Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs F M Martin MBE (East Lindsey District Council).

Apologies for absence were also received from Councillor C Davie, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment, Planning and Tourism and Councillor S Tweedale, Executive Support Councillor for Economic Development, Environment, Planning and Tourism.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and made particular reference to guests Richard Kidd, Chairman of Firsby Group of Parishes, Linda Dimsdale, Clerk of Firsby Group of Parishes, Joe Taylor, Chairman of Thorpe Parish Council, Anton Willerton, Wainfleet Mayor, Eddy Poll, Chairman of the Anglian (Northern) Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, Allan Simpson, Anglian Water, Jonathan Glerum, Anglian Water, Robert Caudwell, Chairman of the South Forty Foot Drain Steering Group and Andrew McGill, Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board.

There were no declarations of members' interest declared at this point in the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Flood and Drainage Management Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2015 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

No announcements were received at this point in the meeting.

(To receive a report from Allan Simpson (Planning Services Manager), which provides the Committee with an update on the involvement of Anglian Water in Planning Applications)

The Committee received a joint presentation from Allan Simpson, Planning Services Manager, Anglian Water and Jonathan Glerum, Flood Risk Manager, Anglian Water, which provided the Committee with an update on the involvement of Anglian Water in Planning Applications.  The Committee were reminded that this was a follow up to a previous presentation received by the Committee at its 4 September 2015 meeting.

It was reported that Anglian Water had a pre-planning service available for developers and their agents.  For the current financial year Anglian Water had received about 130 pre-planning enquiries from sites within the County of Lincolnshire.  The Committee were advised that all water and sewerage companies were monitored on their pre-planning services, the results of which were reported quarterly by Water UK.

The Committee were advised that Anglian Water was not a statutory consultee for planning applications, however, it was noted that Anglian Water would seek to provide comments on major developments of 10 or more dwellings or 0.5ha for other uses.  Anglian Water relied on Local Planning Authorities sending consultations through for comment, and by checking weekly lists.  It was highlighted that Anglian Water had received about 170 planning application consultations from Lincolnshire authorities' since the start of the financial year.  It was highlighted further that where development proposals proposed to drain to a surface water sewer, Anglian Water was sub-consulted by Lincolnshire County Council in its role as the Lead Local Flood Authority.

The Committee was advised that Anglian Water were currently exploring a number of process and system improvements.  These included:-

·         The trialling of a software system which enabled Anglian Water to pick up submitted and approved planning applications;

·         Improvement of web pages; and improving communication channels with residents so that there was an awareness of the role of Anglian Water in the planning system;

·         Making it easier Anglian Water customer to get pre-planning advise; and for developers and agents to submit enquiries; and

·         The updating of the planning application consultation template to assist Local Planning authorities.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         Concern was expressed by the Committee to the fact that Anglia Water was not a statutory consultee.  A question was asked as to whether Anglian Water had been involved in the Local Plans for the Central and South East Local Plans.  The Committee were advised that Anglian Water was consulted on all Strategic planning documents.  Members felt that Water Companies should be statutory consultees and that water companies should be approached nationally to see if they all agreed with that stance.  Officers advised that whilst Anglian Water were not a statutory consultee, in the planning process, they could be considered to be a key consultee, consulted voluntarily by the Local Planning Authorities, and if they devised a framework of how they wished to be consulted the Flood Risk and Development Manager would take the issue further on their behalf. 

Some members felt that the statutory role in the planning process was one that needed to be discussed in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

(To receive a report from Deborah Campbell (Environment Agency), which outlines progress made on implementing flood alleviation schemes for Louth and Horncastle; and an update on the Boston Barrier, the River Steeping and the River Welland Navigation)

Consideration was given to a report from Deborah Campbell (Environment Agency), which provided the Committee with an agreed standing update from the Environment Agency to outline progress on implementing flood alleviation schemes for Louth and Horncastle and also outlined progress on the work to develop the tidal flood barrier in Boston.  The report also provided an update as requested, relating to the River Steeping, and a briefing note on Fulney Lock (River Welland).

Louth and Horncastle Flood Alleviation Schemes

The Committee was advised that work at Louth was progressing well, with the control structures at both sites being substantially completed; and adjoining culverts had also been installed.  It was reported that work to the earth embankment on the north site was 40% completed and that work had commenced on the trial embankment to the south site.  However, the wet weather during December and January had led to a suspension of earthworks, which has delayed completion for the Louth Alleviation Scheme to August 2016.  It was highlighted that all the Louth landowners had now engaged.

