Issue - meetings

This report provides the Executive Member with an update on the York Five Year Flood Plan and seeks feedback on its content.

Resolved:

i.             That the Chief Operating Officer be recommended to note the updated report and the evidence presented by the Environment Agency in the session, with feedback provided by the Executive Member.

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

This report provided the Executive Member with an update on the York Five Year Flood Plan and sought feedback on its content. The Flood Risk Manager and 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 Environment Agency and City of York Council were working effectively together overall.

·        The works on Germany Beck in Fulford, which had been project managed by City of York Council, were ongoing with preparations to present an application to the Planning Committee underway, although these had been delayed by issues around mitigating impact on certain species in the watercourse and concerns around preservation of heritage assets.

·        Work on the Innovative Flood Resilience Project, which was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was expected to be completed in Spring 2022. The Project Manager for the scheme was expected to begin their role at the end of January 2022.

Key updates from the Environment Agency included:

·        Flood Cell B4 was complete, with gate testing due to be undertaken in February 2022, although this was due to be completed in one day.

·        Cell B8 at Clementhorpe was due to be completed in August.

·        Work at Cell B10 at Clifton was progressing well. It was planned that some trees would be removed to complete these works, but it was emphasised that the Environment Agency was committed to planting many more trees than they remove.

·        All glass panels and flood gates were installed at Cell B11 and Cell B12 was nearing completion.

·        The compound in Marygate Car Park, which served Cells B11 and B12 was expected to be greatly reduced in size at the end of January 2022.

·        Works at Bishopthorpe, and Foss Barrier were on schedule and progressing well.

·        The Community Hub had to close due to Covid-19 regulations, but was due to re-open as soon as possible.

The Executive Member commented that she was pleased with the strong partnership between the Environment Agency and City of York Council and the increased communications with residents.

Resolved:

i.             That the Chief Operating Officer be recommended to note the updated report and the evidence presented by the Environment Agency in the session, with feedback provided by the Executive Member.

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