Minutes:
Ian Tomes and Justine Glynn from the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management Team for West Thames (covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire, South Buckinghamshire, North East Hampshire and West Surrey) gave a presentation on the work of the Environment Agency (EA), both in the Borough and on projects that impacted on Borough residents.
Mr Tomes noted that, under recent regulations, responsibility for risk management had been more clearly defined, with strategic flood risk management of rivers lying with the EA, whilst Surrey County Council was the Lead Local Flood Authority for the County.
Thames Water was responsible for operating foul and surface water sewerage systems and Borough/District Councils having permissive powers to maintain and improve ordinary watercourses.
In the previous year, the EA had cleared vegetation and some shoals (sandbanks) at 46 locations in Surrey and expected to achieve a similar number of operations in the forthcoming year.
Justine Glynn reported on mapping that the EA undertook on the risk of inundation from coastal water, reservoirs, lakes and rivers. This allowed management of these systems and assisted in planning for a large number of organisations, including Councils, insurers and developers.
The EA was a statutory consultee on planning applications and provided pre-planning advice on floods, pollution control and other areas. It carried responsibility for water resources and quality control, river basin management plans, pollution control, fisheries licenses, waste, conservation and ecology.
Inevitably, decisions had to be based on the likelihood of flooding. The flood events in the previous winter had resulted from 6 months rain falling in only 66 days, with some areas experiencing 80% of their annual rainfall in 2 months.
The EA provided a flood warning to thousands of properties in the area, issuing flood alerts, flood warnings and severe flood warnings depending on the level of the risk.
The EA received grant in aid from the Government for flood attenuation projects. However, funding did not cover 100% of necessary work and a local levy was raised, through the Council Tax precept, to bridge potential funding gaps.
In terms of Surrey Heath, The EA had commenced the Bagshot and Windlesham Initial Assessments, Surrey Heath Borough Council Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes and was working with the Chobham Community Flood Action Group.
169 properties had been identified in Bagshot as being at risk of fluvial and surface water flooding. The Council had been successful in funding for the Chobham and Lightwater flood alleviation schemes.
Members voiced support for the work with the Chobham Community Flood Action Group and sought advice on how more communities could engage with the EA on flooding issues.
Justine Glynn reminded Members that flood plans were a requirement for neighbourhood plans and that those plans had to comply with the Council’s Local Plan and national policies. The EA would welcome the opportunity to assist further community resilience groups and she and Doug Hill, the EA Team Leader for Surrey Heath, would be the first points of contact.
As well as working to avoid or mitigate flood risks, community flood plans would assist communities in knowing exactly what to do in the event of a flood, including assistance to elderly and vulnerable residents.
In terms of lessons which could be learned from the recent periods of heavy rainfall, Mr Tomes emphasised the role that partnerships forged in advance had assisted in the way flooding events were tackled.
The mutual support, notably provided by Surrey Heath, to Boroughs experiencing serious inundation should be built upon and awareness built across community groups.
In the previous severe flooding, agencies in Surrey had been heavily dependent on military support. Mr Tomes emphasised the need in the future for greater community resilience.
Members, in welcoming the comprehensive presentation, emphasised the need for continued support for the Environment Agency and in particular for the Surrey Flood Partnership.
RESOLVED, that the presentation be noted and that Officers be encouraged to continue to be fully engaged with the Surrey Flood Partnership.