Agenda item

Mr D Wimble - Cabinet Member for Environment presented the item. Louise Smith-Flood and Water Manager was also in attendance

1)    Mr Wimble explained that Kent County Council in its position as both a stakeholder and a statutory consultee had been invited to support the expansion of the River Stour Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and the trial expansion of the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board.

2)    It was explained that Internal Drainage Boards were independent public bodies governed by a mix of elected and appointed members and included representatives from district councils and local landowners. The core responsibilities included the management of water levels, land drainage, and flood risk. They operated in close coordination with KCC—as the Lead Local Flood Authority—and the Environment Agency.

3)    The geographic boundaries of each IDB had aligned with flood risk extents that were determined by Environment Agency modelling. Wider catchment areas outside the current IDB boundaries could significantly influence water level management and flood risks within the districts. Members discussed the need for a broader oversight and proactive maintenance support to aid in driving the request for expansion.

4)    Expansion would enable IDBs to be better positioned to respond to planning consultations, deliver flood risk mitigation and water management projects, and undertake enforcement activities more effectively.

5)    The River Stour IDB proposed a full expansion to cover the entire River Stour catchment. The Upper Medway IDB would seek a pilot expansion across selected sub-catchment areas by working in partnership with KCC under a Professional Services Corporation Agreement (PSCA). The partnership had enabled shared resources and a collaborative delivery of flood risk management initiatives, including natural flood management projects, aimed at enhancing protection for local communities.

6)    Members raised concerns regarding the recent Water Summit held on 3 September, particularly its potential to duplicate work already underway within existing committees. Mr Wimble acknowledged these concerns and clarified that the summit was an exploratory session involving key stakeholders aimed at establishing a strategic pathway for water management across Kent. At the current stage the summit would not be open to the public as its current purpose was to define the scope and parameters of the overarching group

7)    Members asked if the discussed decision would improve the resilience of surface water drainage, groundwater resources and aid in the reduction of flooding. Officers responded that it would be beneficial on all the points raised.

8)     IDBs would be required to submit their proposals to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (DEFRA), which held the authority to approve any expansion plans. Any additional charges or financial implications that arose from the expansion would be reviewed and approved by DEFRA. Should further clarity be required Officers would look to engage directly with the IDBs to seek additional information and would report back to the committee with a detailed update.

9)    Members raised concerns on the proposals potential extra cost to taxpayers across a number of the county’s districts. Officers acknowledged the concerns and discussed that many of the areas proposed for expansion were already partially covered by the IDB.  District councils would only experience a minimal additional financial impact.

10)Members asked if reassurance on how efficiencies would benefit KCC. Officers indicated that notable cost efficiencies could be achieved through staff resourcing, with personnel potentially redeployed to externally funded projects. The expansion would present a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnership working between the IDB and highways teams.

11)It was noted that Mr Prater abstained from the decision

RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision, namely:

That the Cabinet Member for (the Kent) Environment agree to:

1.    ENDORSE the proposed expansion of the River Stour Internal Drainage Board District and

2.    ENDORSE the trial expansion of the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board and the joint working arrangement between the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board and Kent County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority as shown at Appendix A.