Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That;

1. the refreshed Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Surrey be approved; and
2. Cabinet notes that the Council should consider options to strengthen and maintain future flood risk management work and that a report be presented to the Cabinet at its meeting in September 2017.

Reasons for Decisions

In its capacity as LLFA SCC has a duty to develop a strategy for flood risk management under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). It also has to adopt a co-ordinated and co-operative approach to flood risk management with other Risk Management Authorities (RMA) under sections 9 and 13 of the same Act. The LFRMS sets actions and objectives to facilitate this.

Surrey’s Corporate Strategy 2016-2021 states that ‘investing in flood and maintenance schemes’ is a priority under its Resident Experience goal. The refreshed LFRMS sets out the method for delivering this across the responsible authorities.

Flooding is a significant concern to the residents of Surrey. Approximately 1500 properties were flooded in the events of 2013/14 and more have been flooded since in localised incidents. It remains a high profile topic and it is important that SCC has a clear and up to date LFRMS that sets out priorities for flood risk management.

[The decision on this item may be called in by the Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board]

The report was introduced by Mr Furey, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding who highlighted many of Surrey’s towns and villages were at risk of flooding. He emphasised the importance of local flood forums as a means of managing flood risk and ensuring that local knowledge and expertise were utilised in the creation and development of flood mitigation measures. There was seventeen local flood forums operating in Surrey but the hope was to double this number to ensure access to on the ground guidance and direction from local residents in flood.

Mrs Clack requested clarification in relation to how the recommendations in the report would support the work of local flood forums. The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding advised that the strategy would improve channels of communication between SCC and individual local flood forums thereby enabling the Council to use this information in order to develop appropriate flood alleviation measures.

The Leader of the Council detailed his work on the 2007 Flood Review undertaken by SCC which highlighted 743 potential flood spots in the county. He inquired about mitigating the flood risk to Surrey with significantly less money available in order to do this and proposed a proactive approach to working with Central Government and local partners in order to secure the necessary funding in order to develop flood alleviation measures where they were required. Mr Furey responded by highlighting the transformative work that had taken place throughout the county to improve how the Council and its partners responding to flooding.

.

RESOLVED:

That;

1. the refreshed Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Surrey be approved; and
2. Cabinet notes that the Council should consider options to strengthen and maintain future flood risk management work and that a report be presented to the Cabinet at its meeting in September 2017.

Reasons for Decisions

In its capacity as LLFA SCC has a duty to develop a strategy for flood risk management under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). It also has to adopt a co-ordinated and co-operative approach to flood risk management with other Risk Management Authorities (RMA) under sections 9 and 13 of the same Act. The LFRMS sets actions and objectives to facilitate this.

Surrey’s Corporate Strategy 2016-2021 states that ‘investing in flood and maintenance schemes’ is a priority under its Resident Experience goal. The refreshed LFRMS sets out the method for delivering this across the responsible authorities.

Flooding is a significant concern to the residents of Surrey. Approximately 1500 properties were flooded in the events of 2013/14 and more have been flooded since in localised incidents. It remains a high profile topic and it is important that SCC has a clear and up to date LFRMS that sets out priorities for flood risk management.

[The decision on this item may be called in by the Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board]