Agenda item

Mr R Gough will move, Dr M R Eddy will second:-

“(i)       In order to improve the protection and preparedness of Kent and its property from flooding, a Task Force should be set up of relevant agencies and utilities to draw together and implement an Action Plan for Kent based on the findings of the Select Committee Report, the Pitt Review and the Environment Agency Report of 2007 Floods;

(ii)        that Members are invited to regular seminars with the relevant agencies and utilities to be informed of the progress of the Action Plan;

(iii)       that existing KCC protocols are used to monitor the flood risk situation in Kent; and

(iv)       that KCC welcome the additional funding which will be available in the future from Government for flood defence work but, given Kent’s high vulnerability to flooding, make efforts to secure extra funding to support improved flood risk management.”

(1)       Mr R Gough moved Dr M R Eddy seconded the recommendations contained in the report together with the addition of the following:-

“(v)       that KCC formally request the Kent and Medway Fire & Rescue Authority to pursue recommendations 14 and 25 in consultation with Kent Police and other relevant agencies and departments at local and national government as a matter of urgency.

(2)       The Council received presentations from Mr Scott Wardrop, Managing Director of Ringway Group Ltd and Mr Peter Midgeley (Area Manager Kent and East Sussex) and Mr Andrew Pearce (Flood Risk Manager) from the Environment Agency.  These were followed by a period of general debate.

(3)     The Chairman put to the vote the motion set out in (1) above when the voting was as follows:-

For - 54

Mrs A D Allen, Mrs C Angell, Mr T Birkett, Mr A H T Bowles, Miss S J Carey, Mr N J D Chard, Mr A R Chell, Mr L Christie, Mr B R Cope, Mr G Cowan, Ms C J Cribbon, Mr A D Crowther, Mr J Curwood, Mr D S Daley, Mr M C Dance, Mrs T Dean, Dr M R Eddy, Mr M J Fittock, Mr R W Gough, Ms E Green, Ms A Harrison, Mr M J Harrison, Mr C Hart, Mr W A Hayton, Mr C Hibberd, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr I T N Jones, Mr R E King, Mr P W A Lake, Mr C J Law, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr T Maddison, Mr R F Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr J I Muckle, Mr W V Newman, Mr M Northey, Mr R J E Parker, Mr R J Parry, Mr R A Pascoe, Mr A R Poole, Mr L B Ridings, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr J E Scholes, Mr J D Simmonds, Mr R Tolputt, Mr R Truelove, Mrs E Tweed, Mr M J Vye, Mr C J Wells, and Mr F Wood-Brignall.

Carried unanimously

(4)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       in order to improve the protection and preparedness of Kent and its property from flooding, a Task Force be set up of relevant agencies and utilities to draw together and implement an Action Plan for Kent based on the findings of the Select Committee Report, the Pitt Review and the Environment Agency Report of 2007 Floods;

(b)       Members be invited to regular seminars with the relevant agencies and utilities to be informed of the progress of the Action Plan;

(c)        existing KCC protocols be used to monitor the flood risk situation in Kent;

(d)       KCC welcomes the additional funding which will be available in the future from Government for flood defence work but, given Kent’s high vulnerability to flooding, efforts be made to secure extra funding to support improved flood risk management; and

(e)       KCC formally request the Kent and Medway Fire & Rescue Authority to pursue recommendations 14 and 25 in consultation with Kent Police and other relevant agencies and departments at local and national government as a matter of urgency.