Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Mr M Sole who was substituted by Mr M Munday. Cllr Gale (Dartford Borough Council) also sent apologies.

There were no declarations of interest.

A Member noted that several actions were missing from the previous minutes. The Clerk acknowledged the concern and explained that the actions had been, or were currently being, followed up outside the meeting. An update would be provided to Members in due course.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2025 were an accurate record and that they be signed by the Chair.

Andy Jeffery, Head of Resilience and Emergency Planning, was in attendance for this item

1. The officer present outlined some notable aspects which included:

a)    The Council’s response activities for the previous quarter. The officer discussed the commencement of the short, focused inquiry (SFI) that would address the recent water outages that had impacted Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas. The inquiry had held its first meeting the previous day (03/10) and would gather evidence throughout March, with a final report due to be presented at the Scrutiny Committee in May.

b)    It was acknowledged that the severe water outages that had been experienced in Kent during January had occurred outside of the current reporting period but would be included in the next quarterly update.

RESOLVED to note the verbal update on KCC Severe Weather Response Activity Report

Mark Rogers (Met Office Advisor for Civil Contingencies) was in attendance for this item.

a)    Mr Rogers explained the purpose, structure and statutory role of the National Meteorological Service, including its function as a Category 2 responder under civil contingency legislation. He provided detailed information on the public weather service, data services, and the national severe weather warning system.

b)    Outlined how impact?based weather warnings were issued, how risk was assessed, and how these warnings triggered local resilience arrangements. He also briefed Members on forecast accuracy, the national supercomputer capability, Met Office app with personalised forecasts and weather warnings and the storm?naming system.

c)    Presented a review of the previous year’s weather patterns, including the unusually dry spring and summer conditions followed by a notably wet autumn and winter. He described longer?term climate trends and introduced the Local Authority Climate Service (LACS), which provided accessible climate projection reports for each local area.

d)    Highlighted that the three-month outlook had suggested a warmer than average upcoming spring.

e)    Concluded the presentation by highlighting the available responder training programmes that covered topics such as meteorology, flood risk, space weather, climate change, and other related hazards.

2.A number of questions raised by Members included:

a)    Queried the accessibility to members of local climate projections. Mr Rogers reemphasised that the LAC service was publicly accessible online and provided access to tailored reports for Kent.

b)    Members asked how projected rainfall changes aligned with flood?modelling updates. In response it was explained that climate projections models used nationally were aligned between agencies and had provided a comprehensive picture.

c)    Questions on the impact of earthquakes on the coastal communities of Kent and the availability of data to review impacts were queried. It was discussed that any earthquake analysis was led by the British Geological Survey (BGS) with collated data being shared through the Natural Hazard’s Partnership. (HNP)

d)    Members questioned what mechanisms were available to monitor sea temperatures and the associated impacts on coastal communities. In response it was discussed that sea temperatures were monitored through satellite systems and buoy networks and had indicated that a rising trend was contributing to a sea?level increase and impacted a quantifiable ecological change.

e)    Further questions were raised on the projected scale of sea-level rise and its local implications. Mr Rogers discussed that climate projections had indicated significant long?term sea?level rises in Southern England, with an increased coastal flood risk being a notable concern.

RESOLVED to note the Met Office Presentation

Richard Penn (Deputy Director for Kent and South London) and Simon Curd (Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager)

1)    The Environment Agency officers present discussed various aspects of the joint works, including the following:

a)    Mr Penn outlined the strategic framework guiding the agency’s work, including the national plan for a climate?resilient environment. He described collaboration that had occurred via the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum. This had encompassed updates to the multi?agency flood plan, the integration of drought planning within severe weather plans also incorporated and improved community?level resilience being of note.

b)    Mr Curd described the significance of the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCCs) on approving capital investment programmes. The officer presented an overview of current and upcoming flood?risk projects across Kent, including major embankment works, beach?management schemes and property?level protection schemes.

c)    Officers explained that new national funding rules, effective from April 2026, would allow the first £3 million of any project to be fully grant?funded, with only 10% required thereafter. This would allow more schemes to progress and included projects that had delivered natural flood?management measures or sustainable drainage.

d)    Summarised recent weather conditions, noting exceptionally high rainfall over the Winter which had raised groundwater levels and had in turn had heavily impacted winterbournes (Stream fed chalk aquifers) which in turn had required a multi?agency operational response.

