Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides the Committee with an overview of the approach to flood prevention and management.

At the meeting the Committee will receive a presentation entitled ‘How the Environment Agency respond to flooding’ that will be delivered by representatives from the Environment Agency.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided the Members with an overview of the approach to flood prevention and management including:

Key points and themes in the report included:

·                How this was coordinated locally and how this was delivered with neighbouring authorities that impacted on Manchester;

·                Flood Risk Management and Resilience;

·                Lessons learnt from previous recent events;

·                Role of the Civil Contingencies Unit; and

·                Information on the strategies and planning in relation to local reservoirs.

Accompanying the report, the Committee further received a presentation from the Environment Agency that provided an overview of the role and responsibilities of the agency. The Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, Environment Agency concluded the presentation by advising that it was important for residents living in a flood risk area to sign up for flood alerts and to adhere to any advice given to evacuate a property. He stated that failure to do so could result in additional demands and pressures on the emergency services and present additional dangers to residents. He further commented that the Environment Agency would advise the Gold Command when it was necessary to evacuate an area.

The Members then heard from Councillor Simcock who addressed the Committee and spoke of his experience during Storm Christoph. He described that he had witnessed the event and had visited the control centre in Didsbury. He paid tribute to all of the staff working at the Environment Agency during the event. He further paid tribute to the response provided by Council officers, the emergency services, Didsbury mosque and Southway Housing. He commented that the regular clearing of gullies was important to prevent episodes of flooding and consideration needed to be given as to the location of evacuation centres to ensure they were appropriate and accessible for all residents. He recommended that the Committee should undertake a site visit to the flood management arrangements in the Goyt Valley. The Chair endorsed this recommendation.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·                Welcoming the report and presentation, noting the benefits of partnership working;

·                Noting the absence of the Canals and River Trust from the list of members of the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum;

·                Noting the information provided relating to nature based solutions and requesting that further information be provided on these projects and information on how residents could get involved with such initiatives;

·                Recognising the importance of coordinated and factual information provided to residents at times of flooding, referencing the lessons learnt during the pandemic on this issue;

·                The importance of ensuring that any communications were appropriate, especially for vulnerable residents;

·                How were sandbags distributed to residents;

·                Where could residents obtain flood resilience advice and information to protect their properties;

·                Information regarding the modelling used for future flood management plans was requested;

·                Noting the increased incidents of surface water flooding and what was being done to address this;

·                What work is being done to protect the Council’s own housing stock against flooding; and

·                The need to communicate to residents, particularly young people, the dangers and risks association with contaminated flood water.

The Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, Environment Agency stated that residents were involved with the nature based solutions projects, particularly supporting the ongoing maintenance of such schemes and he said that local Councillors would be contacted regarding local schemes. He stated that the modelling work for future plans was currently underway and could be shared with the Committee when available.

The Flood Resilience Advisor, Environment Agency welcomed the comments from the Committee and stated that she was willing to attend any resident events to speak on the issue of flood management. She commented that information was available for residents wishing to seek advice regarding home flood resilience measures, however the Environment Agency was unable to endorse any one product or service. She stated that residents should be directed to the Flood Hub website and the Blue Pages where information could be obtained.  She further endorsed the comment regarding the need for factual information and recognised the importance of trusted key community contacts to disseminate this information at times of flooding.

The Head of Compliance Enforcement and Community Safety supported this statement and said that the Neighbourhood Teams were supporting the activity regarding improved communications with residents through the development of community flood resilience plans. She said that this was being done using all of the learning from Storm Christoph. She further noted the comments regarding the messaging on the issue of the dangers and risks associated with contaminated flood water and young people. She further reassured the Committee that the Canals and River Trust did assist with flood incidents, where appropriate, but they were not a Risk Management Authority or a Category 1 or 2 responder as defined by the Civil Contingencies Act and are not therefore required to undertake any specific civil protection duties under the Act. In respect of work being done to protect the Council’s own housing stock from future flooding she agreed to raise this with the Director of Northwards.

The Head of Network Management advised that there were a limited number of sandbags available, and these were provided to the emergency services to deploy as they felt appropriate during incidents of flooding. He commented that there was a recognised demand from residents for sandbags and a policy on how to manage this demand was being considered to ensure it was equitable. He further commented that the issue of surface flooding was recognised, and any new highways scheme was designed to account for the increased intensity of rain fall.  The Business Partner, AGMA commented that the Multi-agency Flood Plan, specific to Manchester, was being reviewed and this had involvement from Highways. She said this would be shared with Members when this was finalised.

The Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, Environment Agency concluded by noting the importance of partnership working to address flood management and this was clearly demonstrated in Manchester and he thanked the Members for the opportunity to present to the Committee.

Decisions

The Committee;

1. Recommend that Neighbourhood Teams review and strengthen the communication channels with residents around the issue of flooding and utilise local ward members as trusted community voices.

2. Recommend that priority should be given to the cleaning of gullies in those areas identified as being at risk of flooding.

3. Recommend that appropriate consideration is given to flood management on all future highways schemes.

4. That a visit be arranged for Members of the Committee to witness the flood management arrangements in the Goyt Valley.