Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room One, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln Lincs LN1 1YL. View directions

Contact: Andrea Brown  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

17.

Apologies for Absence/Replacement Members

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

18.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of Members' interests made at this point in the proceedings.

19.

Minutes of the meeting of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee held on 23 October 2017 pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Flood and Drainage Management Scrutiny Committee held on 23 October 2017, be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the fourth bullet point from the bottom of page 9 having the word 'East' inserting to read 'South East Lincolnshire Local Plan'.

20.

Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillor for Economy and Place and the County Commissioner for Economy and Place

Minutes:

No announcements were received.

21.

Lincolnshire Partnership Response to Localised Flooding pdf icon PDF 1 MB

(To receive a presentation from Paul Brookes (Flood Risk Manager) and John Cook (Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue) which provides information on the emergency response arrangements for localised flooding)

Minutes:

The Committee received a joint presentation from Paul Brookes, Flood Risk Manager and John Cook, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, which provided information on the emergency response arrangements for localised flooding. 

 

The presentation advised the Committee that the County Council was a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and as such was responsible for localised flooding where a localised response was required.  The response would be made in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council Highways, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, District Councils, Water Companies, Internal Drainage Board and the Environment Agency.

 

It was highlighted that Fire and Rescue were the County Council's emergency service, who were being increasingly called upon to protect lives, communities and property from dangers other than fire.  It was highlighted further that as LLFA the Council wanted to support Fire and Rescue and one the way to enhance the service's capability was to increase pumping capacity.

 

The Committee was advised that two pumps (located on appropriate trailers) and vehicles had been delivered to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue in November 2017.  Pictures of the said pumps and vehicles had been circulated as part of the agenda for the Committee to view. 

 

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

 

·         Security of pumps – The Committee was advised that the trailers did not have a tracker fitted; however, the trailers did have lockable hitches to prevent them being towed away.  Officers agreed to look into the option of a tracker;

·         Location of the Pumps – Officers advised that the pumps were based at Gainsborough and Wragby.  The two locations had been selected as they were secure locations;

·         One member highlighted that when the pumps were deployed some consideration needed to be taken concerning the pumps security.  The Committee was advised that when the pumps were deployed they would normally be in a local area within a local community;

·         One member of the Committee suggested that a proposal should be made to the Executive Councillor for Economy and Place for the two water pumps to be added to the National Register of Assets.  Reassurance was given by officers that if this suggestion was put forward the equipment would only be put forward for use in other areas, if Lincolnshire felt it was safe to do so.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the presentation concerning Lincolnshire's Partnership to Localised Flooding be received. 

 

2.    That the Executive Councillor for Economy and Place be requested to make arrangement for the two water pumps to be added to the National Register of Assets.

22.

Anglian Water Draft Water Resources Management Plan

(To receive a presentation from David Hickman (Growth and Environment Commissioner) which invites the Committee to consider Anglian Water's Draft Water Resources Management Plan consultation and provide an opportunity for direct member input)

Minutes:

The Committee received a short update from David Hickman, Growth and Environment Commissioner, which advised that the Anglian Water Draft Water Resources Management Plan was expected to be out for consultation from 9 March 2018; and therefore it was more appropriate for the Committee to consider this item at the 29 May 2018 meeting.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the update be received.

23.

Environment Agency Update pdf icon PDF 151 KB

(To receive an update from John Ray (Environment Agency) which provides an update to the Committee on the activities of the Environment Agency, and includes progress on key capital schemes)

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report from the Environment Agency, which provided the Committee with an update on Environment activities, which included progress on capital schemes.

 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mark Robinson, Senior Advisor, Environment Agency, Michelle Scott, Flood Resilience Officer, Environment Agency and Claire Rose, Team Leader, Environment Agency.

 

Officers from the Environment Agency guided the Committee through the report presented and responded to questions raised, which included:-

 

·         Wainfleet Relief Channel – Concern was expressed that work still needed to be completed in order for the fishing to commence.  Environment Agency Officers agreed to look into this matter;

·         Boston Haven Banks – One member felt that in the first sentence of paragraph 1.2 the word 'centre' needed removing.  Officers were happy to remove the word;

·         Black Sluice Pumping Station – One member enquired as to what would happen if the Black Sluice IDB were unable to come up with the funding for the new electric pumps.  Officers confirmed that the Environment Agency had agreed to continue to maintain the pumping station until June 2018.  Some members advised that the importance of agricultural land could not be under estimated.  It was highlighted that the IDB was currently trying to secure funding for the pumping station, from the Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Local Levy.  The Committee was advised that this was a pot of money held by the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.  It was felt that some lobbying needed to be made to MPs to look into DEFRA funding rules;

·         Rationalising the Main River Network Project – Officers confirmed that this was dependent on the outcome of the consultation; and that the Environment Agency and Black Sluice IDB were in discussion regarding future maintenance requirements;

 

Councillor R Austin (Boston Borough Council) wished it to be noted that he was a member of the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board.

 

·         The application of Special Levies issued on District Councils;

·         The percentage of disputed claims arising from the Horncastle Improvements.  Officers advised that this was an improving picture.  It was highlighted that compensation had started to be paid to landowners who had agreed to flood easements, and that other landowners would be compensated in a different manner.  The member from East Lindsey advised the Committee that the last update from the Project Board was that all claims were virtually complete except for one who was not engaging; and

·         Lincoln Defences – It was noted that work to develop the business case was ongoing, with support from the new Programme Delivery Unit.  One member highlighted that the project needed around a further £1.36m; and that to influence others with regard to this scheme, further information needed to be included in the report.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That a representative from the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board be invited to attend the next meeting to provide the Committee with an update relating to the Black Sluice Pumping Station.

