Agenda item

(To receive a report by Matthew Harrison, Flood and Water Manager, which enables the Committee to review the Greater Lincolnshire Groundwater Project and Outline Business Case, and make any additional recommendations prior to a key decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning between 15 - 29 April 2022)

Consideration was given to the report by Matthew Harrison, Flood and Water Manager, which enabled the Committee to review the Greater Lincolnshire Groundwater Project and Outline Business Case, and make any additional recommendations prior to a key decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning between 15 - 29 April 2022. The Committee was advised of the following:

·       The project was the result of a partner and stakeholder submission to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for funding of £7.5 million.

·       The project aimed to investigate ground water flooding in Lincolnshire to better inform risk strategies and identify opportunities to resolve issues.

·       Ground water flooding was currently the least understood flood risk in Lincolnshire.

·       An outlined business case needed to be submitted by the end of April in order to secure the funding, which would be drafted following inputs form this Committee and decision by the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning.

During consideration of this item, the Committee raised some of the following comments:

·   Members echoed that the report was very comprehensive, exceedingly well written and paved a great way forward and congratulated Officers for their efforts.

·   Members recognised that a partnership approach was adopted for the whole of Greater Lincolnshire, however, asked for clarity around how it was ensured that in addition to large projects, funds would be used to tackle issues in small villages which had experienced significant flooding. The project did not set out to address specific issues in the county, rather aimed to develop learning and understanding of the effects of groundwater and what that meant as to use, that when issues emerge in the county by enabling the roll out of works on the ground to mitigate issues emerging from groundwater. The areas initially identified were Scopwick, Grimsby and Barton and Barrow Upon Humber across three authority areas where groundwater issues had previously been identified. Community engagement in terms of warning and informing to ensure preparedness against the effects of groundwater was to be ensured.

·   Potential opportunities to harness groundwater either for environmental benefits or for increased water capacity were to be studied.

·   Members noted concerns related to potential for coastal inundation and the risks of flooding and other defences of water courses failing. Hydraulic pressure being a major force may infiltrate the foul water drains and overflow into properties. Specific examples of areas similar in terms of geology and hydrology to Scopwick were mentioned, with emphasis on the complexity of issues emerging from groundwater, which required a great level of understanding before implementing any mitigations.

·   Members were pleased to see that the project viewed groundwater as a resource to be managed rather than as a problem to be mitigated. 

·   25 other local areas had been successful in bidding for funds across the country. Two major projects focused on groundwater: the Groundwater Resilience and Community Engagement project, located in Buckinghamshire, and the Sunderland and East Durham Ground Water Stations in North East Durham. Links had been made with project leads in those areas for information to be shared and learning to be taken between those projects. Other projects looked at different types of flooding issues and water resource problems. Further liaisons will be made to extract learning from these areas as well.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee unanimously supported the recommendations to the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning as set out in the report.

2. That the Committee agrees that comments be passed on to the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning in relation to this item.