Agenda item

The report of the Director of Governance summarises the Council’s role in connection with preparing for, responding to, and recovering from flooding incidents within the borough.

The report of the Director of Governance, which was accompanied by a presentation, summarised the Council’s role in connection with preparing for, responding to, and recovering from flooding incidents within the Borough.

Members noted the following:-

·                Over the last few years there had been an increase in flooding from surface water and that the Council’s policy on the provision of sandbags was not to supply them under any circumstances.

·                Detailed information regarding the Council’s policy on flooding and contact details of other agencies was on the Council’s website.  Information on the national flood forum’s Blue pages directory, which shows products available and survey information was also available.

·                Members were advised that a new report on flood risk management – the Letwin Report - had recently been published.  Officers would bring a further report to the Committee if any implications for WHBC were identified and assessed.

·                Members thanked Officers for supporting the smooth operation in Welham Green following the loss of the gas supply to a large number of properties when water had leaked in to a gas main.  The emergency planning had worked really well.

·                Members noted, following concerns raised regarding fluvial flooding arising from excessive rainfall in certain areas of the Borough, which in their view was as a result of grids blocked, that there was little the Borough Council could do as this was a County Council responsibility, and they would not deal with blocked drains except on a rota basis.  This had been an issue for the Borough Council for some time.  Members were advised to contact the Flood Risk Management Department at the County Council.

·                Officers undertook to provide feedback to the County Council if Members believed that the severe flooding experienced in the Borough on 23 June 2016 was as a direct result of gullies blocked solid with soil, leaves etc.

·                Members were further advised that it was Highways money which funded gully clearance and Members should contact their County Councillor directly in relation to this function.

·                In response to concerns raised regarding the out of hours service provided on the 23 June 2016 when many members of the public had been unable to get through to the Fire and Rescue Service or had been diverted to Essex Fire and Rescue, officers advised that Fire and Rescue Service call centres had been unable to deal with the level of calls and the Fire Service had advised that it could not respond to any more flood related calls.  Officers further advised that the number of staff in the Council’s out of hours call centre had been quadrupled once the scale of the rainfall had been ascertained.  On June 23rd the situation had been overwhelming due to the sudden rainfall on a massive scale.

·                Members stated that it was the owner’s responsibility to protect their property and to be aware of whether there was a possibility of the area or property flooding when they purchased the property.  For privately rented properties or for Council tenants it was, in theory, again the owner’s responsibility.

·                Many residents in the Borough did not know where flooding was likely to occur and should make themselves aware of risk areas if possible.

·                The council’s response is primarily concerned with providing support to vulnerable residents in the Borough by setting up reception centres if requested by the emergency services and also in assisting with the identification of vulnerable residents.

RESOLVED:

That Members note the contents of this report, the Council’s responsibilities, preparations and the work to date.