To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Laura Regazzacci, Eton Wick Waterways Group (EWWG).

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11th January 2023 were a true and accurate record.

To confirm the actions from the previous minutes.

To receive the above verbal update.

Richard Hancock, Environment Agency for Thames Side Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, gave an update on the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures (DHEFIM).

On the EA Project Lifecycle, the Environment Agency (EA) had been working through the strategic assessment and then towards the strategic outline case (SOC), which had been prepared and submitted to the Large Projects Review Group (LPRG). Feedback had been received from LPRG in which EA were reviewing before the SOC being recommended to the area director for approval.

Richard Hancock then stated that there was a successful case for there being viable alternative options to mitigate flood risk, but EA were nevertheless reviewing the feedback from LPRG before recommending approval.

Scoping for the next stage of the project (Outline Business Case) had started with agreement of EA’s internal assurance process as there was a strong case to put forward.

Richard Hancock also reported that two relevant parish councils were visited with the remaining relevant councils being visited after the local elections on 4 May 2023.

Richard Hancock also highlighted that Victor Freeney no longer worked with the communications and engagement side of the project. As such, a replacement would be recruited.

Richard Hancock then reported that an external stakeholder group would be arranged during the Outline Business Case stage of the project and after the local elections.

The Chair asked which were the two relevant parish councils in which Richard Hancock visited. The latter replied that he visited Old Windsor and Wraysbury with Datchet and Horton being the remaining parish councils to be visited.

On the Business Outline Case, Parish Councillor Ian Thompson (Datchet PC) asked what sum was available by RBWM for flood defences which could go into the Business Outline Case. Ben Crampin, Flood Risk Manager, replied that approximately £10 million had been accumulated for the EA in relation to the DHEFIM project. He added that RBWM were also in contact with the EA on when they needed this money. The Chair added that there were EA funding streams and other stakeholders in addition.

Joshua Hardcastle, Asset Performance Officer, EA, gave an update on the pioneering works along the Colne Brook. He reported that the primary aim of the project was to improve flood conveyance within the area while also being mindful of preserving habitats. He showed photos of the work which the external contractor had conducted, such as removing debris and hanging trees.

The Chair requested for Joshua Hardcastle to share the presentation document with the clerk, Laurence Ellis, Democratic Services Officer, who would then circulate it to meeting attendees. He also requested to Parish Councillor Mike Williams (Wraysbury PC) for this document to distributed amongst flood wardens.

ACTION:Joshua Hardcastle to share the presentation document on the Colne Brook Pioneering works with Laurence Ellis who would then circulate it to Flood Group members and flood wardens.

For a general update on the strategic overview, Richard Hancock reported that there had been a reasonably wet winter, with 150% of the long-term average  ...  view the full minutes text for item 214.

To receive the above verbal update.

David Harding, Customer and Stakeholder Manager (Thames Water), reported that the recent heavy rainfall had created a lot of surface water and flash flooding. Due to the long dry summer in 2022, it did not appear that there had been much aquifer recharge which meant that there had not been a lot of the groundwater infiltration into sewers and the associated flooding from this. However, the lack of a recent aquifer recharge raised the risk of water resource problems in the next summer.

Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneene (Bray PC) raised that there had been some flooding in some Borough wards, namely Holyport and Moneyrow Green. It was confirmed that the cause of the flooding in Moneyrow Green was a hydraulic overload, rather than a blockage. She also mentioned that residents raised concerns that there was sewage pumping out of a drain cover near the Jolly Gardener pub. There was a request from residents for this to be sealed. She asked if this could be resolved. David Harding replied that Ben Crampin had contacted him in 2022 regarding the drain cover near the Jolly Gardener and a Thames Water Network Engineer had looked into this.

The Chair requested that David Harding to liaise with Parish Councillor LouvaineKneen once an update had been received.

ACTION: David Harding to update Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneen on the drain cover near theJolly Gardener pub.

Parish Councillor Mike Williams raised that a few roads in Wraysbury had been flooded during the recent rainfall. He also stated that the drains near the village green in front of the village hall were not working, partially because they were soak-away drains and were not linked to the main system. He asked if this was an RBWM or Thames Water issue. Ben Crampin requested for this to be reported through the RBWM website and if it was Thames Water’s responsibility, he would liaise with them.

