Issue - meetings

This report contains an update on York’s 5 Year Flood Plan following new funding being allocated to the Environment Agency to renew existing and provide new flood defences across the City.

Resolved:

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

    ii.        That the Executive Member provides feedback on the content of the report.

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 contained an update on York’s 5 Year Flood Plan following new funding being allocated to the Environment Agency to renew existing, and provide new, flood defences across the city. The Flood Risk Manager, City of York Council, and the Project Director, Environment Agency (EA) were in attendance to present the report and respond to questions.

Key points raised during the presentation of the report included:

·        The planning stage appraisal and design works at Germany Beck were completed and a planning application has been made.

·        The Council were developing works to increase the flood resilience of Millennium Bridge. Design work was ongoing, permissions and the delivery programme would be finalised in the new financial year.

·        The DEFRA funded Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme which explores natural flood risk management solutions in the Swale, Ure and Nidd catchment areas, was progressing well. The recruitment of catchment partner posts has also progressed and a new project manager for City of York Council has been recruited.

·        DEFRA announced that Schedule 3 of the Flood Water Management Act would be enacted in 2024 and would transform the way that surface water was managed through future planning applications and new developments using sustainable drainage. The Flood Risk Manager would be developing the Council approach and a future report would be brought to all relevant committees.

Key updates from the EA included:

·        The majority of the capital schemes have now been completed. However, the Clifton and Strensall storage areas had been paused due to the groundwork being unworkable over the winter period with work now resuming.

·        The Property Flood Resilience (PRF) project was progressing. The EA has installed barriers in 27 properties and feedback from residents was positive.

·        All of the trees had now been planted.

·        A planning application for defences at St Georges Field has been submitted, this is linked to the additional works at the Foss Barrier. There would also be a public consultation on 21 March 2023 regarding this scheme, and property resilience measures in the Peckitt Street/Tower gardens area to address concerns from residents with a morning face-to-face drop-in session and a virtual evening drop-in session.

The Executive Member thanked the Officer and the EA for their work and;

Resolved:

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

    ii.         That the Executive Member provides feedback on the content of the report.

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