Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/16), presenting the Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2024/2025, attached.

An Impact Assessment was previously prepared and is now attached for the information of Members at the meeting and available on the website at Flood Risk Management Strategy - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk).

RESOLVED

(a) that the budget allocations made to support delivery of the Annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A, be approved; and

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

(Councillors Brazil, Dewhirst, Leaver and Whitton 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/24/16), which presented the Flood Risk Management Action Plan for 2024/2025, 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 purpose of the Report was to seek approval for the budget allocations being made to support delivery of the Flood Risk Management Annual Action Plan for 2024/25 and to highlight the achievements of the team in delivering the 2023/24 Action Plan. The report also detailed the significant flooding that was experienced across Devon during 2023 and the effort from the team in supporting those affected communities, further emphasising the need for continued support and investment in flood risk management activities.

The significant flooding experienced in 2023 was the worst experienced since 2012 with over 400 properties suffering internal flooding following a number of very intense rainfall events during the year. The Council had carried out a thorough investigation of flood events, detailing the source and scale of the event and suggest actions that could be considered by the various Risk Management Authority (RMAs). It was accepted that major investment could take many years, and where possible, the Council looked for ‘quick win’ solutions within existing budgets and resources.

In 2023, Section 19 Reports had been prepared and the table in the Report detailed the number of properties reported to have internally flooded and the locations which exceeded the threshold. Three of the reports had already been published on the DCC Flood Risk Management website: Flood investigations, reports and studies - Flood Risk Management (devon.gov.uk).

Events had been held with the community following the May and September events and despite an already overloaded programme, initial investigation studies and minor works/improvements had already been commissioned for these locations.

The commissioned studies on the 2023/24 Action Plan including those at, Exeter Northbrook, Sidmouth Town Centre, Exmouth, Teignmouth, Seaton, Totnes and Ilfracombe, had been progressing well, however works at Beeson and Exeter Longbrook Street and South Pool Property Flood Resilience (PFR) had suffered delays but replacement contractors had now been appointed.

Where viable those studies listed would continue to be developed along with the progression of more detailed investigations for the recent flood affected locations. These had been included in the 2024/25 Action Plan in Appendix A, together with delivery of works in Barnstaple, Colaton Raleigh, Broadhempston, Venn Ottery and Exeter Northbrook and also the delayed projects in Beeson and Exeter Longbrook Street and South Pool PFR. Further details of the current projects were included in Appendix B.

The Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP), which was one of 25 projects in the government’s £150 million Flood & Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme (FCRIP), was also progressing well with 19 project partners aiming to improve flood resilience in at least 26 communities. To follow details of the project, a dedicated web page had been setup at Launch of the Devon Resilience Innovation Project website - Devon Resilience Innovation Project.

The Report also outlined the statutory responsibilities of the teamin terms of Ordinary Watercourse regulation and the management of surface water for new major development. The team had seen sharp rises in the number of Land Drainage Consents and had also reviewed over 550 planning applications with a 99% return within the required timescale.

The Cabinet noted a forthcoming change in legislation which was the introduction of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act which would impose new responsibilities on the authority for sustainable drainage (SuDS) for new development. The Council was currently a statutory consultee, however, for all development of 2 or more properties, the Council would be required to review, approve, inspect, adopt and maintain all SuDS features. This would require an additional 10-12 FTE. The proposal from Government was that it would be self-funding through fee generation, but full details are yet to be announced.

During the development of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for the period 2021-27 a full public consultation had been carried out to ensure every organisation, business and individual had the opportunity to view the proposals and provide representations.  

All the actions carried out by the Flood and Coastal Risk Management team aligned with the vision and priorities in the Council’s Strategic Plan 2021. All actions were also in accordance with the National Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, published by the Environment Agency National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The financial considerations were outlined in section 7, noting that the main funding of flood improvements across England was through Defra’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid (GiA) together with a requirement of local partnership contribution.

The financial headlines for 2024/25 were outlined in the table in section 7 and details of the Revenue figures were shown in the Flood Risk Management Annual Action Plan for 2024/25, which was in Appendix A.

The Cabinet also noted that a full Strategic Environmental Assessment had been carried out to support the production of the Local Strategy and would be referred to when carrying out flood improvements to ensure any impact on the environment was minimised and/or mitigated against.

An Impact Assessment had been previously prepared and circulated with the agenda and was available on the website at Flood Risk Management Strategy - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk) to support the development of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. This highlighted 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 Annual Action Plan at Appendix A set out the investment programme for 2023/24 and the proposals identified would be carried out in line with current legislation, best practice and guidance to minimise the risk and safeguard the Council’s position.

Appendix B gave an update on Flood Risk Management Achievements in 2023/24 including progress of Flood Improvement Projects.

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 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A, be approved; and

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