Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

This report presents the various aspects of the flood events in July 2019 when areas across Northern England were hit by a low-pressure weather system and experienced periods of intense and significant rainfall. The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport was heavily impacted by the storms, which affected properties right across the borough and resulted in widespread flooding and transport disruption. This report also incorporates the Final Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers..

The Cabinet is recommened to:-

(1) Approve the final section 19 report.

(2) Approve the proposed response in this report and request an annual Flood Resilience Plan is brought to Communities and Housing Scrutiny each year.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email:  mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the various aspects of the flood events in July 2019 when areas across Northern England were hit by a low-pressure weather system and experienced periods of intense and significant rainfall that also incorporated the Final Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers.

RESOLVED - (1) That approval be given to the final Section 19 report.

(2) That approved be given to the proposed response as detailed in the report and that it be requested that an annual Flood Resilience Plan be brought to Communities and Housing Scrutiny Committee each year.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

This report presents the various aspects of the flood events in July 2019 and specifically incorporates the Final Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Comment on the Final Mott MacDonald Section 19 Flood Investigation Report for the July 2019 floods in Appendix A and recommend that the Cabinet approves the final report.

(2) Endorse the proposed response and request an annual Flood Resilience Plan is brought to Communities and Housing Scrutiny each year

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email:  mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk.

The Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the various aspects of the flood events in July 2019 and specifically incorporates the Final Independent Section 19 Investigation Report in accordance with the Flood & Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010 on the investigation into the flooding events undertaken independently by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Further work needed to be done to capture and retain water where it landed, and it was welcomed that the report identified this as a priority.

·         Concern was expressed that residents were frequently passed from agency to another with each denying responsibility.

·         It was important the United Utilities and the Environment Agency were fully committed to implementing the recommendations in the report and it was suggested that they be invited to future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee when update reports were submitted.

·         Concern was expressed that members had previously requested that language such as ‘quick wins’ should be removed from the report following repeated requests from ward councillors, and that this had not been acted upon.  In response, it was stated the report would be corrected prior to its submission to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That it be noted that annual update reports would be submitted to meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.