Agenda item

          The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Policy and Resources which informed Members on Flood Risk Management and provided an update on the following:

·       the introduction of new duties under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010);

·       the production of Halton’s Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) and current activity in flood risk management; and

·       the opportunities to engage through Member representation and involvement in new regional sub group arrangements.

It was noted that as portfolio holder with responsibility for flood risk management, Councillor John Stockton had been nominated to attend the Cheshire and Mid Mersey Flood Risk Partnership Sub Group. The Sub Group had subsequently nominated two members to the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (NWRFCC).

          With regard the Flood and Water Management Act which became law in April 2010 and was being implemented using a phased approach, to date there had been five commencement orders, each introducing specific provisions of the Act. The key provisions as they affected Halton as a lead Local Flood Authority were summarised in the report together with the expected timetable for the introduction of the remaining sections of the Act.

          In addition, Members received a short presentation detailing the progress on the production of Halton’s Surface Water Management Plan. By utilising the grant funding awarded for the project, work on the study had progressed through to the “Options” stage. A comprehensive report, detailing the flood risk assessments, results and findings and the conclusions drawn from the study had been produced.

          The presentation outlined the process employed during the study together with its outputs and conclusions. It also outlined a series of maps which had been produced, using fresh hydraulic modelling of surface water for the whole Borough and illustrating flood depth, flood velocity and flood hazard. The report concluded that surface water flooding in the Borough of Halton was characterised by a large number of discreet, small areas of flooding, spread across the Borough. There was no single large area of potential flooding. Some of the flood areas were coincident with or adjacent to property and this would have an impact upon the community in those areas. Sections of essential transport infrastructure had also been identified as vulnerable to surface water flooding.

          It was noted that a methodology had been developed to identify the impact of flooding on property and infrastructure in order to highlight hot spots where surface water flooding could be expected to have the most significant impact. It was agreed that all Members would be sent a copy of the relevant hot spots.

          With regard to current activities the following had been implemented:

-                            a total of £207,750 had been awarded this year for property level flood protection covering areas of Widnes that were vulnerable to surface water flooding. A contribution towards the cost of these projects was being made from Halton’s Capital Programme budget allocation for 2011/12;

-                            additional improvements to surface water drainage were being implemented at Morley Road, Prescot Road and Foxcote to resolve localised flooding problems;

-                            the Environment Agency had awarded £21,000 of funding for survey work on production of a feasibility report into repair of the existing shoreline protection armouring at Pickerings Pasture, Widnes;

-                            the Environment Agency had also provided £1m towards the cost of flood defence works at Keckwick Brook to reduce flood risk to properties in Sandymoor; and

-                            DEFRA had awarded £35,000 towards a scheme to strengthen Wharford Farm reservoir embankment which was now complete.

          RESOLVED: That

(1)            the proposed arrangements for local member representation on the NW RFCC be noted; and

(2)      the progress made in the development of Halton’s SWMP and the work           currently underway to address flood risk across the Borough be           welcomed.