Flood Liaison Group
Tuesday 18 September 2012 6.00 pm
ROYAL BOROUGH FLOOD FORUM
18th SEPTEMBER 2012
18.00 TOWN HALL, MAIDENHEAD
MINUTES
| Present |  | |
| Cllr Jesse Grey (Chair) | JG | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Cllr Malcolm Beer | MB | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Cllr John Lenton | JL | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Doug Hill | DH | Environment Agency |
| Hanne Larsson | HL | Environment Agency |
| David Perkins | DP | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Simon Lavin | SL | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Lisa Morgan | LM | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (minute taker) |
| Harry Clasper | HC | Chair of Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ralph Green | RG | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ian Thompson | IT | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ewan Larcombe | EL | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Fiona Hewer | FH | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Barrie Mair | BM | Fishery’s Residents Association |
| Paul Cobbing | PC | National Flood Forum |
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION | ACTION |
| 1.0 | Welcome & Introductions | |
| 1.1 | JG welcomed everyone to the Town Hall, Maidenhead and asked everyone to introduce themselves. | |
| 2.0 | Apologies | |
| 2.1 | Andrew Davies – Parish Flood Liaison Group | |
| 3.0 | Minutes of Previous Meeting (Accuracy) | |
| 3.1 | Agreed as a true record. | |
| Actions from previous meeting | |
| 3.2 | Point 3.2 – Electronic copy of ABI presentation to be forwarded to BM and KB – SL confirmed that this had been done. | |
| 3.3 | Point 3.4 – SL confirmed that he had responded to letter from Datchet PC regarding sewage pollution in the Myrke. He had however since received a further letter on this issue which he has still to respond to. SL also confirmed that he had responded to letter from Datchet PC regarding flood risk and culverts passing under the railway line adjacent to the golf club at Datchet. SL had referred this matter to the Environment Agency and it requires further investigation. IT asked whether underpass under rail line would be sealed before this winter and SL said it would not. This matter requires further investigation, to confirm that it would be beneficial, and it is likely that consent from Network Rail will be required. IT also asked whether the tie in between the bund and the railway embankment, near the Eton End PNEU School, had been inspected. DH indicated that he believed that it had and that it was sound throughout its length. DH to check and confirm that this is the case. | SL/IT/DH |
| 3.4 | Point 3.5 – Datchet Common Brook, concerns still with regards to the situation below Datchet Road Bridge and flytipping further downstream – matter still to be progressed further between DH and IT. DH looking at enforcing fly tip aspect. | DH/IT |
| 3.5 | Point 3.6 – Date still to be agreed on annual inspection of an Environment Agency reservoir, date to be set up. | DH |
| 3.6 | Point 6.3 – Battle Bourne Tour – DH to provide dates and liaise with HC and RG. | DH |
| 3.7 | Point 7.6 – BM and EL stated that names of residents had not been passed onto the EA. DP clarified point that residents had encountered difficulty in obtaining flood risk insurance, but there were no examples of residents who had not been able to obtain insurance, BM stated that one resident did. Evidence of specific instances where households cannot obtain insurance to be fed back to SL. JG again confirmed that he would then be happy to write to ministers including Caroline Spellman and Nick Herbert, highlighting these cases. | |
| 3.8. | Point 7.9 – Point raised at last meeting regarding rapid fluctuations of water levels in the Thames following heavy rainfall in May still to be addressed. IT to provide DH with dates and times, and DH will then review telemetry data / investigate further. | IT/DH |
| 4.0 | Presentation by Paul Cobbing – National Flood Forum | |
| 4.1 | Paul introduced himself and thanked everyone for being invited to the meeting | |
| 4.2 | National Flood Forum is a national charity dedicated to supporting and representing communities and individuals at risk of flooding. It helps people prepare for flooding in order to prevent or mitigate its impacts, helps people recover following flooding, and seeks to work with government and other agencies to help the development of a community prospective. The NFF is also working to change flood risk insurance policies with organisations such as ABI. | |
| 4.3 | Richard Benyon, the Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Fisheries, gave a speech at the National Flood Forum Conference in March, and stated that a further announcement would be made later in the Spring. A subsequent statement made by Caroline Spellman, MP, has done little to clarify the future provision of flood insurance. | |