2)    Members made a number of questions in regard to the presentation:

a)    Local flood issues that had impacted the Paddock Wood area were raised by Members. Presenting officers responded that works were ongoing with local representatives to address issues in Paddock Wood.

b)    Issues were flagged on the specific responses received on the subject of the bathing water quality of Deal and Walmer. The Environment Agency officers acknowledged the concerns the Member had raised and suggested that a meeting with the Member, and the respective town Councils take place to address the issues.

c)    Members queried on what lessons had been learned from the introduction of property?level protection schemes and a greater need for communications with residents. Officers responded that lessons from previous property?level protection schemes were continually reviewed and shared online.

d)    The recent Storm Goretti had recently caused significant impacts along the Kent coastline. However, it was indicated by Members that none of the established storm alarms had been triggered. Officers acknowledged the issues and confirmed that the storm had not met the predetermined criteria required to activate the alarms. Further discussions were taking place with hydrological experts in Southampton to understand why the expected alerts had not triggered in the impacted areas. Officers from the Environment Agency would look to update members at a later date.

e)    In response to a query on UV treatment, the Environment Agency officers confirmed that this would be fed back through the appropriate channels. It was noted that implementing such an approach would likely require a significant legislative change. The Environment Agency, as an operational body, was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Helen Piele (Stakeholder and Community Manager) was in attendance for this item.

1.   The officer presented the following:

a)    Explained the circumstances under which water could enter gas infrastructure, including flooding, burst water mains, ground movement and accidental third?party damage. The officer described the operational consequences, which had required isolating the network, removing water, undertaking extensive excavations and reinstatement and completing safety checks before re?connection

b)    Summarised several recent incidents where significant disruption had occurred, including examples where vulnerable residents were affected and where urgent road closures and major engineering work were required.

c)    Mrs Peile noted the importance of coordination with other utilities and local authorities, particularly where highways works were planned near ageing gas infrastructures. The presenter highlighted the national replacement programme for older metal gas mains and the increased relevance of flood?risk mapping in future prioritisation of works.

2.   Members asked the following:

a)    Queried how water ingress could occur into pressurised gas pipes. It was noted that water typically entered through breaks caused by damage or joint movement wear over time.

b)    Members asked if incidents involving burst water mains had increased and where liability for the reinstatement of costs would sit. The officer responded that incidents had seen an increase and that repair costs would be recovered from parties responsible for damaging the network.

c)    Discussed if any ground movements had been a contributing to the damaging of aging pipes and infrastructure. It was discussed that ground conditions appeared increasingly to be a major contributor to pipe failures and would likely to continue on this trend.

d)    Clarification of the prioritisation of pipe replacement in flood?prone areas was raised. The presenter would seek clarification on whether flood?risk mapping was currently factored into the replacement?programme prioritisation strategy.

e)    The presenter was asked if delays to reinstatement following emergency works had occurred.  Impacting factors to reinstatement delays could relate to road?material curing times or contractor availability, however communication improvements would be explored to improve the current landscape.

f)     A Member asked if damage could occur to household appliances via water ingress.  The officer responded that significant water ingress could damage appliances, with compensation being dependent on the circumstances.

g)    The Chair asked what the long?term plans for the gas network and future conversion to hydrogen could look like in the future. The officer acknowledged the current inroads made in the development of hydrogen solutions but noted that decisions on the long?term future of the national gas network had not yet been made, although some industrial options were possibly being explored.

RESOLVED to note the Southern Gas Network (SGN) presentation