Agenda item

(To receive a report from the Environment Agency, which provides the Committee with an update on Bulldog Bank)

Consideration was given to a report from the Environment Agency concerning Bulldog Bank.

The Growth and Environment Commissioner advised the Committee that in order to adapt to changing circumstances, Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) needed to be kept valid.  It was highlighted that there were various reasons which would justify a change to a SMP, which included, a severe event which had made an element of the existing SMP policy or action plan untenable. 

Details relating to the background and the current situation relating to Bulldog Bank were shown on pages 23 and 24 of the report.  The Committee was advised that the justification to repair Bulldog Bank had been examined; from which it had been ascertained that the economic and benefits assessment did not support the case for Flood Risk Grant in Aid, as there were no residential properties at risk and only a small area of golf course.

The report highlighted that the freshwater habitat behind Bulldog Bank was already adapting to saline intrusion; and that the designation of the wider site were focused on various dune types, coastal geomorphology and associated coastal flora and fauna.  The Committee was advised that the plan was to seek approval to duplicate the Managed Realignment into EPOCH 1 - present day to 2025, whilst retaining the principle to sustain flood risk to people and properties.

The Committee's attention was drawn to the map on page 29 of the report, which provided the Committee with the proposal to realign the sea bank to reflect the western dune alignment; and to remove references to Bulldog Bank.

All Options considered were detailed on pages 26 and 27 of the report and the Committee was advised that Option C would be used to update the Humber Estuary Coastal Authorities Group (HECAG) Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) Policy Unit.

The Committee was invited to consider and comment on the report and endorse the promoted approach as detailed.

During a short discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:-

·         One member queried the origins of the map.  Officers confirmed that the East Riding of Yorkshire had acted as the lead authority in developing the Shoreline Management Plan;

·         One member enquired as to whether 'managed alignment' was the same as retreat.  Officers confirmed that managed alignment was the same as retreat. It was noted that the term retreat was not used because it did not adequately convey the fact that carefully considered realignment was a designed and managed process;

·         Confirmation was sought as to whether the proposal referred to formed part of the Shoreline Management Plan that covered from Gibraltar Point northwards to Flamborough Head.  Officers confirmed that the proposal related to the southernmost section of the Shoreline Management Plan; and

·         Officers confirmed that work had been done to strengthen and raise the bank behind; and that Bulldog Bank would not be actively dismantled, but would be allowed to naturally erode.  Officers also confirmed that the second bank was of an adequate standard to provide protection.

RESOLVED

That the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee endorsed the promoted approach as detailed on page 28 of the report presented.