Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/10) seeking approval for the budget allocations to support the Annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2023/24 and also to highlight the achievements made by the Flood and Coastal Risk Management team in delivering the 2022/23 Action Plan, attached.

To support the development of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy a full Impact Assessment has been completed, is attached and is also available to view on the Council’s website at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/flood-risk-management-strategy/.

RESOLVED

(a) that the budget allocations made to support delivery of the Annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix A be approved; and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality be given delegated authority to approve any significant changes to the Revenue and Capital allocations.

(Councillors Brazil, Dewhirst, Whitton and Wrigley attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/10) which sought approval for the budget allocations to support the Annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2023/24 and highlighted the achievements made by the Flood and Coastal Risk Management team in delivering the 2022/23 Action Plan, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report highlighted that the Flood and Coastal Risk Management team had had a challenging but successful year. The team had doubled over the past 10 years due to new legislation and a significant externally funded project.

The continued aim of reducing the number of properties at risk from flooding meant a robust Annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2023/24 had been developed and budget allocations made to support the ongoing development and delivery of current high priority areas as well as adequate resources to fulfil the duties as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). Full details of the Action Plan were provided in Appendix A showing the relevant projects and schemes with costings and full details of proposals.

The ongoing projects that had either been completed or were well underway through 2022/23 were reducing the risk of flooding to 111 homes and businesses. A total investment of £500k, which included £240k of DCC Capital funding and a further £260k secured through external funding, had enabled the delivery of essential flood improvements. Further details of all ongoing and delivered projects were included in Appendix B including Harbertonford, Axminster, Stokenteignhead, Barnstaple West, Beeson, Broadhempston and Colaton Raleigh. It further listed those places where there were ongoing studies (17 in total), and those where initial assessments were being progressed (a further 17). An update on the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme was also provided.

The current projects being developed for the next 5-year period would require over £10.0million of investment, including £2.7million from the Council, split £1.0 million Revenue and £1.7million Capital and would look to draw down in the region of £6.5million FDGiA and £1.0million Local Levy.

Over the past 12 months the County had experienced a contrasting weather pattern with a very dry summer causing drought conditions, to a very wet winter that had caused some localised flooding of properties. Whilst all flooding was devastating to those affected the number of properties across the County was low compared to other years. However there had been incidents in Kingsbridge, north of Mid Devon at Oakford Bridge and Exebridge.

The Council was also a statutory consultee to the Local Planning Authorities on surface water management for new major development. Over the past 12 months the team of 2 officers had reviewed over 550 applications and had achieved a 99% return rate within the required timescale of 21 days. The Council also had a duty to review proposals for works on an ordinary watercourse and provide a decision to the applicant within 2 months of submission. In the last 12 months, over 160 applications had been received which was approximately 30 more than the previous year.

There was a further duty to develop, publish and maintain a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy which had to align to the vision of the National Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy published by the Environment Agency. This allowed alignment with Defra’s 6-year Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme to maximise the opportunity to draw down Grant in Aid funding. The Council had pulled in over £4.0million in recent years and had a further £10.0million allocated for future projects, subject to funding justification.

To support the development of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy a full Impact Assessment had been completed, had been circulated with the agenda and was available to view on the Council’s website at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/flood-risk-management-strategy/.

This would be referred to when carrying out flood improvements to ensure any impact on the environment was minimised and/or mitigated against. For major capital flood schemes a bespoke Environmental Assessment would be prepared.

The Cabinet further noted that all flood risk management activity would be assessed and prioritised based on risk. The delivery of flood improvements would be dependent on their affordability, cost benefit justification and approval of funding.

The Flood and Coastal Risk Management team was well structured to deliver the statutory requirements of a Lead Local Flood Authority and lead the way in delivering vital flood improvements where most needed. The Action Plan for 2023/24 continued to build on the work of previous years by progressing with the detailed assessments and studies for the priority catchments set out in the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, leading to the design and delivery of an optimistic programme of works.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact), risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the budget allocations made to support delivery of the Annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix A be approved; and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality be given delegated authority to approve any significant changes to the Revenue and Capital allocations.

(NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at  https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/flood-risk-management-strategy/.).