Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing)

On the 13 September 2016, extreme rainfall events significantly affected Stockport, with the borough receiving approximately 44% of its total monthly rainfall in just one day. Leading up to this day Stockport had experienced a period of warm dry weather and as a result ground conditions were not saturated and water levels within the local watercourses were quite low. However, the volume and intensity of rainfall overloaded the local drainage system, causing surface water flooding throughout large parts of the borough.  This report presents the various aspects of the flood events in September and incorporates a draft Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act.

The Executive is recommended to approve the Final Section 19 September 2016 Flood Investigation Report included in Appendix A.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161-474-4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the outcome of an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flooding that took place in parts of Stockport on 13 September 2016. The report identified recommendations for action that would seek to minimise the effect of future flooding incidents.

RESOLVED – That the draft Final Section 19 September 2016 Flood Investigation Report into flooding that took place on 13 September 2016, as set out at Appendix A of the report, be approved.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report presents the various aspects of the flood events in September 2016 and specifically incorporates a draft Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act on the investigations into the flooding events undertaken by Jacobs Consulting Engineers.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the draft Jacobs Section 19 Report for the September 2016 floods, attached as Appendix A to the report, and recommend that the Executive Meeting approves the final report.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the various aspects of the flood events in September 2016 and specifically incorporating a draft independent Section 19 Investigation Report, in accordance with the Flood and Water Management Act, on the investigations into the flooding events which had been undertaken by Jacobs Consulting Engineers.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 25 April 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• A Member expressed appreciation for the work undertaken by Council Officers, United Utilities and the Environment Agency in working together and meeting regularly with local residents and discussing the issues which affected them.
• A map and a proper management plan was required of the culverts in each ward. CCTV was being used to ‘map’ the culverts in different areas, but this would take a number of years before a completed map was in place. A Member enquired whether there was any funding which could be used to assist in preparing a map of the culverts in the borough and requested that this should be raised with the Department for Communities and Local Government. Work was being carried out across Greater Manchester on infrastructure mapping and Officers would make enquiries to see if the funding could include work on mapping culverts in the borough.
• The Council’s highways department had a responsibility to maintain the efficient operation of highway drains, and a maintenance programme and improvement plan was required. United Utilities had responsibility to maintain the efficient operation of surface water and combined sewers.
• A number of drains were blocked after the flooding as a result of debris being blown into the drains at high speed.
• A Member felt that a wider review of flood management was required. The drainage system was very old and other ways needed to be considered of stalling water before it entered the drainage system.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be recommended to approve the final Jacobs Section 19 Report for the September 2016 floods.

(2)  That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee which addressed how the Council could expedite the preparation of a map of the culverts in the borough in the next two or three years and the introduction of a drainage improvement programme.