Agenda item

A report will be presented which provides an annual review of activity in respect of local flood risk management.

Contact:

Paul Farndale, Acting Team Leader, Flood Management and Drainage

A report was submitted which provided an annual review of activity in respect of local flood risk management.

Councillor Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, introduced the item stressing that, particularly in light of the increased risk due to climate change, this work was very important in order to try and mitigate flood risk as much as possible for local residents.

Paul Farndale, Acting Team Leader - Flood Management and Drainage presented the report highlighting the following points:

·       The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, that had been presented to the Committee on 5^th December 2023, had now been approved by Cabinet and replaced the 2012 version.

·       An update, further to the presentation to the Committee in March 2023, in respect of the natural flood management partnership project at Wessenden Head. This work aligned with the ‘protect’ theme within the strategy, using various nature-based solutions to slow the flow of water and reduce the risk of flooding downstream. A high-level study had been undertaken to consider opportunities for such work across all areas of Kirklees and was due to be presented to stakeholders on 28^th February 2024. 

·       There was a rolling programme of schemes and the team worked very closely with the Environment Agency to attract funding.

·       An outline of the process that would be followed for larger projects.

·       The number of schemes had increased since the previous report in 2023.

·       One of the projects falling under the ‘recovery’ theme was a pioneering mental health and wellbeing project, led by Kirklees, which aimed to build resilience within communities where flooding was an issue.

·       The approach to flooding was centred on the management of risks and risk was a product of the likelihood of an event happening and the severity of its consequences. There was an increased focus on the detrimental effect of flooding on people, in terms of both local and national strategies, and the aim of making communities more resilient.

Jason Hanks, Project Officer - Flood Management, shared a presentation on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Project explaining:

·       This pilot project had been developed in partnership with the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Project (WY FLIP) and alongside the Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (ICASP).

·       WY FLIP was an innovative, collaborative approach, involving the five West Yorkshire local authorities, which had been developed to share ideas and experience and to identify innovative ways to secure investment into flood resilience.

·       ICASP was a support service with links to local universities.

·       Each local authority took a lead on a particular theme. Kirklees’ theme was ‘Community and Voluntary’, the main focus of which was to help the community and voluntary sector to be better prepared and recover more quickly.

·       The thinking behind the creation of the project with the purpose being to raise awareness of mental health amongst flood communities and to address the issues by working with mental health charity partners, providing a check-in service, psychological first aid training and support, facilitating regular events with a flood resilience focus or to link in with natural flood management projects and provision of useful information for the community.

·       The Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Group had approved the recent funding bid.

Paul Farndale explained that, in terms of the ‘prepare and respond’ theme of the strategy, the Council maintained a large database of past flooding incidents and a record of relevant assets. This information was needed to inform project bids, was used to advise the planning department in terms of flood risk for any proposed development and also fed into the authority’s emergency planning work and severe weather plan.

Martin Jordan, Senior Emergency Planning Officer gave a presentation which highlighted the following:

·       Kirklees Severe Weather Plan dictated how the Council responded to the impacts of a range of weather and how the plan could be activated at three levels, which were triggered by warnings and alerts from partners.

·       Many Council teams took a role in the response and were provided with action cards to set out the options that they should consider at each level of activation. There was an option to establish a formal command structure if needed, supported by an emergency control room.

·       There was a hybrid working approach and the aim was to build relationships and to understand capabilities and interdependencies with ongoing communication via a ‘Whatsapp’ group which was also used out of hours.

·       The plan provided a framework for the response but it was also vital that good communication and relationships were built and maintained.

·       The plan was tested at least one year, and exercises took place that could involve multi-agency partners.

·       Debriefing was undertaken following an activation of the plan so that any lessons could be learned.

·       The use of a collaborative approach during a flooding incident, alongside other Council teams and partners, and with reports from Councillors, residents, front-line officers and a wide range of partners and other public and private organisations feeding into the intelligence-led response.

·       The Flood Spotters initiative and the role of the 44 Council staff who had been recruited and trained as flood spotters. There were also 130 emergency volunteers.

A brief outline was given in respect of the work to be undertaken over next twelve months. A significant focus was expected to be related to the review of the Local Plan, which would require an updated Strategic Flood Risk Assessment using the latest modelling. In addition, further information was awaited from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in respect of the implementation of Schedule 3 of the Floods and Water Management Act 2010.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

·       The value of the work undertaken in engaging with local communities in building confidence and getting them involved in dealing with the issues.

·       Funding from the Combined Authority for the scheme at Queens Mill Road and Albert Road, Huddersfield was welcomed.

·       In respect of the mental health and wellbeing project, although there would be work undertaken in the aftermath of an event, consultation with mental health charities had suggested that prevention was better than cure and this would therefore be a significant element of this project.

·       Although Kirklees did provide sandbags there was no obligation on it to do so. There were eleven areas in the district where pre-deployment was currently in place and two of those were trialling the use of floodsacs. Sandbags and floodsacs had limitations so property level flood protection, such as floodgates, were a better option and provided a quicker response. There was a need to raise awareness and encourage residents to take this up.

·       Debris screens were a necessary evil to stop large objects blocking culverts. The programme for clearing them took into account the level of associated risk, further to information being gathered about the levels of debris in locations. Some of those which would not affect property if they failed had now been changed to be on a more reactive basis. Those where it would affect property were on an ongoing two-weekly cycle to reduce the risk and some would be prioritised if there was a weather warning. There was also a rolling programme to upgrade these screens.

·       Base models would be established so that it could be ascertained whether future natural flood management measures had improved the position and slowed to flow of surface water but this approach took a very long-term view.

·       It was suggested that the use of property level protection should be included in the Council Update to raise awareness with Councillors who could consider whether it might be beneficial for any property in their ward. for their areas.

·       The position and approach in respect of engagement with Yorkshire Water to try and reduce contamination spills from combined sewer overflows in severe weather and the importance of this work being taken forward.

·       An explanation of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and its role in respect of the Local Plan and allocation of development sites.

·       Although there were mechanisms in place to provide information to those areas/residents where flooding had happened in the past it was suggested that it would also be helpful to provide information, perhaps via social media, if severe weather was anticipated, so that people who might be experiencing it for the first time would know who to contact for advice/ assistance. Relevant telephone numbers were available on the Council’s website but this would be considered alongside the Communications Team.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Mental Health and Wellbeing Project be welcomed as an excellent initiative.

(2)      That efforts be made to raise the awareness of all Councillors in respect of the benefits and possibilities in relation to the use of property level protection against flooding.

(3)      That engagement with Yorkshire Water be pursued at a regional level to examine the potential to reduce contamination spills from combined sewer overflows in severe weather.

(4)      That consideration be given to providing information, in the event of severe weather, to ensure that people who may be experiencing flooding for the first time are aware of who to contact for advice and assistance.