(a)
This
Council notes:
(i) That
instances of surface water and fluvial flooding across Leicestershire are
becoming more frequent and severe, posing risks to life, property, and
transport networks.
(ii) That
road closures during flood events may at times be delayed because the Council’s
Operational Highways teams and emergency services cannot always attend
immediately.
(iii) That
Nottinghamshire County Council operates a Community Flood Signage Scheme
(CFSS), which enables trained community Flood Wardens (who are employees of
Nottinghamshire County Council) to deploy signage and temporarily close roads
when pre-agreed flood trigger levels are reached, under the direction and
authorisation of the County Council’s Flood Risk Management Team.
(iv) That this
scheme has been recognised nationally for improving
public safety, reducing emergency response demands, and strengthening local
resilience.
(b)
This
Council has undertaken an initial feasibility assessment introducing a CFSS and
recognises:
(i) That
empowering local communities to act swiftly and safely during flooding events
could significantly enhance public safety.
(ii) That
subject to resolving legal and regulatory issues and with appropriate training,
insurance, and operational protocols, community Flood Wardens could responsibly
assist the Council in closing roads that are temporarily impassable due to
flooding.
(iii) That
implementing a CFSS in Leicestershire would align with the Council’s objectives
as the Lead Local Flood Authority and demonstrate proactive flood management.
(c) To
introduce such a scheme this Council notes:
(i)
That Volunteer Flood Wardens (VFWs) are
currently managed by the Local Authority Resilience Partnership. The Resilience
Partnership Management Board does not support the introduction of CFSS due to
concerns over resource pressures, particularly during a severe weather event.
(ii) In light of the Resilience Partnership Management Board’s
position, the management responsibility of the CFSS would need to be
transferred to the Council from the Resilience Partnership in
order to facilitate the scheme, including updating the role and
responsibilities of the team providing the necessary training, supervision and
oversight to effectively manage the responsibility and liabilities associated
with a volunteer scheme of this nature.
(iii) That
a transfer of responsibilities and appointing the necessary resource would need
to be managed to avoid disruption to services during the higher flooding risk
time of year for the County Council’s flood risk and drainage teams.
(iv) That
implementation of the CFSS would be dependent on both the ability and
willingness of VFWs to take on additional responsibilities and for those VFWs
to be available at the time of a flood event. In addition, it may not be that
VFWs are operating in the areas most at risk of safety or property impacts.
(v) Not
all locations would be suitable for action by VFW, including high speed roads
and isolated locations. These locations would continue to be addressed by the
Local Highway Authority even where a CFSS was implemented.
(d)
This
Council therefore resolves to:
(i)
Introduce a pilot scheme of enhanced resources
allocated to prioritise ‘quick response’ to locations where road closures could
reduce the risk to life (in addition to existing sites) and risk of property
flooding caused by bow waves or other relevant locations promoted by VFWs.
Initial locations during the pilot would be based on existing reports and local
knowledge. Additional locations may be added over time dependent on the
evaluation of the pilot. The objectives are similar to
a CFSS but with the benefits of wider coverage and consistent application.
(ii) Work
with VFWs to identify suitable locations for signage warning where a route is
liable to flooding or where bow waves can cause internal property flooding.
(iii) Engage
with the communities impacted by bow wave flooding to help and guide them on
making their properties more flood resilient. All communities, residents and
businesses need to be flood aware and prepared. Whether through a CFSS or the
quick response pilot, it will never be possible to remove the risk of flooding
and neither scheme should be viewed as a ‘solution’ to flood risk, rather one
of a set of tools that might reduce the impact.
(iv) Monitor
the impact of this pilot and report back to the Environment, Flooding and
Climate Change Overview and Scrutiny Committee after six months on the
outcomes. At this stage, and depending on the success of the trial and, subject
to resolving legal and regulatory issues, it may be appropriate to consider the
transfer of the VFW service to the County Council and taking forward a CFSS
pilot.
Decision:
“(a) This Council notes:
(i) That
instances of surface water and fluvial flooding across Leicestershire are
becoming more frequent and severe, posing risks to life, property, and
transport networks.
