Agenda item

To receive a report by Cabinet Member, Community Services that gives a full review of lessons learned from the Christmas / New Year 2013-14 storms & flooding (and previous severe weather events) and makes recommendations for how the County Council, in collaboration with its partners, can be better prepared to manage such future events and flood risk.

(Report by Mr M Hill, Cabinet Member for Community Services)

(Mr P Crick Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement and Mr S Beaumont, Head of Community Safety and Emergency Planning were present for this item)

1.            The Cabinet Member for Community Services, Mr Hill, introduced the report that provided a full review of lessons learned from Christmas/New Year 2013/14 storms and flooding (and previous severe weather events) and the actions taken by KCC and its multi-agency partners.

2.            Mr Hill advised that the severe weather was a toxic mix of strong winds and rain which brought power lines down causing 28,000 homes to lose power.  He stated that Kent could be proud of the multiagency response.  He advised that despite the Christmas break staff responded well by coming into work from their Christmas leave.  He advised that the Review produced 12 recommendations on lessons learnt and 5 recommendations on taking the improvements to flood risk forward.  Mr Hill advised that a further report would be submitted to Cabinet in future.

3.            Mr Crick gave a presentation on the lessons learnt using overheads. During the presentation Mr Crick advised that Cabinet had endorsed the 17 recommendations on 7 July 2014.

4.            Mr Crick and Mr Beaumont responded to comments and questions by Members which included the following:

a)     A comment was made that there should be one point of contact for the public to receive information during severe weather conditions.

b)    A Member suggested that the issue of resilience was important and there needed to be strong political pressure put on the government to fund flood defences.  The Chairman requested that the message should also include the views of this Cabinet Committee.  Mr Crick explained that the government would contribute to flood defences through the Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA).   Kent would have to establish a list of priorities.  Additional contributions or partnership funding would be required to make up the shortfall.  Without partnership funding flood defence schemes could not be delivered.

c)    A comment was made about areas that had experienced severe flooding being part of a major planning applications and no weight being given to the issue of flooding and there was no representation from KCC and the Environment Agency.  Mr Crick advised that Kent County Council was the Flood Risk Management Authority and had made representation to all of the Planning Authorities in Kent as consultees.  He explained that a planning application within a flood risk area would be required to provide details of flood mitigation within the application. 

d)    A Member recommended that the flooding hotspots in Kent needed to be identified and the issues of blocked drains should be mapped by Highways.  Mr Crick advised that Highways had a schedule of maintenance and were reactive to reported blocked drains.

e)    Members commended the work carried out by Mr Beaumont and his Team and the volunteers during the severe weather.

f)     A comment was made that the utility companies needed to be held to account regarding the flooding with raw sewage. Mr Crick confirmed that his team liaised with all the water companies six monthly and he chaired the Chief officer group

g)    A Member suggested that it was not unreasonable for local people to contribute to local solution to flooding.  Mr Crick concurred that residents should help themselves.  He agreed that the necessary information could be collated and put on one website. He concluded that a county wide policy regarding sandbags was required.

h)   It was suggested that more should be done to alert the public of predicted flooding.

i)     A suggestion was made that the Parish Councils had an important role to play for local communities to make their own flood plans.  Mr Crick explained that his team did work with the Kent Association of Parish Council.

j)      Members were advised to contact Mr Beaumont if they wished to hold public consultation meetings and a ‘flood fair’ in affected areas.

k)    Mr Crick explained that the flood emergency services dealt in Gold Silver and Bronze command structure.  This structure was recognised nationally by the emergency services and the army.

5.            Mr Beaumont thanked Members for their comments and advised the following:

Ÿ  Emergency Plans would be refreshed.

Ÿ  Work had begun with the Kent Resilience Forum (Legal Body) on recommendations 1-12 and partnership working.

Ÿ  Mr Greg Clark MP, Flood Envoy had visited sites in Kent and his focus was on the utility companies and he would be reporting back to Cabinet.

Ÿ  A programme of training was being rolled out to all Parishes at threat of flooding.

6.            RESOLVED that:-

a)    the responses to comments and questions by Members be noted;

b)    that the recommendations detailed in the action plan in appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

c)    a report on options and progress on delivery against the action plan be submitted to a future meeting be noted.