Decision details

Approval for the submission of the Otley Flood Alleviation Scheme Outline Business case to the Environment Agency, and submission of the Planning Application

Reference: D49828

Decision Maker: Executive Board

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To give approval to incur expenditure of £659,000 to support the Outline Business Case submission, planning application and develop the detailed design of Otley Flood alleviation scheme.

 

To give approval to inject £1,328,000 of Central Contingencies to underwrite the currently identified funding gap on the scheme to ensure the delivery of the scheme by the end of 2020 in time to utilise the previously allocated £2m of Flood Defence Grant in Aid from central government as identified in the Autumn 2016 Statement. Alternative sources of funding are being explored further, but it is recommended we proceed on this basis.

 

To delegate authority to spend (ATS) approval of the full scheme to the Director of City Development, subject to agreement with the Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles.

Decisions:

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented details of flooding issues in the Otley area, requested authority to submit the Outline Business Case and Planning Application as detailed, requested authority to incur the required expenditure, highlighted the current funding shortfall and requested support for additional funding to be sought.

 

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, assurance was provided that all such schemes must fully take into account and mitigate against any impact upon communities downstream.

 

Also, regarding a Member’s comment about the lack of engagement from the Environment Agency which local Ward Members had experienced regarding issues in their local area, officers undertook to take this specific matter up with the Environment Agency on the Members’ behalf.

 

Following consideration of Appendix D to the submitted report designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to inject the remaining £1,509,000 of available Government Grant funding into the scheme;

 

(b)  That approval be given to inject £1,328,000 of Central Contingencies to underwrite the currently identified funding gap on the scheme, in order to ensure the delivery of the scheme;

 

(c)  That approval be given to submit the Outline Business Case, as detailed at exempt Appendix D to the submitted report, to the Environment Agency;

 

(d)  That approval be given to submit the associated Planning Application;

 

(e)  That approval be given to incur additional expenditure of £260,000, to support the Outline Business Case submission and planning application in order to enable the scheme to progress in line with the programme;

 

(f)  That approval be given to incur expenditure, following the approval of the Outline Business Case, of £399,000 to develop the detailed design of Otley Flood Alleviation Scheme in order to enable the scheme to progress in line with the programme;

 

(g)  That the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development to enable the Director to make the necessary authority to spend (ATS) approvals for the full scheme, subject to agreement with the Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles.

Reason Key: Expenditure > £250,000;

Wards Affected: Otley and Yeadon;

Portfolio Holder: Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

Other reasons / organisations consulted

Regular consultation and engagement has been carried out and continues at regular intervals with the Leader, Executive Members, Ward Members, the local MP and local residents throughout the process. This is done through, one to one briefings, Quarterly newsletters and face to face consultation events.

Consultees

Ward Members, Town Council, Local Residents, Yorkshire Water, The Environment Agency, Landowners, Local MP.

Contact: Matthew Sherwood, Senior Engineer 0113 378 7418 Email: matthew.sherwood@leeds.gov.uk.

Report author: Matthew Sherwood

Publication date: 01/07/2019

Date of decision: 26/06/2019

Decided at meeting: 26/06/2019 - Executive Board

Effective from: 06/07/2019

Accompanying Documents: