Agenda item

As part of a Scrutiny Panel update on Flood Risk Management, the Chairman, Councillor Will Sandry submitted a number of specific questions in relation to flood risk management. This report has been written as a reply to those questions.

The Chair, having consulted the Panel, stated that discussion on the Pulteney and Twerton gates would be deferred until the next item.

The Chair introduced Ed Lockington and Deborah Steadman from the Environment Agency and Daniel Noad, Emergency Management Team Leader and Stephen Bell, Communications Hub Manager.

Jim Collings (Flood Authority Manager) presented the report and welcomed discussion and comments.  He went on to explain that the Strategic Flood Board was an organisation that looked at risk management and the authorities involved had to co-operate and work together as part of a statutory function from the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). 

The Strategic River Group had a tight remit to develop schemes along the River Avon relating to surface water and drainage.  Councillor Cherry Beath suggested a report from this group would be useful.

Jim McEwen (Drainage Engineer) explained that they were statutory consultees on all major planning applications and any application needed to demonstrate there was no increased flood risk to the site or surrounding area.  With climate change DEFRA (the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) stated there was a variable % increase effect on rainfall between 20-40% which is used in the assessment of consequent surface run-off from the site whereas a different climate change factor(s) are used for river flooding assessments.

Councillor Fiona Darey stated that in her experience of working with the South Gloucestershire planners this work was a struggle with small developments and was too much asked for?  Jim Collings explained that the Council had been confused by the lack of Government guidance initially but now had developed one regional guide that was to be used for all of the West of England (West of England Sustainable Drainage Developer Guide).  Jim McEwen added that the team worked hard to promote drainage standards, for example the team have attended the Planning Forum and they were receiving 50 applications per month.

Councillor Fiona Darey went on to ask about the flow of water from Wiltshire?  Jim Collings responded that managing flooding on a catchment scale was the job of the Environment Agency (EA) as they looked at the larger scale and main river systems.  Councillor Fiona Darey went on to ask about the flow of water from Wiltshire?  Jim Collings responded that passing flow was the job of the Environment Agency (EA) as they looked at the larger scale.  Councillor Darey came back and stated that was the issue BANES dealt with surface flow and the EA the larger scale main rivers.  Jim McEwen explained that data was collected from properties and if it was surface water they would investigate and give it a score and find the cause and impact.  The Drainage and Flooding Team have been working with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group recently and there were different incentives for farmers.

Councillor Cherry Beath asked what was seen as successful progress in the area and what was the main difficulty?  Jim Collings explained that work in Chew Magna had been a success and work to improve the ford at Chew Stoke and he was pleased when the team could carry out schemes to stop people from getting water in their homes.  The challenges were making people aware of what the Council does in this area and how they do it.  Ed Lockington (EA) added that through the Council’s work with the Strategic Board there was a better understanding of what we do and if there was a major problem the strategies would work well.

Mark Minkley (Planning Team Manager, Environmental and Design) stated there was a Catchment Area Co-ordinator who worked closely with Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Wessex Water and there was a catchment management plan.

Councillor Barry Macrae stated that the public should see from the report that there is a group of professionals who are alive to what could happen in relation to flooding and have a plan.  However his question was the sources of income as the authority did not own the river so what liabilities did the home owner have?  Ed Lockington (EA) explained that for the main River Avon the EA manage the flood risk with public funding.  For the riparian owner or home owner they owned up to the central point in the river, they could not be asked to build a wall but could seek planning permission. Any development adjacent to the river through the planning process went to the EA for consultation and there were separate regulations to manage development near the river to manage the risk to the property and other land owners.  Councillor Macrae asked if they had the power to stop development?  Ed Lockington stated that through planning they could object but not stop the application, but through the Flood Risk Regulations they could stop development.  When Wiltshire was the planning authority they had to ensure that any development up river did not increase the flood risk downstream in the Bath area.  Jim Collings added that there were similar powers for the ordinary water courses but not so powerful. 

Councillor Lisa O’Brien asked that with Wiltshire upstream of Bath did the EA know if they had proactive views?  Ed Lockington replied that the EA did look at upstream management and also promoted catchment management but commented that it was a huge area.

Councillor Fiona Darey asked with the pressure of climate change were the studies in flood risk management looking at preventing risk or minimising?  Ed Locking answered that you could never prevent flooding as it was a natural occurrence, the EA focus was managing the risk via physical engineering, planning and awareness.

Dr David Dunlop (public speaker) asked that as part of the Bath Transport Package the Bathampton Meadows were to be used for water storage, but BANES and the EA had agreed that upstream storage was no longer viable, would this be reviewed?  Ed Lockington stated that in terms of storage, hard engineering would be a big dam but the EA was not looking at that.  They wanted to work with others on natural flood management and that was the long term aspiration.  Councillor Anthony Clarke (Cabinet Member for Transport) explained that with regard to the proposed Park and Ride there was no intention to build on the flood meadows.  He appreciated the hard work of Jim Collings and his team on their work with rural areas and the interaction with highway colleagues.

Councillor Barry Macrae queried if they were not looking at storing the water upstream were they looking at moving it on?  Ed Lockington answered that water would be stored so as not to cause an adverse impact during any flooding then later it would be allowed to run off into the Severn.  Alan Aldous (public speaker) stated that it was a simple fact when it was a high tide in Bristol it was land-locked.

Councillor Will Sandry asked if the Emergency Team did any testing?  Stephen Bell explained that there was a Major Incident Plan, an Evacuation Plan which had been tested in May 2016 when there was an unexploded bomb in Lansdown and a Flood Plan.  If there was a fire they would liaise with the Met Office.  They were working with the EA to test the plan in Spring/Summer 2017.  They usually undertook two testing exercises per annum.

Cerys Humphries (member of the Abbey Flood Group) asked about the area of the City Centre Evacuation Plan?  Stephen Bell stated that which evacuation centre was used was dependent on the location.  They would look at routes with highways and get key people working together to plan the evacuation.  It would also be dependent on the numbers of people affected.

Councillor Will Sandry thanked all the officers for their hard work on the report and said the Panel had gained a better understanding of Flood Risk Management as a result.  As part of his background preparation he had looked at the agenda and minutes of the Strategic Board and taken reassurance from that.

RESOLVED to note the report.