(ii) That
road closures during flood events may at times be delayed because the Council’s
Operational Highways teams and emergency services cannot always attend
immediately.
(iii) That
Nottinghamshire County Council operates a Community Flood Signage Scheme
(CFSS), which enables trained community Flood Wardens (who are employees of
Nottinghamshire County Council) to deploy signage and temporarily close roads
when pre-agreed flood trigger levels are reached, under the direction and
authorisation of the County Council’s Flood Risk Management Team.
(iv) That
this scheme has been recognised nationally for
improving public safety, reducing emergency response demands, and strengthening
local resilience.
(b)
This
Council has undertaken an initial feasibility assessment introducing a CFSS and
recognises:
(i)
That empowering local communities to act swiftly
and safely during flooding events could significantly enhance public safety.
(ii)
That subject to resolving legal and regulatory
issues and with appropriate training, insurance, and operational protocols,
community Flood Wardens could responsibly assist the Council in closing roads
that are temporarily impassable due to flooding.
(iii)
That implementing a CFSS in Leicestershire would
align with the Council’s objectives as the Lead Local Flood Authority and
demonstrate proactive flood management.
(c)
To introduce such a scheme this Council notes:
(i)
That Volunteer Flood Wardens (VFWs) are
currently managed by the Local Authority Resilience Partnership. The Resilience
Partnership Management Board does not support the introduction of CFSS due to
concerns over resource pressures, particularly during a severe weather event.
It is also recognised however that many VFWs have called for the power to
legally close roads during flooding events and giving them that power could
help protect people and property during flood events.
(ii)
In light of the Resilience Partnership
Management Board’s position, the management responsibility of the CFSS would
need to be transferred to the Council from the Resilience Partnership in order
to facilitate the scheme, including updating the role and responsibilities of
the team providing the necessary training, supervision and oversight to
effectively manage the responsibility and liabilities associated with a
volunteer scheme of this nature.
(iii)
That a transfer of responsibilities and
appointing the necessary resource would need to be managed to avoid disruption
to services during the higher flooding risk time of year for the County
Council’s flood risk and drainage teams.
(iv)
That implementation of the CFSS would be
dependent on both the ability and willingness of VFWs to take on additional
responsibilities and for those VFWs to be available at the time of a flood
event. Any VFW who does not wish to have the responsibility of closing roads
during a flood event would not be required to do so.
(v)
Not all locations would be suitable for action
by VFW, including high speed roads and isolated locations. These locations
would continue to be addressed by the Local Highway Authority even where a CFSS
was implemented.
(d)
This
Council therefore resolves to:
(i) Introduce
a pilot scheme of enhanced resources allocated to prioritise ‘quick response’
to locations where road closures could reduce the risk to life (in addition to
existing sites) and risk of property flooding caused by bow waves or other
relevant locations promoted by VFWs. Initial locations during the pilot would
be based on existing reports and local knowledge. Additional locations may be
added over time dependent on the evaluation of the pilot. The objectives are
similar to a CFSS but with the benefits of wider coverage and consistent application.
(ii) Work
with VFWs to identify suitable locations for signage warning where a route is
liable to flooding or where bow waves can cause internal property flooding.
(iii) Engage
with the communities impacted by bow wave flooding to help and guide them on
making their properties more flood resilient. All communities, residents and
businesses need to be flood aware and prepared. It is acknowledged that whether
through a CFSS or the quick response pilot, it will never be possible to remove
the risk of flooding and neither scheme should be viewed as a ‘solution’ to
flood risk, rather one of a set of tools that might reduce the impact.
(iv) Monitor
the impact of this pilot and report back to the Environment, Flooding and
Climate Change Overview and Scrutiny Committee after six months on the
outcomes.
(v) Declare
that it is the will of this Council to transfer the VFW service to the County
Council and take forward a CFSS pilot. It is acknowledged that the CFSS scheme
may not be in place for the 2025/26 flood season due to the insurance, training
and other matters which will be required to be resolved for this scheme, but it
is the intention of this Council to have the CFSS scheme in place in
Leicestershire in time for the 2026/27 flood season. This Council requests
Cabinet to identify the necessary resources for inclusion in the County
Council’s 2026/27 budget.”