To:

Introduce the requirements of the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 and the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in regard to the development of a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Herefordshire; and in particular the requirement for Herefordshire council as the Lead Local Flood Authority to prepare a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment.

To seek the Committee’s views on the modification of the indicative national assessment of flood risk in Herefordshire; and

To seek the Committee’s guidance on the local significance of the criteria used in the preparation of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report, and in the subsequent development of Herefordshire’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The Committee were informed of the requirements of the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 and the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in regard to the development of a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Herefordshire; and in particular the requirement for Herefordshire Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority to prepare a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA).  The Committee’s views were sought on the modification of the indicative national assessment of flood risk in Herefordshire; and the Committee’s guidance was sought on the local significance of the criteria used in the preparation of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report, and in the subsequent development of Herefordshire’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The Highway Network Manager reported that the deadline for the submission of the PFRA to the Environment Agency (EA) was 22 June 2011 following which the Agency would review the PFRA and publish it by 22 December 2011.  A consistent approach was required nationally for the assessment of flood risk and this was supported by detailed guidance. The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) will identify if from local knowledge there were Flood Risk Areas within Herefordshire. The identification will be based on the identification of significant harmful consequences on human health, economic activity and the environment as defined by the guidance.  The indicative national flood risk map prepared by the Environment Agency provided a consistent assessment of flood risk across England and Wales. The indicative flood risk map identified nationally significant flood risk areas. Drawing on local knowledge of flood risk it had been determined that there were no nationally significant flood risk areas in Herefordshire.   The indicators and threshold values used to determine the indicative Flood Risk Areas were included in Appendix 1 to the report.

During consideration of the report the following principal points were noted:

·         The Assessment arose out of significant national /international flood events and while areas of Herefordshire were subject to flooding they were not of the scale covered by the guidance.  Significant resources would be needed to provide the evidence should the Authority wish to amend the indicative assessment of flood risk for Herefordshire.

·         While the methodology adopted by the EA was to inspect 1 km grid squares for local flood risk and to seek clusters of flood risk in order to identify nationally significant flood risk areas, outside of the Assessment process the EA had agreed to subdivide the grid squares for Hereford to give a more accurate assessment of those areas likely to flood.

·         Over the years a large volume of local knowledge had been amassed and this would be used to inform subsequent flood risk management and make substantiated financial bids for future flood alleviation schemes.

·         Questioned why the Council’s ‘County Wide Flood Alleviation Strategy Preliminary Assessment’ report by Brian Faulkner (April 2010) had still not been made publicly available the Assistant Director, Highways, Transport and Community Services confirmed that the report would be made available via the Council’s Website.

·         Responding to a question regarding the Council’s representation on the Environment Agency Midland Flood Defence Committee the Cabinet Member (H&T) confirmed that Gloucestershire held the local seat on the Committee and that he was the substitute member.  He had questioned the representation rights and this was being investigated.

·         The local Member for Hampton Court Ward raised a number of issues and suggested that a further report be brought to Committee prior to the election period.  The Assistant Director, Highways, Transport and Community Services reported that as Lead Local Flood Authority, the Council has a local Multi-Agency Partner Group set up to consider and co-ordinate just such issues and suggested that the Group was the best place to direct these issues.  The next meeting of the Group would be in April 2011.

·         The Cabinet Member (H&T) reminded the Committee that major investment had already been made in the County namely: the schemes at Ross-on-Wye, the King George/Bishops Meadow, Hereford, and the local scheme at Cross Keys.  The Yazor Brook alleviation scheme was about to start.  Management and funding bids needed to be looked at holistically.

·         Concerns were raised regarding the accuracy of the Flood Risk map produced by the Environment Agency.  The Mapping & Data Team Leader, Environment Agency, was in attendance at the meeting and he agreed to discuss the concerns outside the Committee.

·         Clarifying paragraph 7 of the report the Highway Network Manager reported that flooding from blocked sewers or burst water mains were classed as a system failure rather than a lack of capacity in the drainage system.

RESOLVED: That the Committee

a)      agreed that the indicative assessment of flood risk in Herefordshire is not amended;

b)     supported the preparation of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report in accordance with the Guidance provided to all Lead Local Authorities by DEFRA;

c)      agreed that the local issues concerning the accuracy of the Flood Risk Mapping be taken up with the Environment Agency; and

d)     the following specific issues raised be referred to the Multi-Agency Partner Group:

I)                    confirm that the 20 sites considered do not leave others worthy of consideration out of the process

II)                  produce a prioritised set of flood risk sites with rough order costs

III)                confirm that the Benefit/Cost rationale is sound

IV)               set in place actions to seek funding for various alleviation measures

V)                 make recommendations on deployment of the (ring fenced) area grant funding for 2011/12 and 2012/13 and;

VI)               that Herefordshire submits a bid against the latest round of DEFRA individual protection grants.

At 11.15am the Committee adjourned and resumed at 11.25am