Decision details

(Councillors Connett, Moulding and Westlake attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

(Councillor Moulding declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being the Honorary President of the Cloakham Lawn Sports Centre situated in the vicinity of the area at risk of flooding).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/65) seeking scheme and estimate approval to the second phase of the Millbrook flood improvement scheme in Axminster, due to start in January 2017, to significantly reduce the risk to over 160 properties by the Millbrook and the frequency of flooding experienced there on a number of occasions in recent years, The Axminster Millbrook catchment was considered to be one of the Council's highest priorities for flood improvement works.

The scheme now proposed would cost in the order of £490,000 and would include enlarging  the existing culvert under Willhay Lane,  extending it under the London to Waterloo railway line, installing a tree catcher upstream from the culvert to prevent blockage and widening the channel downstream of the railway.  Phase 1 of the scheme (which had included the construction of a flood defence wall upstream of the Willhay Lane culvert) had been undertaken in 2015 and this scheme was included as an essential partnership contribution towards the overall scheme and the consideration of Defra Flood Defence Grant in Aid.

The Head of Service advised that the Council’s request for additional Defra Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) for this scheme of £321,000, as shown at paragraph 5 of his Report, had now been approved resulting in a total of £561,000 FDGiA having been made towards the cost of this scheme.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, equality, public health, risk  management and legal considerations) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that approval be given to the Axminster Millbrook Flood Improvement scheme at an estimated cost of £998,000;

(b) that the Planning, Transportation and Environment 2016/17 capital programme be increased by £490,000 through additional funding of £100,000 from the County Council’s revenue budget for flood prevention works, £50,000 from the Planning, Transportation & Environment revenue flood risk management budget, £240,000 from external grants and £100,000 from external contributions;

(c) that, further, the Planning, Transportation and Environment 2017/18 capital programme be also increased by £371,000 through additional funding of £321,000 from external grants and with £50,000 to be committed from the County Council’s revenue budget for flood prevention works.