Agenda and draft minutes

Flood Management Strategy Task and Finish Panel - Monday, 30th September, 2024 2.00 pm

Venue: Civic Centre

Contact: Adam Lynch-Brown 

Items
No. Item

29.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Cawley, J Lavan, C Morgan, C Quartermain, P Salvin and S Smith.

30.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2024 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Flood Management Strategy Task and Finish Group held on Monday, 16 September 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

31.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

32.

Partnership Working: Northumbrian Water

Minutes:

Northumbrian Water (NWL) representatives attended the meeting. Chair outlined the remit of the group with particular interest in how the processes work and how well the partnership functions.

 

Themes identified:

 

  1. Combined network:

o    areas of responsibility between relevant stakeholders.

o    Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan.

o    storm water overflows, combined sewer overflow spill frequencies.

o    who pays when a highway floods?

o    stakeholder forward plan.

 

  1. Overview and scrutiny.

 

  1. Impact of new developments such as housing estates, commercial development, and infrastructure. Is enough being done to manage these areas?

 

  1. Effectiveness of inter-agency working.

o    what can we do to help you?

o    engagement going forward.

o    Northumbrian Water's relationship with the Environment Agency.

 

NWL responsible for the public sewer network but water will also enter the system from highways and gullies. When there is an instance of flooding the investigation will attempt to identify causal factors although the immediate priority would be to restore flow. A network survey would be undertaken, contacts in the vicinity and what is draining into the system. The network is not designed for overland flows and the engineers will liaise with local authority counterparts. Impact on people would be a driver in the study and identifying capacity, structure, and mechanisms to find potential engineering solutions.

 

As part of the ensuing discussion the following questions/comments were made:

·         A member asked about ongoing flooding at Catnab Car Park. Officers advised that the incident had been logged through the NWL system. NWL advised that a CCTV survey and hydraulic study had been carried out and the spill was predicted at that manhole. This instance had been put forward as a potential scheme for the future.

·         The chair stated this this was a good example of the issues, and it would be useful for the group to understand the journey, whether there was a standard process or assessment on a case-by-case basis. NWL advised that the situation can be complex. A business plan must be developed to cover environmental and regulatory issues and the draft determination for 2025-2030 would go to the regulator which then determines the funding to be granted. A decision would be made in December 2024 and NWL would then be able to plan and set prioritisations. Sites would be identified as candidates; the business plan was online with an indication of the tactical plan available early in 2025. Section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991 places a duty on sewerage companies to maintain their sewers to ensure that their area is effectually drained. Investment would come forward depending on priority and cost/benefit.

·         A member stated that the council was looking to close the gap on transparency. NWL advised that significant investment into Redcar and Cleveland was planned with an emphasis on reducing spills from storm overflows using green engineering solutions. The Marske area was identified as a pilot although the regulator would determine.

·         NWL Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan was available online. Investment areas shown and members able to drill down to ward level.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

Next Meeting: 16 October 2024

Minutes:

Members discussed what the next steps for the group would look like. A number of proposals were made and would be the theme of the final meeting scheduled in October.

·         Incorporate into work programme for Climate and Environment Scrutiny and Improvement Committee.

·         Put the group on hold pending outcomes of gully survey, audit, NWL business plan.

·         Re-establish group once government has determined the strategy framework.

 

Actions:

·         List of recommendations to date.

·         Key points arising from group meetings.