Issue - meetings

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

 On the 13th September 2016, extreme rainfall events hit parts of south west England and the south Pennines, with significant flooding observed across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and also in parts of west Cornwall.  The rainfall event 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 specifically incorporates a draft Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken by Jacobs Consulting Engineers.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on the draft Jacobs Section 19 Report for the September 2016 floods in Appendix A and recommend that the Executive approves the final report.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the opportunity for Councillors and members of the public to comment on the Council’s response to the extreme rainfall event which had occurred on 13 September 2016, as well as on the draft Independent Section 19 Investigation report.

A representative of Jacobs consultants also attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The key roads which had been flooded in the Davenport and Cale Green Ward were Countess Street, Clover Avenue, Culver Road, Kennerley Road and Adswood Road, Stockport. Ward Councillors asked to be kept informed of the results of the condition surveys carried out at these roads and requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee when Network Rail had completed its investigations into the flooding at Clover Avenue, Culver Road and Adswood Road. A Member also enquired whether there would be ongoing maintenance of these roads.

·         The Brinnington and Central Ward Councillors enquired whether any further investigation would be carried out at the properties affected on Essex Road, Brinnington in order to ascertain whether the problems could occur again or whether mitigation measures could be carried out.

·         A Member requested clarification when the investigation at St..Lesmo Road, Edgeley would be taking place and by which organisation.

·         The mapping of the culverts in Stockport was raised. It was clarified that culverts could only be mapped if it was know that they existed or if a problem arose.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the representative of Jacobs consultants advised that the flooding in September was mostly attributable to United Utilities’ public sewer system. United Utilities had subsequently removed what blockages it could from the system.

·         Members supported the recommendation from Jacobs consultants that United Utilities should ensure effective communication with the Council regarding flooding events/potential flood issues. This would enable Councillors to communicate with local residents as effectively as possible.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Area Committee when Network Rail had completed its investigations into the flooding at Clover Avenue, Culver Road and Adswood Road, Stockport.