Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Richard Cooper, the Partnership & Strategic Overview Team Leader – Notts. & Tidal Trent, from the Environment Agency (EA) who had been invited to attend to speak to Members about flooding within the district.
The presentation covered a number of topics including: flood risk remit; challenges; maintenance works; for the future; and responses to submitted questions.
Mr. Cooper provided Members with the background to the establishment of the EA and their remit: flood risk (main rivers only); and environmental (all watercourses). He noted that the East Midlands was the only defined area without a coastline and that Newark & Sherwood District Council were 1 of approximately 30 local authorities within the area. The advised of areas of responsibility noting the organisations involved: EA, Nottinghamshire County Council, Severn Trent Water Authority, Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board. He provided Members with information as to the challenges faced which included climate change and consequences of storms. Details of maintenance works undertaken were provided together with projects planned for the future.
Members were asked to submit questions ahead of the meeting and details of these and the responses given can be found at Appendix A to these minutes.
In considering the presentation, Members raised a number of queries in relation to the wards they represented.
In referring to Lowdham, a Member suggested that communication between Flood Groups and the EA could be improved. Mr. Cooper advised that the EA dealt with the main river running through the area, but they had no remit to deal with issues in relation to surface water. However, it would be beneficial if the EA were aware of the areas which suffered with surface water flooding. This would enable the organisations involved to provide a co-ordinated response. He further advised that the Flood Resilience Teams were going to become a national team.
A Member queried whether the response from the EA during the development stage of housing was sufficient. Mr. Cooper advised that there should be a greater emphasis on the pre-application stage by developers. He commented that it was not the EA’s responsibility to advise on what the development should be, but to comment on the proposal submitted. He added that developers were often reticent to seek pre-application advice as it resulted in additional costs. The EA made every effort to work closely with the Council’s planners and that advice given was legislatively correct but noted that issues such as climate change had an impact on that legislative advice. In referring to the Middlebeck development, Mr. Cooper stated that national planning guidance prevented the EA from requesting any measures other than the minimum required and that it was difficult to say with any certainty as to the reason for its flooding. He noted that contributing factors could be from the close proximity of the river and the amount of water held in the ground. He added that effective communication would be vital when the dualling of the A46 commenced.
A Member raised the issue of the accuracy of maps used when determining developments in the district. Mr. Cooper acknowledged that the maps may be outdated, adding that it was difficult to include anecdotal evidence. He commented that the Newark & Sherwood district area had the highest number of applications in the functional flood plains.
In noting the success of the Lowdham Reservoir Project, a Member stated that surface water was a significant contributor to flooding. He queried as to the effectiveness of the relationship between the EA and Severn Trent Water (STW) and whether they were maintaining their infrastructure responsibilities. Mr. Cooper stated that it was rainwater which caused flooding and not the condition of the becks in the area. He advised that the EA could not hold STW to account but that both organisations worked in partnership. He added that he would forward any out of remit questions to the appropriate organisation.
A Member raised the issue of responsibility for the maintenance of ditches. Mr. Cooper advised that these were considered to be ordinary watercourses so their maintenance was mainly the responsibility of Nottinghamshire County Council, except where privately owned. He added that residents were also able to carry out repairs but that was not widely known. He further added that it had been agreed nationally that development could be undertaken in areas designated as being within Flod Zone 1.
In closing the debate, the Chair thanked Mr. Cooper for his attendance and for his presentation.
AGREED (unanimously) that the presentation by Richard Cooper, the Partnership & Strategic Overview Team Leader – Notts. & Tidal Trent, from the Environment Agency be welcomed and noted.