| 4.4 | PC stated that Government ministers seem in favour of a “pooling” scheme, and stated that flood risk insurance should be accessible, affordable, and socially just. | |
| 4.5 | National Flood Forum has a dedicated helpline to assist people who experience difficulty in obtaining flood risk insurance. As many as sixty percent of householders at risk of flooding are unaware that they are at risk. | |
| 4.6 | There was some discussion regarding data used to assess flood risk. Some insurance companies use their own data to assess flood risk. Some companies use post codes in allocating flood risk which can lead to properties being incorrectly identified as being at risk. | |
| 4.7 | HC stated that there appeared to be little incentive for residents to install flood resistance / resilience measures and that insurance companies didn’t seem to recognise the installation of these products in assessing premiums / excesses. SL stated that he had raised this as an issue at a recent workshop with DEFRA when asked how the take up of these products can be encouraged. | |
| 4.8 | JG stated that Ian Trenholm (ex chief executive at RBWM) has taken up a post with DEFRA and that he understood that flood risk insurance fell within his remit. JG therefore felt that Ian Trenholm may provide a suitable contact point for the Borough. | |
| 4.9 | JG suggested that many properties at risk of flooding in the Borough are in affluent areas and are in a position to pay insurance premiums that reflect risk. HC challenged this view stating that this is not the general case anymore and that many poorer areas are affected. | |
| 4.10 | HC stated that the Parish Flood Group has decided to join the National Flood Forum, and asked whether RBWM would consider joining? IT stated that Datchet Parish Council has also decided to join the National Flood Forum. JG agreed to consult the lead members on this. | |
| 4.11 | MB stated that he belongs to an aircraft noise committee and suggested that the Borough could work with the National Flood Forum in a similar manner. This committee works very closely with residents, gathering information and responds to government consultations. | |
| 4.12 | SL stated that the Borough is a member of the Local Government Flood Forum, and that Gavin Shuker, the Labour Shadow Minister for Water and Waste, is speaking at the next meeting of this Forum on 2nd November. Matt Cullen, of the ABI, is also speaking at this meeting. SL also stated that it was his intention to attend this meeting and PC confirmed that the National Flood Forum will also be in attendance. | |
| 4.13 | PC stated that a path finder project will shortly be announced, looking at innovative ways of raising awareness of flood risk, ultimately leading to the instigation of schemes | |
| 5.0 | Flood & Water Management Act Update | |
| 5.1 | SL stated that Designation powers included within the Act were implemented on 1st August. These powers allow Lead Local Flood Authorities and the Environment Agency to designate private structures and features that have a significant affect on flood risk. Once designated the structure or feature cannot be altered without the designating authority’s formal consent. | |
| 5.2 | SL stated that work on the development of the Register of Structures and Features (with a significant affect on flood risk) continues. Good input has been received from a number of Parishes including Datchet and Wraysbury. Input from other Parishes would be welcome. | |
| 5.3 | SL stated that the first draft of the generic sections of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy had been received from the appointed consultant this morning, but has yet to be reviewed. | |
| 5.4 | HC stated that he recalled a number of deadlines, relating to the F&WMA, being discussed at the last meeting. SL responded stating that the only date he could think of, related to the completion of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. DEFRA has indicated that it expects Lead Local Flood Authorities to have strategies in place by December 2012. This is not however a deadline and DEFRA has indicated that it intends to review progress made by Lead Local Flood Authorities before considering the need for a deadline. | |
| 5.5 | HC asked whether the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy will be completed by December. SL indicated that the strategy will not be finalised by December. The local policies are likely to take some time to develop and a public consultation will be essential. It is likely that the public consultation will be a full 3 month consultation. DP also indicated that the Strategy will need to be endorsed by Cabinet and realistically will not be taken to Cabinet until May 2013. | |
