Agenda item

FLOODING

 

(a)       That this Council notes:-

 

(i)         that it has recognised the importance of the environment and climate change in previous debates on these matters;

 

(ii)        the Climate Change agenda is likely to force the Council to change its priorities and allocation of resources;

 

(iii)       that whilst flooding has always been an issue in localised areas, the perception is that flooding is becoming both more severe and more widespread.

 

(b)       That the Council recognises:-

 

(i)         the progress made by the County Council and others to tackle flooding in the County since the Easter 1998 floods and the publication of the Bye Report;

 

(ii)        that more needs to be done in the County on flood prevention and alleviation;

 

(iii)       that this is best done in partnership within the County involving districts and other agencies;

 

(iv)       that solutions have to be cost effective;

 

(c)        That the Council requests the Cabinet to take steps to ensure that:-

 

(i)         the County Council not only plays its full part in flood prevention through its work with drains, gullies, bridges and highways work, but takes a leadership role in a campaign on flooding within the County including, if necessary, taking powers under the 1991 Land Drainage Act; 

 

(ii)        a multi-agency ‘Leicestershire Flood Task Force’ of limited duration is established comprising the County Council, relevant district councils, the Environment Agency, Severn Trent, the Council's representative on the Flood Levy Board and others to be chaired by a cabinet member with County Council members drawn from councillors whose areas have been affected by flooding;

 

(iii)       the Task Force produces a map of flooding incidents in the County and  draws up a prioritised list with actions and timescales for each area, the priorities depending in part on the number of dwellings, businesses, public buildings and others that have been flooded or are at risk;

 

(iv)       the Task Force assigns responsibilities for these actions between the relevant members of the Task Force and where appropriate member support each other in bidding for funding to resolve these issues;

 

(v)        Riparian land owners are reminded of their responsibilities;

 

(vi)       In pursuing plans for housing and other development, risk from flooding will be an important factor in assessing suitability for development and that Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) including for example porous pavement technology are included in such plans to ensure they are as near ‘water neutral’ as is possible.

 

It was moved by Dr O'Callaghan and seconded by Mr Sheahan:

 

"(a)      That this Council notes:-

 

(i)         that it has recognised the importance of the environment and climate change in previous debates on these matters;

 

(ii)        the Climate Change agenda is likely to force the Council to change its priorities and allocation of resources;

 

(iii)       that whilst flooding has always been an issue in localised areas, the perception is that flooding is becoming both more severe and more widespread.

 

(b)       That the Council recognises:-

 

(i)         the progress made by the County Council and others to tackle flooding in the County since the Easter 1998 floods and the publication of the Bye Report;

 

(ii)        that more needs to be done in the County on flood prevention and alleviation;

 

(iii)       that this is best done in partnership within the County involving districts and other agencies;

 

(iv)       that solutions have to be cost effective;

 

(c)        That the Council requests the Cabinet to take steps to ensure that:-

 

(i)         the County Council not only plays its full part in flood prevention through its work with drains, gullies, bridges and highways work, but takes a leadership role in a campaign on flooding within the County including, if necessary, taking powers under the 1991 Land Drainage Act; 

 

(ii)        a multi-agency ‘Leicestershire Flood Task Force’ of limited duration is established comprising the County Council, relevant district councils, the Environment Agency, Severn Trent, the Council's representative on the Regional Flood Defence Committee and others to be chaired by a cabinet member with County Council members drawn from councillors whose areas have been affected by flooding;

 

(iii)       the Task Force produces a map of flooding incidents in the County and  draws up a prioritised list with actions and timescales for each area, the priorities depending in part on the number of dwellings, businesses, public buildings and others that have been flooded or are at risk;

 

(iv)       the Task Force assigns responsibilities for these actions between the relevant members of the Task Force and where appropriate members support each other in bidding for funding to resolve these issues;

 

(v)        Riparian land owners are reminded of their responsibilities;

 

(vi)       In pursuing plans for housing and other development, risk from flooding will be an important factor in assessing suitability for development and that Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) including for example porous pavement technology are included in such plans to ensure they are as near ‘water neutral’ as is possible."

 

An amendment was moved by Mr Parsons and seconded by Mr Rushton:

 

'That the motion be amended to read as follows:-

 

"(a)      That a time-limited response, as proposed in the motion proposed by Dr O'Callaghan, is unlikely to have any meaningful or worthwhile impact;

 

(b)       That in contrast, effective management of flooding and attendant risks can only be achieved through a strategic and co-ordinated approach in line with existing structures at sub-regional and regional levels, on which the County Council and its partners are already represented;

 

(c)        That, accordingly and in order to assist the ongoing development of such an approach, the report to Cabinet which will identify priorities for immediate expenditure on improvements to highways drainage systems also address the relevant responsibilities of local authorities and public sector agencies; the role of the Local and Regional Resilience Forums in respect of flooding; issues already identified for remedial action and improvement; and the outcomes of the Pitt Report commissioned by the Government following the summer floods of 2006." '

 

Arising from comments by Mrs Sherwin, the Leader undertook to have regard to the work of the Scrutiny Review Panel on the County Council's Environment Policy and Programmes in taking this matter forward.

 

The amendment was put and carried, 31 members voting for the motion and 11 against.

 

The substantive motion was put and carried.