Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Baxter and Councillor Vaughan (City of Lincoln).

No declarations of members’ interest were made at this stage of the proceedings.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Flood & Water Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 February 2022 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:

·   Apologies were received from Councillor Spratt.

·   Councillor Seymore (South Holland) was in attendance.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·   Thanks was given to Councillor Skinner for his chairmanship of the Committee since 2019.

·   Councillor Ashton was welcomed to his new role as Vice Chairman of the Committee and was thanked for his longstanding commitment to the Committee.

·   Thanks was given to David Hickman, Head of Environment, for his contributions to the Council over the past decade and was congratulated on his new role at the Environment Agency. Chris Miller, Deputy Head of Environment, was to assume David’s responsibilities.

Councillor Davie, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning, made the following announcements:

·   He congratulated the new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee on their new responsibilities, and thanked David Hickman for his contributions.

·   There had been no recent major flood incidents thanks to agreeable weather conditions; however, the Council remained vigilant and works were underway to ensure sustained flood risk management.

(To receive a report by Matthew Harrison, Flood and Water Manager, which provides an update to the Committee on the recent work of the Flood Risk team including information of the status of all current flood investigations being undertaken in the County)

Matthew Harrison, Flood and Water Manager, presented a report on the recent work of the Flood Risk team. The following matters were reported:

·   An update was included within the report on Stanhope Road, Horncastle.

·   Good weather had helped the Council catch up with the backlog of Section 19 works that had accumulated in 2019-20.

·   There had been no recent significant reports of flooding, but the Council remained vigilant for the Summer months.

·   The action plan for the Greater Lincolnshire Riparian Project continued to develop with implementation of the joint action plan and focus on raising landowners’ awareness of the importance and rights of riparian watercourses. Conveyancing enquiries were also being investigated regarding riparian rights which made data more accessible to the industry.

·   The outlined business case for the Greater Lincolnshire Ground Water Project had been submitted with feedback being sought from the Environment Agency.

During consideration of the report, the following comments were raised:

·   Further progression concerning the 2019-20 backlog of Section 19 works was welcomed.

·   The memorandum of understanding had been created to better communicate responsibility to partners and the public.

·   The Council was refocusing on flood risks after having focused resources on public health risks throughout the pandemic.

·   Members expressed the importance of ensuring local flood risk assessments were up-to-date, especially as work concerning risk had focused on the pandemic for the past two years.

·   The locations of riparian watercourses were available via land registry records; however, it had proven impractical to collate this information in a centralised map for illustration purposes. This was the position nationally and specific date was available when required.

·   Works at Kirton was underway; however unanticipated setbacks caused by ground conditions had concerned businesses and residents. Officers clarified that the works were to be completed by the end of June 2022 but extensions to this end date were always a possibility with this type of project. Businesses, residents and the local school and Parish Council were to be alerted of any changes to the anticipated end date.

·   Responsibility for drainage at Cross O’Cliffe Hill, Lincoln was not clear between the City Council and the County Council. Officers agreed to investigate this matter further.

·   The riparian project was being publicised by networks throughout the flood and water industry and via parish councils.

RESOLVED:

1.The Committee reviewed the current list of completed and active flood investigations.

2.That the Committee reviewed the following sites in detail:

a.    Stanhope Road, Horncastle

b.    Kirton

3.That the report and the Committee’s comments be noted.

(To receive a verbal report by Morgan Wray, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, which updates the Committee on Environment Agency activities in Lincolnshire including progress on key capital schemes)

Morgan Wray, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, presented an update on Environment Agency activities in Lincolnshire including progress on key capital schemes. An update on the Lower Witham Flood Resilience Project including the following:

·   Background and history of flood risk along the watercourse.

·   Challenges and opportunities regarding funding bids and potential to link with the South Lincolnshire Reservoir.

·   The business case for a strategy update had been signed off in Autumn 2021.

·   Various survey and geotechnical works were underway to inform the developing strategy and management of the Lower Witham.

During consideration of the report, the following comments were raised:

·   The national funding formular was a government and partnership funding initiative. Benefits analyses were underway to inform potential funding bids for additional flood risk management works.

·   Updates on funding would be regularly presented to the Committee as schemes progressed.

·   Dredging at Wainfleet had been completed and a strategic outline of flood risk resilience regarding the embankment was being undertaken.

·   The Boston Tidal Barrier was largely completed with works around the wet dock being continued.

RESOLVED

That the Committee note the report and comments made.

(To receive a verbal update from Jonathan Glerum on Anglian Water’s activities in Lincolnshire)

Jonathan Glerum, Anglian Water, presented an update on Anglian Water’s activities in Lincolnshire. The following matters were reported:

·   Works at Altham Terrance, Lincoln had been completed which included clearing access and jetting to remove blockages. Relining works had been undertaken to prevent future issues.

·   Works at Scopwick had been completed which included clearing a surface water system and jetting to remove blockages.

·   Works at Bourne were ongoing regarding high groundwater. Solutions were being explored collaboratively.

·   Surface water management systems were being evaluated in Metheringham including green infrastructure.

·   The implementation of Schedule 3 of the Environment Act 2021 and Section 42 were being evaluated by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The Committee was to be updated on outcomes in Autumn 2022.

During consideration of the report, the following comments were raised:

·   The water treatment works at Bourne were operational but at a reduced capacity compared to historical use. Work was underway to evaluate optimal use of the existing infrastructure. It was noted that Bourne’s water had historically been high quality and offered potential for supplemental possibilities if explored.

·   An update on Lincolnshire reservoirs was of interest to the Committee and was to be provided at subsequent meetings.

·   Sewage management on Boston Road, Holbeach regularly failed due to collapsing infrastructure. Work was currently underway to determine a long-term solution to this known issue and an update would be presented to the Committee at a subsequent meeting.

·   Maps detailing drainage across Lincolnshire were available to Members under the Council’s data sharing arrangements with Anglian Water. However, as this was commercial data it was not accessible to members of the public. A link to the information was to be shared with Members of the Committee.

·   The concept of rain islands was clarified as being green infrastructure gullies strategically placed along highways which worked to help relieve the sewar network.

Members thanked Anglian Water and officers for the successful completing of drainage works at Altham Terrace, Lincoln. Members also sought an update on Lincolnshire sewar systems that emptied into rivers.

RESOLVED

1.That the Committee note the update and comments.

2.    That the Committee receive information regarding drainage maps across Lincolnshire.

3.    That the Committee receive an update on Lincolnshire reservoirs at a subsequent meeting.

4.That the Committee receive an update on works at Boston Road, Holbeach at a subsequent meeting.

5.That the Committee receive an update on sewar systems that emptied into rivers at a subsequent meeting.

(To receive a report by Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer, which enables the Committee to comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year)

Consideration was given to a report from Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer, which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its Work Programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be approved.

(To be noted by the Committee for information only)

Members noted the report for information only.