Agenda item

(To receive a report which sets out the work programmes of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee; Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee and the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Board's agreed programme)

Consideration was given to a report which set out the work programmes of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee; Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee and the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee.

In the absence of the Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee, the Scrutiny Officer provided a summary of the work of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee since its last update to the Board, which was set out at pages 158 – 160 of the agenda. Members were referred to the Committee's prospective work programme, which included reports on the Agriculture Bill; Development of a Greater Lincolnshire Tourism Sector Deal and a Review of the Carbon Management Plan and development of a Green Masterplan.

Members were invited to ask questions on the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee Work Programme, in which the following points were noted:

·      The Lincolnshire Rural Support Network was heavily focussed on supporting the farming industry with mental health and other support needs.

·      The Scrutiny Officer agreed to liaise with the Chairman over whether the Committee would be considering the economic impact of EU workers leaving the UK as a result of Brexit.

The Committee received an update from the Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee of the recent work undertaken by the Committee since its last update to the Board, which was set out at pages 161 – 163 of the agenda. Members were advised that the Committee would receive a report on the Lincoln Transport Strategy in March 2020.

In response to a question, the Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee agreed to investigate the possibility of employing enforcement officers between Lincolnshire County Council and the neighbouring District Councils, and would liaise with Lincolnshire Police Community Support Officers as they now had powers around parking enforcement.

The Committee also received an update from the Chairman of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee on the recent work of the Committee since the last update to the Board. Members were advised that there had been 150 new Section 19 incidents reported since May 2019 and the flood risk department had received extra resource due to the growing number of flooding incidents.

The Chairman of the Flood and Water Management Committee was pleased to report back to the Committee that all partners were now attending meetings of the committee and contributing to the same level.

Members were advised that the Committee had considered the Wainfleet Flooding report at its last meeting on the 24 February 2020, which was well attended by the public. The report had been well received and the meeting was positive overall. The Chairman planned to invite the Steeping Strategy Group to the meeting of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee on the 18 May 2020 to receive a formal report on the progress.

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

·       The Chairman advised Members that a number of the outstanding S19 incidents were historic and could not be completed as work was outstanding from external partners. The Chairman was liaising with officers to provide a solution to this issue.

·       The Executive Director – Resources informed Members that the recently approved budget had set aside £2m in the development fund for further work on drainage issues across the County, as well as an additional proportion of £4m for highways work to reduce the risk and effects of flooding. The Executive Director – Resources agreed to provide the Board with details of any further financial resource that had been provided to the Flood Risk team to deal with the increase in S19 incidents.

·       It was suggested that the Flood and Water Management Committee consider flood relief systems and put forward a case for making space for water using agricultural land.

·      It was suggested that a councillor development event on the flooding responsibilities of different agencies, and who to contact in an emergency, would be useful for members.

RESOLVED:

          That the work programmes of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny   Committee; Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee and the    Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee be noted.