Agenda item

The extreme and lengthy period of rainfall last winter resulted in groundwater flooding from the Caterham Bourne, and long term saturation of the ground, in the Valleys of the A22 and Whyteleafe/Woldingham area. This resulted in the A22 being closed for 4 weeks, homes and businesses being flooded, with an overall huge impact on the local community.

This report is an update for members on the infrastructure resilience works that have already been constructed, and the proposed major investment plans to address the longer term resilience issues for the Caterham Bourne and the A22 network.

Report attached.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Zena Curry, Infrastructure Team Leader

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

·         The Infrastructure Team Leader presented the report to the committee. She explained that the bids currently in are for flooding only and covered what works they include and went through the financials also.

Member Discussion – key points:

·         Members were disappointed with the details in the report as they felt it did not sufficiently represent what the bids were for and what the money will accomplish.

·         Members all agreed they would have liked to have all been consulted and shown the drawn up plans prior to the bud submission. In addition they do not believe the report has illustrated the amount of work that has gone into the bid.

·         They continued that they believed the figures to be misleading as £800,000.00 has already been spent for the water storage areas and there is no mention regarding the work in negotiating with land owners either.

·         Members requested to see a copy of the plan, full cost breakdown including Croydon’s costs and what it covers.

·         Members inquired what responsibilities DEFRA, Thames Water and the Environment Agency covered in the district.

·         Members discussed the drainage in the area and the strain that new homes put on the local area.

·         Local Committee members agreed to write to the District Council in order to explain the situation and request a moratorium on the building in these sites as it is vital that more homes are not built and add to the problem. Information needs to be gathered from the environment agency and all other partners in drafting the letter. They agreed to send a copy of the letter also to the planning inspectorate.

·         Mr David Hodge also requested advice and input from Mark Borland and Zena Curry for the letter.

·         The Infrastructure Team Leader continued that the plan would be circulated and that the off road water storage areas were being funded by DEFRA.

·         She confirmed that the LEP bid was actually a ‘light touch’ bid for damage caused to A22 because it’s all they can bid for through the LEP.

·         Of the £5.9m requested, £1m is DEFRA funding; the rest is the LEP bid. Croydon are also putting in a bid to the London LEP.

·         Mrs Sally Marks inquired whether Thames Water would be improving the drainage system. The Infrastructure Team Leader said that the Thames investment is a different scheme and that they have also requested this from Thames Water.

·         Members suggested that the Infrastructures team should attend a future informal Local Committee meeting with all of the plans as it is not clear how they have got to this position and it is a complex matter where a private discussion is required. The Infrastructure Team Leader agreed they would attend a future meeting. Members also requested that all partners (Environment agency, Thames water, Croydon etc are all involved also)

·         Members agreed to write to the SCC Chief Executive and ask him to get in touch with Thames Water.

Resolution:

The Committee:

(i) NOTED the contents of the report