noted.

ii.            That the approach being taken to ensure the review of the Humber Flood Risk Management Plan is incorporated in to City of York Council flood risk policy and strategy as detailed in Annex 2 be endorsed. A future item on the update of our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy will be brought to the Executive Member at a later date.

Reason: To support the delivery of flood resilience interventions in York and across the wider River Ouse catchment.

The Executive Member considered a report which provided her with an update on the York 5 Year Flood Plan. 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:

·        Good progress was being made on the Environment Agency led Flood Investment Programme.

·        Germany Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme in Fulford was coming to the end of the detailed design phase and it was likely to that a planning application would be submitted by the end of the calendar year.

·        An update was being made to Water Level Management Plans, which were originally made in 2007-9. This work was being done in partnership with the Environment Agency and other partners. There were a number of interventions planned which aligned with ongoing work on flood planning done by City of York Council and the Environment Agency, as well as the targets and actions in the local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

·        The flood gate for Scarborough Bridge to Ouse Bridge was due to be installed in October 2021 at Lendal Arch, and the road closure extension was due to end on 22 October as planned.

·        Proposed additional traffic calming measures on Butcher Terrace in Clementhorpe were due to go to consultation.

·        Enabling works were underway on-site at Clifton Ings Barrier Bank.

·        There had been some minor delays to works on the left-bank of the Ouse around the Museum Gardens, but these had not affected the overall programme.

·        It was planned for on-site work to begin at the Foss Storage Area by the end of 2021.

·        A formal handover at the Foss Barrier site from contractors to the Environment Agency was expected in January 2022.

The Executive Member commented:

·        She was pleased to see increased coordination between City of York Council, the Environment Agency and partners, as well as increased communications with residents.

·        The total investment into flood infrastructure was around £104-110 million, not the £90 million listed in the report

·        She was also pleased with the commitment of the Environment Agency to plant 5 trees for every one felled, and that liaisons were taking place with councillors and residents to find appropriate locations for them in the city.

·        She thanks officers and the Environment Agency for their work on improving York’s flood defences.

Resolved:

i.             That the updated report and the evidence presented by the Environment Agency in the session be noted.

ii.            That the approach being taken to ensure the review of the Humber Flood Risk Management Plan is incorporated in to City of York Council flood risk policy and strategy as detailed in Annex 2 be endorsed. A future item on the update of our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy will be brought to the Executive Member at a later date.

Reason: To support the delivery of flood resilience interventions in York and across the wider River Ouse catchment.