Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/52) seeking approval to a flood improvement scheme for Brunton, attached.

(Councillors Greenslade, Julian, Owen and Westlake attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation & Environment (PTE/16/52) seeking scheme and estimate approval to a flood improvement scheme for Braunton, to commence in January 2017. Braunton was one of the County Council’s highest priorities for reducing the risk and frequency of flooding experienced on a number of occasions in recent years. 

The scheme now proposed would cost in the order of £540,000 including all feasibility, site investigations, design, supervision and scheme construction costs (the later being estimated at £340,000);  all costs to date had been met by the County Council.  The scheme would provide a new drainage system to operate under ‘normal’ conditions with a pumping station to lift surface water into the river when levels were high. While the main driver for this scheme was to reduce the risk and occurrence of flooding to properties in Caen Street, the heart of the village,  it would also alleviate flooding of the highway which had in the past caused  significant disruption to Braunton and through traffic to the west of Braunton. 

Funding of £57,000 would be forthcoming from the National Flood Defence Grant in Aid toward the construction costs, subject to justification and approval, and a further £30,000 of Local Levy funding was available for this scheme. The Parish Council had committed to take on future ownership and maintenance costs of a proposed pumping station, leaving a balance  of £220,000 for the construction of these essential improvements to be met from the Place revenue budget for Flood Prevention Works. 

The scheme was supported by the local Councillor and locally, as a positive approach to tackling one of Devon’s high risk communities.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) 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 that the Braunton Flood Improvement scheme be approved at an estimated cost of £540,000 and that the Place 2016/17 capital programme be increased by £457,000 (funded through the Place revenue flood risk management budget (£150,000), the Place revenue budget for flood prevention works (£220,000), external contributions (£30,000 )and grants (£57,000).