Issue - meetings

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

The report is the first Annual Flood Resilience Plan which will set out the various roles and responsibilities of the council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority, highway authority and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes its significant housing assets. The work in this area supports the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport CAN strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Note that the Cabinet Member has considered that the Storm Christof major incident in January 21 was the third significant flooding episode in 5 years, reflects that flooding is likely to be a regular occurrence in the future and has therefore asked officers to review the service provision and the scale of the borough’s interventions.

·         Note and comment on the progress made with regards to the council’s management of drainage and structural assets, improvements with resident communications and emergency planning activity.

·         Note that further investigation work for those areas most severely affected over the past 5 years will be undertaken over the next 6 months.

·         Note and comment on the draft Highway Gully Cleansing Operation Plan document.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the first Annual Flood Resilience Plan which sets out the various roles and responsibilities of the council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority, highway authority and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes its significant housing assets. The work in this area supports the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport CAN strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a question in relation to the impact of flooding on businesses at Welkin Mill, Lower Bredbury it was stated that the Council had spoken with businesses and tried to provide practical support.  Flood warnings were issued on the day which included the area in which Welkin Mill is situated, and investigations were taking place on what additional measures could be taken.

·         Discussions would take place with councillors in relation to the locations for new tree planting.

·         It would be useful for members to have a ward breakdown of gully cleansing and maintenance schedule highlighting the challenges of each area.

·         It was noted that the brook running through Torkington Park currently does so in a concrete channel, and it was stated that prior to this manmade intervention, the brook formed a pond within the park that served to hold water during periods of heavy rainfall.  It was suggested that consideration should be given to reintroducing such natural features as a means of mitigating against floods in the future.

·         Gullies were assessed and graded on the context of where they were located such as hillside locations.  However, the Stockport CAN Strategy aimed to reduce the water flowing downhill in the first place through measures such as tree planting schemes.

·         Parked vehicles could cause obstructions that prevented gullies from being cleaned, and in some circumstances it was necessary to ask residents to move those vehicles or not park on specific days.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report is the first Annual Flood Resilience Plan which will set out the various roles and responsibilities of the council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority, highway authority and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes its significant housing assets. The work in this area supports the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport CAN strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Note that the Cabinet Member has considered that the Storm Christof major incident in January 21 was the third significant flooding episode in 5 years, reflects that flooding is likely to be a regular occurrence in the future and has therefore asked officers to review the service provision and the scale of the borough’s interventions.

·         Note and comment on the progress made with regards to the council’s management of drainage and structural assets, improvements with resident communications and emergency planning activity.

·         Note that further investigation work for those areas most severely affected over the past 5 years will be undertaken over the next 6 months.

·         Note and comment on the draft Highway Gully Cleansing Operation Plan document.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk