Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director for Place Management.

In April 2021, the first Stockport Council Annual Flood Resilience Plan was produced. It described the various roles and responsibilities of the Council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Highway Authority (HA) and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes with its significant housing assets. The work in this area supports the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) strategy.

The second report of September 2022 provided an update on activities since April 2021 and this update continues that process.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the work undertaken to improve flood resilience in Stockport, comment on the report and support the continued partnership working and investment in this area.

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

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update to the Council’s Annual Flood Resilience Plan.

In April 2021, the first Stockport Council Annual Flood Resilience Plan was produced. It described the various roles and responsibilities of the Council with regard to flooding and flood resilience including its roles as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Highway Authority (HA) and landowner both of greenspace and working with Stockport Homes with its significant housing assets. The work in this area supported the council’s overall approach to climate change via Stockport Climate Action Now (CAN) strategy. The second report of September 2022 provided an update on activities since April 2021 and this update continued that process.

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that approximately half of the areas mentioned in the report were in Cheadle and Members queried what protective measures had been put into place.

·         In response it was stated that, whilst a number of schemes were in place, there was a limit to measures the council was able to undertake due to climate change. There had been six or seven flooding incidents in Stockport due to rain, flash floods and storms. Attempts were being made to capture water upstream because water captured downstream had a negative impact on lower ground.

·         The report set out a number of small schemes such as those in Lower Fold, Marple, and Romiley. Those areas had been identified as ones in which specific localised action would not negatively impact upon the next community. The Council did not have the funding to ensure that everyone would be safe from flooding and more flooding in Stockport was predicted.

·         It was reported that a flow meter had been placed at Ladybrook to measure water flow, however monitoring data was not yet available. It was also reported that flooding at Lyme Park flowed down toward Bramhall via Poynton Brook. At Lyme Park, leaky dams had been added whereby logs were placed across fields and streams to create ponds to hold back water at the source area. It was also reported that, during periods of flooding in Bramhall, pipes fill up and cannot flow into the river because it was already full. Consequently water backed up into the highway system and came back out of the grids. This created to a very complex area of flood prevention work for which more data was needed. 

·         Members asked about the council’s approach to planning applications, the majority of which required LLFA interventions to seek alternative arrangements to include more sustainability in the areas of water drainage and sewage. 

·         It was reported that developers were regularly reminded about their obligation to retain water and not allow run-off into drains. Developers were encouraged to do more to prevent flooding as part of the planning negotiations. Furthermore, homeowners were encouraged to consider the impact of concrete driveways and dropped kerbs on water flow. The council followed the current Government policy on rules and standards in terms of planning regulations.

·         In relation to the A555 it was not possible to say that this road would not flood in winter, however it was able to withstand more rain than it had two years ago due to better tanks, bigger ponds and stronger pumps. Furthermore, the council had more knowledge about flooding on the A555 and was, at times, able to intervene, but was not able to guarantee that it would not flood.

·         It was reported that many of the culverts in the borough dated back to the 17^th Century. The council was working with local residents to help prevent flooding in gardens.

·         In response to a question about Stockport’s reservoirs, it was reported that a dam had burst in Whaley Bridge in 2019 and, following that incident, action plans had been created to deal rapidly with the possibility of a similar situation arising. It was also reported that reservoir inspectors, independent from the Local Authority, inspect both the action plans and reservoirs. Furthermore, as a Local Authority, Stockport Council had a responsibility to ensure that its reservoirs are kept in a safe condition

·         In relation to gully cleaning it was reported that the entire borough is included in a three-year gully cleaning cycle. Some areas which experienced pockets of flooding had received more regular cleaning which was undertaken on an assessment of need rather than by area. Members were encouraged to report areas which required clearing.

·         It was agreed that a report on flooding at Alexandra Park would be brought to Central Area Committee and more generally Area Committees would receive reports on local flooding in their areas.

RESOLVED – (1) That the work undertaken to improve flood resilience in Stockport be noted.

(2) That the continued partnership working and investment in this area be supported.