Agenda item

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment which updates Members of the flood alleviation works which have been completed across the City throughout 2014/2015 and those that are currently in progress.  The report also outlines future proposed works. 

The Chair welcomed Councillor David Norman, Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources, who was deputising for Councillor Jim Porter, Cabinet Member for Environment, and Mr Wayne Best, Environmental Protection Service Manager, to the meeting.

Members were presented with a report which updated them on flood alleviation works that had been completed across the City throughout 2014/15 and those that were currently in progress.  The report also outlined future proposed works.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to note the report, subject to any recommendations Members wished to make to Cabinet.

Members discussed the following matters:-

1.       A Member queried if there were plans to carry out works in Rea Lane.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager informed the Member that this work may have been postponed due to a modelling exercise which the Environment Agency were currently carrying out.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager agreed to contact the Environment Agency for an update.

2.       A Member referred to flooding problems at Longford and on Tewkesbury Road and asked if the City Council liaised with Tewkesbury Borough Council.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager responded that he did consult with Tewkesbury Borough Council and the Environment Agency at Tewkesbury, when appropriate.  The Member also raised an issue with Himalayan Balsam growing in the channel and along the banks of the Wotton Brook downstream of Tewkesbury Road on Tewkesbury Borough Council land.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager agreed to contact Tewkesbury Borough Council for a response regarding maintenance of Wotton Brook.

3.       The Chair expressed concerns regarding silt levels in Saintbridge Balancing Pond.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager replied that he was currently working with the Environment Agency to look at options for reducing silt levels.  He added that a Reservoir Panel Engineer had inspected the Balancing Pond and the current level was not a matter for concern at the moment in time.

4.       A Member mentioned problems caused by houses being built on top of Linden Brook and extensions being built to a school in Stroud Road. 

5.       A Member asked the Environmental Protection Service Manager if there were areas that he would like to investigate but was unable to because of the lack of resources.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager said that there were between 10-12 locations in the City which had highways related flooding issues which the City Council could potentially assist Highways with with, if and when resources allowed.  He stressed the importance of working with partners.  The Member commented that access to funding streams was more of an issue than having human resources available to do the work.  The Environmental Protection Service Manager stated that funding from the County Council was generally administered equally between the Districts, but that this year funding was only available for emergency works.

6.       The Vice-Chair was concerned that there might be high risk projects which were unresourced.  Councillor Norman suggested that as Cabinet Member he could approach the County Highways team to ask them to come to a future meeting of Overview and Scrutiny to explore the matter further.

7.       All Members commended the Environmental Protection Service Manager for his excellent work and commitment. 

8.       A Member thanked Councillor Norman for his attendance in the absence of Councillor Porter and suggested that a letter be sent on behalf of the Committee to Councillor Porter acknowledging that whilst his portfolio work was being well covered in his absence, that the Committee missed him and looked forward to seeing him at a future meeting of Overview and Scrutiny in the near future.

9.       The Chair asked the Environmental Protection Service Manager to circulate the appendices in the report to all Members for information.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the report be noted.

2.       That the County’s Highways team be invited to attend a future meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

3.       That a letter be sent to Councillor Porter.

4.       That the Committee places on record its appreciation for the excellent work carried out by the Environmental Protection Service Manager.