| 5.6 | DH explained that a recent reorganisation within the EA meant that he would no longer be routinely attending the Royal Borough Flood Forum. DH introduced HL as the new EA representative and reassured everyone that communication lines will be kept open. | |
| 6.0 | Battle Bourne Embankment Scheme Update | |
| 6.1 | DH reported that the Battle Bourne Embankment Scheme was structurally complete. Landscaping and planting will commence in November. RG and MB both commented that this was excellent news. DH expressed thanks to the group and all involved. | |
| 6.2 | JG stated that he agreed that the scheme had gone extremely well and thanked the EA for their work. | |
| 6.3 | MB commented that he was very grateful for the EA cooperation and they had achieved a great deal. | |
| 6.4 | It was suggested that an article could be prepared for the National Flood Forum news letter citing this as a good example of cooperative team working | RG/DH/SL |
| 7.0 | Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy | |
| 7.1 | DH stated that the current focus is on setting up the steering group and securing funding. Development of the funding strategy is now gaining momentum. The first phase of works, once funding has been achieved, would include localised property protection measures at the downstream end of the scheme and increasing capacity of weirs. Phase two would be the flood alleviation channels. HC raised possibility of obtaining some funding from RBWM and the EA. JG stated that it may be possible to provide some funding through the local levy for smaller localised works. | |
| 7.2 | EL asked when planning application is likely to be submitted and when public inquiry will be held. DH stated that funding must be secured first. The EA has however taken barristers opinion on the planning process and when this has been finalised he will be happy to share this with the Borough Flood Forum | DH |
| 7.3 | EL asked if the Strategy had changed name, as it is referred to as the Lower Thames Flood Alleviation Scheme in a recent report submitted to parliament. JG stated that this was not the case and that it was still known as the Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy. | |
| 8.0 | Parish Flood Group Update | |
| 8.1 | HC stated that insurance was still the number one priority, as demonstrated during the presentation made by PC. | |
| 8.2 | HC stated that the parishes have grave concerns that there is no dedicated EPO in place at RBWM, and no focal point for people to contact on emergency planning issues. DP stated that RBWM had a great response capability and that there were a number of people able to provide advice and deal with EP issues. HC stated that it was comforting for people to have a single point of contact on EP issues, such as Darren Firth who was very knowledgeable, and able to put people at ease straight away when issues arose. DP stated that a vacancy had arisen in the Borough and that Darren Firth had successfully applied for this post. Darren was therefore no longer the Borough’s EPO. DP also stated that the Borough had recently appointed a consultant to work on emergency planning issues for the next 6 months. DP suggested that an open evening be set up for parishes and other groups to meet officers and discuss EP issues. DP to liaise with Darren Firth regarding this. | |
| 8.3 | HC raised concerns regarding vegetation growth in a number of main river watercourses following the generally wet spring / summer. RG raised specific concerns regarding vegetation growth in the Burfield Road Ditch. DH agreed to provide details of the EA maintenance program. | DH |
| 8.4 | FH stated that Cookham Parish had had to instigate additional clearance of vegetation on footpaths as a result of the spring / summer weather. | |
| 8.5 | The use of EA flood maps for spatial planning purposes was raised. As there was no representative of the Borough’s Planning Team at the meeting it was agreed that DH / IT would discuss this matter | DH/ IT |
| 9.0 | Future Meetings | |
| 9.1 | Next flood group meeting at Town Hall, Maidenhead on 20th December 2012 at 18.00. | |
| 10.0 | Any Other Business | |
| 10.1 | FH raised concerns raised by David Ricardo regarding The Causeway, at Cookham. Apparently there were a number of pipes built through the Causeway which have been blocked off, and David Ricardo was concerned that this may restrict flows during a flood event. SL stated that he believed that flows had been deliberately restricted by the bund constructed just upstream of the Causeway as part of the Strande Lane scheme. DH to investigate and liaise with FH. | DH/FH |
| 10.2 | EL thanked Doug Hill for his hard work with the Forum | |
| 10.3 | MB raised an issue with polish fishermen lighting fires and leaving litter on the Thames at Old Windsor. It was suggested that the Environment Agency’s fisheries team may be able to investigate this and take enforcement action. DH to investigate. | DH |
| 10.4 | DP thanked PC for excellent presentation. JG thanked everyone for attending. | |