Flood Liaison Group
Tuesday 17 December 2013 6.00 pm
ROYAL BOROUGH FLOOD FORUM
17th DECEMBER 2013
18.00 TOWN HALL MAIDENHEAD
MINUTES
| Present |  | |
| Cllr Jesse Grey (Chair) | JG | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Cllr Malcom Beer | MB | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| Cllr Richard Kellaway | RK | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Councillor |
| David Perkins | DP | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Eric Livingstone | EWL | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Simon Lavin | SL | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead |
| Harry Clasper | HC | Chair of Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Fiona Hewer | FH | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ian Thompson | IT | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Ewan Larcombe | EL | Parish Flood Liaison Group |
| Mike Piotrowski | MP | Environment Agency |
| Amanda Smith | AS | Thames Water |
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION | ACTION |
| Welcome & Introductions | |
| JG welcomed everyone to the Town Hall at Maidenhead and asked everyone to introduce themselves. | |
| | |
| 1.0 | Apologies | |
| 1.0 | Hilary Murgatroyd, Thames Water Bob Cunningham, Thames Water David Burfitt, Parish Flood Liaison Group Jeanne Capey, Environment Agency | |
| | |
| 2.0 | Minutes of Previous Meeting (Accuracy) | |
| 2.1 | Agreed as a true record. | |
| Actions from previous meeting | |
| 2.2 | Point 3.4 - Reservoir inspection had been attended by IT and IT provided a summary of the visit that had been made to Spitial Field Reservoir. MP indicated likely frequency of such inspections, i.e. some sites will be inspected on a six monthly basis, while other sites will be inspected on an annual basis. MP also stated that the Environment Agency’s general maintenance schedule is available on their website. | |
| 2.3 | Point 3.5 - Tour of the Battle Bourne Scheme is to be arranged. Date to be confirmed. | MP |
| 2.4 | Point 5.4 – Proposed Thames Water actions to address issues identified in East Datchet to be discussed as part of TW agenda item | TW |
| 2.5 | Point 5.7 – Little Marlow STW to be covered as part of agenda item | |
| 2.6 | Point 9.1 – a deformation survey has been undertaken along the bund crossing the golf course and the PNEU School site in Datchet, and the Environment Agency’s Asset Performance Team has stated that this bund performs the intended function. | |
| 2.7 | Point 5.1 - DP provided an update on the River Thames Scheme. Following recent Cabinet Office review the scheme has achieved “amber” status. | |
| 2.8 | Point 6.4 - Ham Island to be covered as part of TW agenda item | |
| 2.9 | Point 9.2 – Fly tipping in Datchet Common Brook. The Environment Agency has undertaken some maintenance work on Datchet Common Brook and intend to undertake a letter drop at this location explaining riparian ownership responsibilities. | |
| 2.10 | Point 9.3 – Pumps at The Myrke. MP has spoken to the Environment Agency’s Asset Performance Team. The pumps were reported to be working well during latest flood event in December 2011 / January 2012. IT raised concerns that this had not been the case and that the pumps had not been coping with the flow in The Myrke Stream. | |
| 3.0 | Flood & Water Management Act and the future of flood risk insurance Update | |
| 3.1 | SL stated that he had recently received a draft copy of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy from the consultant engaged to assist in the preparation of this document. SL had not however had the opportunity to review its content prior to the meeting. It was now anticipated that the strategy would go out to consultation in Spring 2014. | |
| 3.2 | SL provided an update on the future of flood risk insurance, based on recent announcements and a presentation made by Matt Cullen of ABI at a Local Government Flood Forum meeting on 22nd November 2013.
