Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 December 2016 (previously circulated)

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2016 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/17/19) attached

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/17/19) on feedback from the Environment Agency on the Agency’s pilot initiatives and other developments in the area covering two flood risk projects which the Agency was leading on, a pilot project in the Braunton area and the other being a proposed flood defence scheme at Bishops Tawton. 

(a) Natural Flood Management Pilot Initiative, Braunton 

The UNESCO Biosphere Coordinator gave a presentation on this scheme covering:

·         Environment Agency partnership working with Devon County Council Flood Risk Management, North Devon Biosphere and Natural England on a Natural Flood Management (NFM) pilot study in the Ackland Stream catchment, Braunton;

·         historic mapping and the utilisation of knowledge of local landowners to determine appropriate measures;

·         a range of techniques used including leaky dams, tree/hedge planting and constructed wetlands – which were to be constructed in the coming months; flow monitors and rain gauges installed to establish a baseline of monitoring data to be continually assess the  project progresses, in order to determine the effectiveness of the measures

·         detailed costs and sourcing of funding for the Scheme totalling £101,500 

·         possible extension of the project into the future, with a second site in the area having been identified as having potential for NFM measures.

Members’ discussion points with the Co-ordinator included:

·         water run-off issues associated with soil compaction attributed to the turbine installation at Pugsley which the Co-ordinator undertook to look at in conjunction with the Environment Agency along with other similar examples in the Caen catchment and Ilfracombe and generally within the Biosphere area

·         effective management of woodlands by landowners to be ‘flood friendly’ using NFM measures with Defra compensation/funding

·         scope for the requirement of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in respect of s106 developer contributions.

·         effective management of woodlands by landowners to be ‘flood friendly’ using NFM measures with Defra compensation/funding

·         scope for the requirement of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in respect of s106 developer contributions.

(b) Proposed Flood Defence Scheme at Bishops Tawton

The Committee noted that the Environment Agency was currently progressing the business case for a project that would give flood protection benefit to Bishops Tawton.  If the required amount of funding could not be found, then the EA would review what could be achieved through the planning process and try and have an input on planned development or other local budgets to gradually address some aspects of the project.

Councillor Chalmers reported that the Communities Ground Work Scheme was providing useful flood warden training for Parish Councils through the Devon Association of Parish Councils; and Councillor Edmunds also referred to the availability of Town and Parish Funding for additional drainage clearance over the programmed levels.

It was MOVED by Councillor Edgell, SECONDED by Councillor Greenslade and

RESOLVED that an update on the Bishops Tawton Scheme and other schemes at Umberleigh and Chittlehampton be provided direct to Committee Members.