Agenda item

(CPT 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12)

Purpose: To consider the implications of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 for West Berkshire Council. 

Resolved that:

(1)              the implications of the new legislation be noted and the restructuring of the Projects Team be approved to establish a small Drainage Team to undertake the duties of the Flood and Water Management Act and to manage the Council’s existing drainage/flood prevention duties under the Highways and Land Drainage Acts;

(2)              the proposal for the creation of the following two new full time posts be supported:

(a)          a Senior Technician at a cost of £30k per annum (including overheads) to be appointed at the beginning of the 2011/12 financial year on a two year fixed term contract;

(b)          a Project Engineer at a cost of £40k per annum (including overheads) to be appointed at the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year on a one year fixed term contract;

(3)          the use of Defra grant funding to cover the cost of these posts and to provide revenue budgets to undertake the duties under the Act, as detailed in paragraph 6.6, Table 1 of the report, be approved.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 8 April 2011, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 15) concerning the implications of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 for West Berkshire Council. 

Councillor David Betts stated that this was an important report and West Berkshire Council were well prepared to take on the responsibilities arising from the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The aim of the recent changes in legislation was to improve the management of local flood risk. West Berkshire Council would be taking the role of Lead Local Flood Authority but would need to work closely with the Environment Agency, water companies and others to undertake the new responsibilities. The Council would be responsible for undertaking a Flood Risk Assessment and identifying flood risk areas. Much of this would build on the work that had already been undertaken since the floods in the Summer of 2007 but there were additional responsibilities for which two additional posts had been proposed which would be funded by Defra.

Councillor Pamela Bale reiterated her thanks to the Highways Team for the work that had already taken place to reduce the risk of flooding in the area and welcomed the enhanced resources which would increase the ability of the team to undertake work.

Councillor Keith Woodhams queried how any proposed works would be communicated to Ward Members. He also stated that two residents had raised insurance issues recently and felt that insurance companies should be encouraged to take on new business as a number of local residents were stuck with their current insurer.

Councillor Tony Vickers asked about the availability of flood risk maps which would assist to inform members of the public and insurance companies. He queried the accuracy of the maps and whether it was a time limited job. Jon Winstanley confirmed that a considerable amount of information had been obtained from the Environment Agency to model into the maps and would also feed into the Flood Risk Assessment. The end goal was to link all the information together.

Councillor David Betts advised that this work would go a long way to address the issues in respect of insurance companies but they tended to work with postcodes rather than Environment Agency maps. Some people had asked for a letter from the Highways Engineer on flood risks and insurance companies had taken these on board when making a decision. In respect of the communication with Ward Members, this would continue to work well as it currently did. The posts had funding available for a two year period and it was hoped that they would continue after that time.

Councillor Gabrielle McGarvey referred to page 210 of the agenda and noted that £85k had been allocated in 2011/12 for the mapping and setting up of a drainage asset register/database and queried why the cost of this was so high. Jon Winstanley confirmed that it would be used for investigation purposes to identify drainage assets which would all have to be uncovered in order to map the asset and assess the condition. This was a huge piece of work.

RESOLVED that:

(1)               the implications of the new legislation be noted and accordingly approve the restructuring of the Projects Team to establish a small Drainage Team to undertake the duties of the Flood and Water Management Act and to manage the Council’s existing drainage/flood prevention duties under the Highways and Land Drainage Acts;

(2)               the proposal for the creation of the following two new full time posts be supported:

(a)               A Senior Technician at a cost of £30k per annum (including overheads) to be appointed at the beginning of 2011/12 financial year on a two year fixed term contract;

(b)               A Project Engineer at a cost of £40k per annum (including overheads) to be appointed at the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year on a one year fixed term contract;

(3)               the use of Defra grant funding to cover the cost of these posts be approved together with the provision of revenue budgets to undertake the duties under the Act as detailed in Para 6.6, Table 1 of this report.

Reason for the decision: To enable the Council to take on board the new duties under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Other options considered: None.