This document confirms that Flood Re is the Government’s preferred option The Government are also including provision in the Water Bill which will allow The Secretary of State to make provisions in connection with the provision of insurance against flood risk by insurance companies Flood Re will not apply to new properties built since 2009. The Government’s position is that Flood Re is still intended to be a transitional arrangement to a full free market position after 25 years IT and HC asked how this proposal would affect properties built since 2009 that currently have a mortgage? SL stated that he didn’t know, but the Government’s intention was to prevent inappropriate development in the future. DP clarified that SL could only provide his interpretation of information received from ABI and the Local Government Flood Forum and it was agreed that the Parish Flood Group should approach the National Flood Forum for their view on how properties built since 2009 that currently have a mortgage will be affected by the proposed new arrangements. | |
| 4.0 | Update from Environment Agency | |
| 4.1 | MP provided an update on the new flood mapping, published on the Environment Agency’s website on 12th December 2013, that includes flood risk from fluvial, surface water and reservoirs. EL stated that he had looked at the maps and that they where accessible. The dark blue shading was however too dark, and made assessing locations on the map difficult. DP asked SL whether there were any areas at significant risk of surface water flooding in the RBWM area and SL responded stating that there were no areas that would be regarded as significant in national terms. DP mentioned that studies were to be undertaken on the Wraysbury Drain, the Horton Drain, and in the Fifield area. MB asked whether we were liaising with the Borough’s Planning Team regarding flood risk. SL stated that the short answer was yes, and that a meeting was being set up with the Borough’s Planning Team to discuss how the information contained in the new surface water mapping is utilised. SL stated that the Flood Map would still be used for planning purposes when assessing fluvial flood risk, and a query regarding how flood risk at a specific site was addressed was raised. SL explained that the developer was required to prepare a flood risk assessment for the site and that Planning would review the submitted flood risk assessment as part of their processes. MP also stated that the Environment Agency would review flood risk assessments that involved fluvial flood risk and would provide advice to the local planning authorities in such circumstances. | |
| 4.2 | MP provided an update on the Environment Agency’s property level flood protection scheme that is available to properties that will remain at high risk of flooding following completion of the diversion channels proposed as part of the Lower Thames Scheme. Initial assessment was made on the basis of high level mapping. Detailed surveys, including level surveys on properties thought to be eligible, where then undertaken. MP tabled copies of the high level maps used in making the initial assessment, and maps indicating the eligible properties. Works have now commenced and the Environment Agency has received some further enquires regarding participation in the scheme since works commenced. | |
| 4.3 | MP provided an update on the Lower Thames Major Incident Plan. The possible use of temporary defences or pumps is being investigated as part of this plan. Investigations are still at an early stage and these proposals will not be taken forward until the assessment has been completed. It is anticipated that a report on the findings of this assessment will be published in February 2014. | |
| 5.0 | Update from Thames Water | |
| 5.1 | A written update had been supplied by Hilary Murgatroyd at Thames Water and was circulated (copy attached). | |
| 5.2 | AS provided an update on Little Marlow STW.
Pontoon still in place Spare pumps on site Pumping station refurbishment completed. Second round of pumping station refurbishments to be undertaken Capital funding now available for refurbishment of first stage tanks. There is a 40 day lead in time for replacement metal units for tanks. It is proposed that an open day will be held at Little Marlow STW, and a provisional date of 15th April has been identified. FH stated that the site visit to Little Marlow STW was very interesting and stated that she would recommend this to anyone who was interested | |
| 5.3 | JG has written to Karen Fisher, Slough Borough Council’s Lead Officer, on flooding issues regarding sewage pollution in The Myrke. Slough BC has confirmed that it is aware of this issue and that it has written to Thames Water on a number of occasions regarding this issue. Thames Water’s written response states that flow meters are being installed in the trunk sewer to monitor flows and establish if there are any further issues in this part of the network which may be linked to the pumping station performance. It was suggested that any future incidents be reported to Thames Water’s Customer Centre (0845 9 200 800) as a pollution incident affecting a watercourse. | |
| 5.4 | Ham Island. It was agreed that IT would discuss storm water provisions at Ham Island with AS outside of the meeting. | |
| 5.5 | Issues with the Thames Water sewer system in East Datchet were raised. SL stated that he understood that this issue related to sewer flooding of gardens in Horton Road during River Thames flood events. In such events water from the Thames enters the sewer system at low spots in the Wraysbury area and is pumped via pumping stations in Friary Road and The Avenue to the gravity sewer in Horton Road. It was agreed that this matter should be discussed further at a future meeting of the Borough Flood Group. | ALL / TW |
| 6.0 | Parish Flood Group Update | |
| 6.1 | FH reported that development of the “Cookham website” bringing together live information on flooding seems to have come up against some form of obstruction. DP stated that the Borough has agreed to fund the necessary licence to use the Environment Agency data. MP stated that the Environment Agency was trying to sort out similar websites for a number of communities across the country. The same Environment Agency team has however been working on the publication of the new flood mapping. FH stated that the Environment Agency seemed to be enthusiastic about this proposal, in principle. DP stated that this may be a functionality issue, and MP stated that it was currently unclear whether this was a prioritisation issue or a licencing issue. MP to seek clarification and details of likely timescale. | MP |
| 7.0 | Future Meetings | |
| 7.1 | JG raised an issue relating to the timing of the December meeting stating that this meeting has been difficult for some members to attend in the past. It was therefore suggested that this meeting should be pulled forward to early December or moved back to late January | DP |
| 8.0 | Any Other Business | |
| 8.1 | MB raised an issue with the agenda not being available on the Borough website. DP said that this would be addressed in the future. SL also stated that the Borough’s website was being reviewed and re-written, and that this would be picked up as part of this. | DP |