The Committee was advised that work was progressing at Horncastle, but as reported at the last meeting, due to the type of material at the site, construction of the main earthworks had stopped on site during the winter period.  Work had however continued on the control structure until early February, when it became apparent that it was more cost effective to stop all work on site until the earthworks could resume.  Works were now expected to be completed on site for September 2016.  The Committee noted that five out of the seven landowners had now engaged.

Boston Barrier

It was reported that the Transport and Works Act Order application (TWAO) would be submitted in May 2016.  Currently members of the project team were addressing concerns of local fisherman and river leisure users, and work had been taking place with the Port of Boston to mitigate the impact on the port and their customers operations.  It was hoped that legal agreement with the Port would be secured before submission of the TWAO application.

The Committee noted that contract with CH2M had been awarded to support the Environment Agency as an Independent Technical Advisor through the delivery stage of the project.  It was hoped to hold a Design and Build competition for the project later in 2016.  It was hoped that the programme was still on track to be completed in 2019. 

A copy of a vision paper entitled 'Common Vision for Water Management in Boston and the surrounding areas' was circulated to members of the Committee.  This document had been endorsed by partner organisations which had included the Environment Agency, Lincolnshire County Council Boston Borough Council and the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board who were all committed to delivering a co-ordinated approach to the complex and ambitious range of projects planned for Boston and surrounding area.  The three main projects referenced included The Boston Tidal Barrier Water Level Management in Boston, The Fens Waterways  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

(To receive a report from Mark Welsh, (Flood Risk and Development Manager), which provides the Committee with the latest position of all current Section 19 investigations in the County under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010)

Consideration was given to a report from Mark Welsh, Flood Risk and Development Manager, which advised the Committee on the current position of all current Section 19 investigations.

A spreadsheet summarising investigations in the County under Section 19 of the Flood and Water management Act 2010 was detailed at Appendix A to the report.

During discussion, reference to a property at Main Street, Scopwick, Officers clarified that work had been completed and the Appendix A would be updated accordingly.

RESOLVED

            That the report and Appendix A be noted.  

(To receive a report from David Hickman (Environment Commissioner), which provides the Committee with details of the Water Management Plan and an update on progress towards the coastal vision)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from David Hickman, Environment Commissioner, which provided details of the Water Management Plan and an update on progress towards the coastal vision.

It was reported that the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise partnership (GLLEP) had prioritised agri-food and the visitor economy as the key sectors for economic growth in Greater Lincolnshire.  Effective flood risk and water resource management was considered fundamental in realising these opportunities.  The Water Management Plan as detailed at Appendix A was approved by the GLLEP Board on 28 January 2016.  The Water Management Plan had been designed to establish a pipeline of projects that could be developed for successive rounds of funding opportunities; and was now ready for implementation, with outline bids already in progress for priority stretches of coastal and fluvial defences.

It was noted that many of the issues that were relevant to the Water Management Plan, particularly the ability to make a compelling case for funding water and coastal management, were most prevalent in Greater Lincolnshire's coastal areas.  As a result of this Water Management Board officers from partner authorities had drafted a Coastal Vision with the aim of succinctly expressing an overarching common approach to coastal issues, with a focus on achieving sustainable economic growth for the GLLEP's area.

It was therefore the intention of the Coastal Vision to draw together key themes that had emerged from a wide range of existing initiatives to support objectives for the coast.  As a result of engagement, the previous draft was currently being rewritten, and it was hoped that this would be completed in March.  It was intended that a final draft of the Costal Vision would be presented to the GLLEP Water Management Board in March, with subsequent approval by the GLLEP Board.

During a short discussion, the Committee made reference to the following issues:-

·         That the Department for Rural Affairs was supportive of the Water Management Plan;

·         The necessity of protecting Agri-Food in Greater Lincolnshire;

·         The key impacts on economic growth from flood risks.  These were detailed on page 53 of the report presented; and

·         Clarification of the potential funding to the Killingholme Marshes Drainage Improvements was £2,316.293.

The Committee welcomed the update on the Water Management Plan and Coastal Vision.

RESOLVED

            That the report presented be noted.

(A report from Daniel Steel (Scrutiny Officer), in connection with the latest position with regard to the Committee's Work Programme)

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director with responsibility for Democratic Services, which asked the Flood and Drainage Scrutiny Committee to consider its Work Programme for the coming year.  A copy of the Work Programme was detailed at Appendix A to the report presented.

The Scrutiny Officer invited member of the Committee to put forward any items for consideration by the Flood and Drainage Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee was advised that the next meeting of the Flood and Drainage Management Scrutiny Committee would be held on 13 May 2016; and that at the next Environmental Scrutiny Committee on 29 April 2016 there would be site visit to the Louth and Horncastle Flood Alleviation Schemes, Gibraltar Point and the English Coastal Path.

RESOLVED

That the Work Programme as set out in Appendix A be noted.