 

2.    That for future reports, where a shortfall in funding had been identified, more detailed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Saltfleet to Gibraltar Point Strategy Review Consultation

(To receive a report from David Hickman (Growth and Environment Commissioner) which details the consultation input into the review of the management of coastal flood risk on the Lincolnshire coast between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point)

Minutes:

The Committee received a joint presentation from Mark Robinson, Senior Advisor, Environment Agency, Michelle Scott, Flood Resilience Officer, Environment Agency and Claire Rose, Team Leader, Environment Agency concerning the Saltfleet to Gibraltar Point Strategy.

 

It was reported that the Lincshore project had started in 1994 and had provided flood risk management to homes and businesses in the area since then.  The Environment Agency was now reviewing the coastal strategy to cover a larger area between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point.  The public consultation regarding the strategy had commenced on 5 February 2018 and was due to close on 22 March 2018.

 

It was highlighted that the sea defences between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point helped to manage the risk of coastal flood to around 20,000 residential homes; 1,700 businesses; 24,500 static caravans; 35,000 hectares of farmland and a bustling tourist industry.

 

In 1991 the county's first coastal management plan was approved with a sand re-nourishment programme launched in 1994, known as Lincshore.  And as a result the beaches had been annually maintained at a healthy level.  It was highlighted that Lincshore was reviewed every five years to ensure that it remained a cost-effective and sustainable way of managing coast flood risk in the area.

 

The Committee was advised that the latest climate change guidance indicated that the present management approach might not be sufficient in the future to reduce coastal flood risk effectively.  As a result it was predicted that beach levels would need to be higher, which would involve the need for more sand.  It was highlighted that a large area of land behind the defenced was at or below mean sea level; and that major investments had continued to improve sea defences between Mablethorpe and Skegness.

 

Because of the need to maintain higher beach levels, the Environment Agency was exploring beach nourishment alongside a range of viable alternative options/approaches to ensure that a sustainable and affordable long-term flood risk management solution was maintained along the Lincolnshire coast line.

 

The Committee was asked to review the six shortlisted strategy options, by completing a copy of the Public Consultation Questionnaire on Strategy Options.  The six options are detailed below; and the comments raised were as follows:-

 

Option 1 Sand on the beach

The Committee was advised that this was what was done currently between Mablethorpe and Skegness to help manage coastal flood risk.  It was reported that sand was taken from licensed sites, to replace sand lost through natural erosion and storms.  It was highlighted that there were costs attached to this and work was ongoing to try and drive the cost down.  One member enquired as to how much the sand costed.  The Committee was advised that dependent on variance of sea levels, the cost could be up to £7m a year.  The Committee was advised that the sand was obtained from licensed sites owned by a dredging company.  Due to increased costs of sand, a suggestion was made as to whether sand should be sourced outside of the 12  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

To report progress on the investigations made in the County under Section 19 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA) pdf icon PDF 21 KB

(To receive a report from Paul Brookes (County Flood Risk Manager) which provides the latest position of all current investigations in the County under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010)

 

(Members are asked to view the current Section 19 spreadsheets online (also contained in Appendix A) and inform Democratic Services in advance if they wish to highlight any particular sites at the forthcoming Scrutiny Committee meeting)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Paul Brookes, County Flood Risk Manager, which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the investigations undertaken in the County under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA).

 

It was reported that in Quarter 3 (October to December 2017), only one new Section 19 investigation had commenced, which affected a single commercial property in Spalding.  It was also highlighted that for the same period in 2016, no flood events had been reported.  It was noted that the incident in Spalding had occurred just after Christmas, when there had been a period of persistent rain over a few days.

 

Appendix A to the report presented provided the Committee with a record of current flood investigations in the County, that were being carried out in accordance with Section 19 of the FWMA 2010.

 

During consideration of Appendix A, the Committee made reference to the following:-

 

The cleaning of gullies – due to the problems caused by private cars parking over gullies on the cleansing programme, a suggestion was made for a period of notice to be given to residents/district council's that gully cleaning was planned.

 

RESOLVED

 

That progress made on investigations undertaken within the County under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 be noted.

26.

Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 113 KB

(To receive a report from Daniel Steel (Scrutiny Officer) which presents the Terms of Reference of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee and invites the Committee to consider its Work Programme for the coming year)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Daniel Steel, Scrutiny Officer, which enabled the members to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year to ensure that scrutiny activity was focussed on areas of greatest benefit.

 

The Committee was advised that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on 29 May 2018.

 

Members of the Committee were invited to put forward items for inclusion in the work programme.  One member requested that an item relating to the Black Sluice Pumping Station should be included on the 29 May 2018 agenda and that an invitation should be sent to the Chief Executive of the Black Sluice Drainage Board to attend the May Meeting.

 

Two further suggestions put forward for the Committee to discuss were: the Internal Drainage Board Levies and the impact on District Councils; and the Environment Agency Flood Risk Maps – Updated.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee Work Programme, as presented, be agreed subject to the inclusion of the items mentioned above.

 

 
 
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