Agenda item

(To receive a report by Paul Brookes, Flood Risk Manager, which invites the committee to consider and comment on the investigations undertaken in the County under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010)

 Consideration was given to a report by the County Flood Risk Manager, which invited the Committee consider the position of all current Section 19 (S.19) flood investigations in the County.

Members were advised that there had been 40 further flood investigations initiated since the last report to the committee.

Members were informed that the long-term average rainfall in Lincolnshire over the last six months had been 'exceptionally high' in the central and southern parts of the county, and above normal in the most northern areas. Members were provided with an illustration of the rainfall totals in a number of catchments across the County.

The committee were reminded that Norfolk County Council were currently undertaking the investigation into the Wainfleet Flooding Incident on behalf of the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC). The investigation was progressing well and it was hoped that the report would be completed by early 2020.

Members were referred to Appendix A to the report, which detailed the record of current flood investigations in the County carried out in accordance with Section 19 of the FWMA. It was noted that there were currently 140 on-going investigations, which explicitly excluded sewer flooding. Lincolnshire County Council worked with partners where surface water had influenced sewage flooding, but these incidents were not included within the Section 19 investigations.

Members were invited to ask questions, in which the following points were noted:

·       As a result of the growing number of flooding incidents, officer and budgetary resources were limited. Officers advised that the Council had a statutory duty under Section 19 of the FWMA to investigate flooding incidents caused by surface water. Provision was being made to ensure that officers had sufficient resource and budget to adequately investigate these issues.

·       It was clarified that completed investigations were not able to be removed from the log if work was still outstanding on these issues. Although LCC worked in partnership with other organisations to help resolve issues as quickly as possible, they did not have the power as the local flood authority to compel or instruct another organisation to carry out works. However, officers met regularly with partners to align programmes and look at solutions to outstanding issues.

·       Officers confirmed that the Council operated a 24 hour flood support line; however members of the public were advised to ring 999 if they were having serious flooding issues.

·       All contact with LCC was recorded and passed on to the local highways team or out of duty emergency officers. LCC then worked with partners to resolve flooding issues.

·       Members raised concerns over the number of on-going sewage water flooding incidents that had not been responded to. The Chairman agreed to write to Anglian Water to raise the Committee's concerns.

·       The Chairman agreed to write to the Executive Director - Place on behalf of the committee to

request clarification on who the main point of contact       should be for any anybody reporting a flooding incident. Members emphasised      the importance of communicating a clear message to the public and having          one     clear point of contact in the event of a flooding issue.

·       It was clarified that for incident where life and properties were at serious risk, the Duty Strategic Commander would make a judgement to invoke an emergency situation, which would result in a combined response system being put in place.

·       Officers were recommending the use of Flood Sacks as an alternative replacement to sandbags. Flood sacks expanded to absorb water but were easier to dispose of.

·       Members questioned the point at which the spillage of sewage water became a public health issue. Officers agreed to investigate this and provide this information to Members following the meeting.

·       Members queried why the work status for the 2012 flooding incident in Horncastle remained as 'on-going' when it appeared that LCC had been proactive in responding to the incident in 2012. Officers reiterated that they did not have the power to compel an organisation to complete works. 

·       The committee agreed that going forward, a section be added to the S19 report to specify when LCC had carried out necessary works on outstanding S19's and had issued recommendations to external partners. It was requested that a description of outstanding work also be included.

·       The committee resolved that tighter reporting be sought in relation to outstanding S19's and the organisations responsible for outstanding works.

·       Members thanked the County Flood Risk Manager and all other officers for their hard work during challenging times.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted;

2.    That tighter reporting be sought in relation to outstanding S19's and the organisations responsible for outstanding works.