ACTION: Parish Councillor Mike Williams to report on the issue of drains in Wraysbury through the RBWM website, followed by Ben Crampin confirming who was responsible in resolving this.

To receive the above verbal update.

Ben Crampin, Flood Risk Manager, started off by highlighting that there had been significant rainfall at the start of 2023, from January to March. As a result, the number of drainage issues reported to the Borough had increased by three times compared to the same period in 2022. There was also an increase in reporting of property flooding, particularly in the south of Maidenhead and Ascot.

For the next financial year of 2023-24, a new Flood Risk Officer had recently been appointed and was in the process of collecting information to inform the Flood Team’s work. The Team also had a new lead contractor within VolkerHighways. Ben Crampin had working to train them and get them up to speed.

Ben Crampin also mentioned that he had been working on setting up the pipeline of projects for the year, namely the project timescales for the quick wins (short-term measures relating to the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures) and the Grant-in-Aid program, as well as a Highways Capital Programme to work out where money would be spent around borough to mitigate the impact of flooding. He added that he was working on a resilient data collection process to ensure an efficient collection of information on flood-affected areas.

Ben Crampin hen gave brief updates on short term DHEFIM measures:

·       Maintenance works and surveying had recently started on the Datchet Barrell Arch, particularly around Churchmead School. Further work would continue until traffic management permits were in place, which was predicted to be around late spring 2023.

·       Progress had been made on the Wraysbury Drain with some enforcement with downstream landowners that uncovered some pipework underneath some dumped material. The Flood Team were discussing with the Legal Team to discuss the next steps. Ben Crampin mentioned that he was reviewing previous surveys of the Wraysbury Drain with EA to understand the existing information on the watercourse, which would then help with the next steps. The Flood Team were waiting for a second quote for the works at Windsor Road bridge.

·       Modelling work on determining the suitability of the Penn Road Flap Valve project had been completed. However, JBA’s technical note indicated that the Flap Valve would not be effective to mitigate flood risk in Datchet. The next step, Ben Crampin explained, was to review JBA’s technical note and resolve this.

·       Other Flood Team priorities for 2023/24 included improving the comms works (namely improving the website and factsheets); improving processes, such as the Ordinary Watercourse Consent; build additional team resilience (such as recruitment and training); and continue to develop the Grant-in-Aid programme.

Ben Crampin concluded his update by displaying contact details for flood enquiries and emergencies.

The Chair requested for the presentation to be circulated amongst Flood Group members.

ACTION: Laurence Ellis to circulate Ben Crampin’s presentation to Flood Groups members.

Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneen asked what the best email address was to notify the Flood Team on any flooding issues. Ben Crampin replied that it would be flooding.enquiries@rbwm.gov.uk, and that this was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 216.

To receive the above verbal update.

Parish Councillors Louvaine Kneen and Colin Lemmings reported that there were no updates from Bray and Bisham Parish Councils.

Reporting for Eton, Bob Austen informed that Eton Town Council were having discussions with Thames Water regarding weed clearance around the Boveney water course, which was an ongoing process.

After thanking Ben Crampin for his work, Parish Councillor Ian Thompson relayed a question from Datchet residents on how much money had been spent on flood defences within the Borough in the last 4 years. Ben Crampin replied that he could look into this and relay this back to Parish Councillor Ian Thompson.

ACTION: Ben Crampin to relay to Parish Councillor Ian Thompson on the funding for flood defences in the Borough in the last 4 years.

Reporting for Wraysbury, Councillor Larcombe conveyed his concern on the flooded drains in front of Wraysbury Village Hall. He explained that water levels were high due to a blockage at Hythe End. He also highlighted that the ditches along Wraysbury Village Green were full of water to such an extent that The Green was on the verge of flooding. Ben Crampin took note of these issues and stated that he would relay them to VolkerHighways so they could investigate them.

ACTION: Ben Crampin to forward the flooding issues in Wraysbury which Councillor Larcombe highlighted to VolkerHighways.

The Chair announced that this would be his last meeting as Chair of Flood Liaison Group, and thanked members and officers for their work and participation.