To receive the above verbal update.

Ben Crampin gave a verbal update.

·         The main focus for the Flood Risk Team in the last few months was improving the grant-in-aid schemes and deciding where this aid should be spent. There were two projects in early stages that RBWM were seeking to push forward in the next couple of months. One of the projects was a surface water study around the Holyport, Fifield and Stud Green area.

·         Consultations took place with the EA on other areas, namely the Flood Risk Management Plans as well as looking into the new national modelling being undertaken by the EA.

·         The Flood Risk Team were seeking to develop and invest in the flood function within RBWM. This would involve recruiting two new officers to the team: a flood risk officer and a SuDS specialist. The former would be leading investigations on flood issues; meanwhile, the latter would take on the role of statutory consultee for drainage within the planning process for major planning applications.

·         Some work took place on short-term measures on the Datchet Hythe End Scheme.

·         Some works on the Wraysbury drain had been completed. A plan for the next steps for the Wraysbury drain was to be put together by the end of July 2022. This would likely include both landowner engagement and some maintenance work from RBWM.

·         Some initial surveys had taken place on the Datchet Barrell Arch. The results conveyed that no structural issues had been found, with only some minor lining in a few areas recommended. The next stages were to remove the silt within the Datchet barrel arch and then complete the survey and check if any more remedial was required.

·         On the flat valve on Penn Road at Datchet Common Brook, RBWM Flood Risk Team had engaged with JBA Consulting to do modelling work around the flat valve to better understand the impacts it may have. A kickoff meeting was going to be held with JBA Consulting in a couple weeks to discuss the project further before maintenance work took place.

·         Ben Crampin stated he had visited areas of the Borough as well as meeting with RBWM and Parish Councillors to investigate any flooding issues in the last few months. He was open to being invited by any of the local councillors to discuss local flooding issues in certain areas.

·         Section 19 investigation report at Moneyrow Green had been completed. A few things needed to be sorted before the report could be published. This included developing the website to create somewhere for these reports to be published.

·         A review of RBWM duties had been completed. While the Council was fulfilling these duties, there were some areas for improvement. One of these was the flood risk asset register for the Council. Ben Crampin planned to send out a questionnaire to RBWM Councillors over the next month or so to better understand where the flood risk assets were within the Borough. The reported assets were to be reviewed and determine whether they were appropriate to add to the flood risk asset register. The questionnaire would be passed to members of the Flood Liaison Group.

·         Ben Crampin announced he created a central mailbox for flooding within the Borough where flooding issues could be reported. This would be accessed by the new flooding officers. The email address was flooding.enquiries@rbwm.gov.uk.

Councillor Larcombe commented that £13,500 was spent on cleaning a piece of the Wraysbury drain recently, and that it was dry at The Green. Ben Crampin replied that he would investigate the next time he would visit the area. Councillor Larcombe followed by asking what was happening at Feathers Lane, where the watercourse was blocked and was culverted illegally. Ben Crampin replied that the issue was identified and would form part of the forward planning for the Wrasybury Drain.

Councillor Baldwin commented that he was shocked by the lack of progress in dealing with the flooding issues in Borough since a site visit which occurred a couple of years ago in which these issues were raised. The Chairman replied that legal letters were issued identifying landholders and agreed progress had been slow.

Councillor Walters and Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneene wished to take on Ben Crampin’s suggestion that he visit Bray to do some flood investigations. Ben Crampin suggested to organise this outside the meeting.

ACTION: Ben Crampin, Councillor Walters and Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneene to organise and visit Bray to investigate flooding issues in the areas.

Parish Councillor Ian Thompson made a couple of comments. Firstly, on the Datchet barrel arch, he was concerned about that the results of Ben Crampin’s survey conveyed that there was little remedial work needed on the arch. He elaborated that VolkerHighways Ltd had conducted thorough survey of the Datchet barrel arch. The results presented a number of items that needed some rectification (some of them being urgent). Secondly, he requested that the notice for the start of maintenance work to be about at least a month beforehand (rather than a day before) so that residents could be advised. He followed that a program and dates would be appreciated. Ben Crampin replied that he would ensure plenty of notice was given ahead of any future works. He then said that once the silt was removed from Datchet barrel arch, they would do a final check to ensure nothing had been missed.

Councillor Baldwin wondered if there was any crossover between the responsibilities for flood defence and the local fire authority. He followed by wondering if there were synergies which could be exploited. Ben Crampin responded that it was something he would look into in terms of forward planning; but was something that would be looked into further down the line when larger tasks were to be completed. This may be similar to some work being undertaken by Surrey County Council where flooding issues were raised within Fire and Rescue’s Safe and Well visits to vulnerable residents within the Borough.

The Chairman asked if there was an update from Emergency Planning. Emily Merritt, Emergency Planning Officer, replied that there was no update. The Chairman requested to Emily Merritt to engage with the flood wardens ensure there was ongoing communication between them in the parishes and Emergency Planning. Emily Merritt said she would, stating that if they would seek to contact them if they emailed the Emergency Planning inbox. The Chairman specified that he was referring to the long-term ones from Wraysbury and Horton who had expressed concern, Duncan Parker and Dave Francis.

ACTION: Emily Merritt to reach out to flood wardens in the parishes, Duncan Parker and Dave Francis.