Agenda item

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing an update regarding the recent flooding problems in Leeds and progress on implementing the recommendations of the 2006 Scrutiny Commission Inquiry into flooding within Leeds.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report to the Board as a result of the resolution made at the Board’s meeting on 24^th July 2007 to receive an update regarding the recent flooding problems in Leeds and progress on implementing the recommendations of the 2006 Scrutiny Commission Inquiry into flooding within Leeds. 

As background information, Members were provided with the joint report of the Director of City Development and Director of Resources to the Executive Board on 4^th July 2007, setting out the impact of flooding events in Leeds in June 2007.  The Scrutiny Commission’s (Flooding within Leeds) Final Inquiry report and recommendations published in April 2006, following flooding on 12^th August 2004 and 3^rd May 2005, were also provided to the Board.

Jean Dent, Director of City Development, Richard Davies, Head of Risk and Emergency Planning, Corporate Services, David Sellers, Principal Engineer Land Drainage, City Development Department, Tom Knowland, Head of Sustainable Development, City Development Department and Steve Smith, Head of Environmental Services, City Services, attended the meeting to respond to Members’ queries and comments.

Members were advised that it had been estimated that at least 300 houses in Leeds had been flooded internally and that many of these households would still be in temporary accommodation.  A review of the responses to the June 2007 floods had taken place and further proposals would be put forward to the Corporate Management Team and Executive Board in October.  The Board was also informed that the Environment Agency had agreed to put the Leeds flood defence scheme to safeguard the city centre, back on their agenda.

In brief summary, the main issues discussed were:

·  Partnership working – Members were advised that SORM (State of the River Meeting), in which the main partners were Leeds City Council, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and British Waterways, was now continuing as Aire Action Leeds and Chaired by the Environment Agency.  Meetings at Director level had also been held with the Environment Agency on how to deal with the day-to-day management of the River Aire and there were plans to develop a single telephone number for people to ring in a flooding emergency.

·  The flood resilience scheme which was being supported by the Council and Defra – this would include providing flood defence equipment for vulnerable houses and giving advice to householders as an interim measure, whilst the Environment Agency investigated longer term flood defence schemes.

·  Public meetings - concerns about Members not being kept informed by the Environment Agency of public meetings they had been holding in the Leeds area, particularly concerning Collingham Beck.  Officers agreed to raise this matter with the Environment Agency and also that the Agency revisit their recent feasibility study on flood defences at Collingham.

·   Developments on Flood Plains – concern about outline planning permission being given for developments on flood plains.

·   Members were advised that run-off rates should be limited to the green field run-off rate through the use of balancing tanks and ponds in respect to future developments. 

·  Members were informed that the report to the Executive Board in October would include recommendations for more staff resources in the Land Drainage Section to enable the Department to spend more time on planning applications, including site visits and undertake more enforcement work.

·  Members were also advised on the extensive liaison that takes place between the Land Drainage and Planning Sections of the Council.

·  Drainage – the problems of shared responsibility between Yorkshire Water and the Council’s Highways section.

·  Fragmented ownership of water courses – the lack of awareness of riparian owners on their responsibilities and the permissive powers of the Council to remove blockages.

·  Costs of gully clearing and improved drainage - seen as a growing area of importance by the Government which was making more resources available and which the Council would be bidding for.

RESOLVED – That the report and background information provided to the Board be noted.

(Note: Councillor Dunn left the meeting at 11.25am during the consideration of this item.)

At the end of this item, at 11.40am, the meeting was adjourned for five minutes.