Agenda item

This report provides an update regarding progress on the York Five Year Flood Plan since the last update in June 2018, including details of work carried out by the Environment Agency, use of additional funding allocated to gulley management, and the role of the Emergency Planning Assistant .

Resolved:  (i)      That the report, and the further information presented at the session by the Environment Agency representative and council officers, be noted.

Reason:     To confirm that the Executive Member is aware of the current position regarding progress on the 5 Year Flood Plan and on gulley management.

                   (ii)      That information on the progress of the investigation into the consequences in York of the storm on 13 August 2018 be included on the council’s website.

Reason:     So that residents can see how this is being dealt with in each area.

The Executive Member considered a report which provided an update on progress against the York 5 Year Flood Plan, including information on the use of additional funding allocated to gulley cleansing and the Emergency Planning Assistant role funded after the Independent Flood Enquiry.  An officer from the EA and the council’s Flood Risk Manager were present to answer questions.

Annex 1 to the report detailed work carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) since the last update on 4 June.  It included a summary of city-wide activities, an update on each flood cell and a public engagement plan for the next 5 months.  The EA officer highlighted key points and both officers responded to questions from the Executive Member, confirming that:

·        Work in flood cell B8 (Clementhorpe and South Bank), which had been ongoing for some time, was being expedited.

·        The council and the EA were meeting next week to discuss a holistic solution to issues in flood cell B9 (Fulford), in view of current and planned works on the A19 and Fordlands Road.

·        Flood storage options were also being considered for cells F4 (Tang Hall Beck) and F5 (Osbaldwick Beck).

·        Officers would look at producing a visual representation of the proposed flood storage area for cells F8/10/11, and explaining the wider benefits of this option beyond Strensall.

·        Flood defence work in Museum Gardens could potentially protect about 50 properties currently at risk of flooding.

·        In cell B10, ‘formalisation’ of pumping arrangements for Blue Beck meant building a permanent pumping station.

Progress on the gulley cleansing programme was set out in paragraphs 9 to 20 of the report.  A summary of the work of the Emergency Planning Assistant was provided in paragraphs 21 to 24.  A multi-year maintenance programme was needed to address defects in the 900 ‘non-runner’ gullies identified in the review reported to the December 2017 Decision Session.  Officers would prepare a bid to the capital programme for the additional funding required.  In respect of the storm on 13 August 2018, an investigation was in progress to examine the consequences for the affected areas and determine action to be taken.  In response to the Executive Member’s questions, officers agreed that:

·        It would be helpful to have discussions with Yorkshire Water on some of the ongoing gulley issues.

·        A list of areas included in the storm investigation would be placed online, along with information to explain why the volume of water overwhelmed some un-blocked gullies.

Resolved:  (i)      That the report, and the further information presented at the session by the Environment Agency representative and council officers, be noted.

Reason:     To confirm that the Executive Member is aware of the current position regarding progress on the 5 Year Flood Plan and on gulley management.

                   (ii)      That information on the progress of the investigation into the consequences in York of the storm on 13 August 2018 be included on the council’s website.

Reason:     So that residents can see how this is being dealt with in each area.