Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Cluskey.  Apologies for absence were also received from Councillor Fairclough, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Transportation and Councillor Shaw, Cabinet Member Environmental.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair, Councillor Peter Papworth welcomed newly elected Members to the Committee and wished them an enjoyable year.

The Chair paid tribute to previous Members of the Committee, Councillors Gustafson, Hubbard, C. Mainey, S. Mainey and McIvor and thanked them for all their hard work whilst on the Committee during 2010/2011.

The Chair paid tribute to the hard work Coucillor C. Mainey had done as Lead Member of the Licensing Act Working Group, he highlighted that the recommendations of that Working Group had shaped new methods of delivering that Service in line with the Licensing Act 2010.  

RESOLVED:            That:

(i)         all Members be welcomed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services);

(ii)            previous Members of the Committee, Councillors Gustafson, Hubbard, C. Mainey, S. Mainey and McIvor be thanked for all their hard work whilst on the Committee during 2010/2011; and

(iii)            Councillor C. Mainey be thanked for all his hard work as Lead Member of the Licensing Act Working Group.

To receive a verbal update from Ms. Claire Bursnoll, Environment Agency.

The Chair, Councillor Papworth welcomed Ms. Claire Bursnoll, Environment-Agency (Merseyside Authorities: Flood Liasion Engineer) to the meeting.

Ms. Bursnoll briefed Members on how the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) came about and referred to the 92 recommendations of the Pitt Review (2008).  She explained that Sir Michael Pitt had published his review after the UK Summer floods (2007).

Ms. Bursnoll updated the Committee on progress in relation to Flood Risk Management and with particular reference to:-

1.         The Floods and Water Management Act (FWMA)

It was reported that following the UK Summer 2007 floods, which caused £3.2 billion of damage, lessons had been learnt that if put in place could reduce the impact of flooding in Sefton.  Ms. Bursnoll referred to the following duties which had already been enacted with a direct resource implication:-

• Local Strategy – Defra expected progress on a Local Strategy by December 2010.  It was explained that the work on the Local Strategy should follow on from the June Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment.  The Local Strategy should:-

-                      understand local flood risk;

-                      identify and cost management solutions;

-                      identify funding options;

-                      understand land use planning and development function to ensure surface water is managed from new developments;

-                      identify what Sefton won’t do and evaluate the risks; and

-                      communicate plans to the Community.

• Duty to Investigate – As the Lead Local Flooding Authority (LLFA), Sefton must investigate flooding incidents in its area.  The results must be published.

• Duty to maintain a register – As the Lead Local Flooding Authority (LLFA), Sefton must establish and maintain a register of structures or features which may have an effect on flood risk in its area.  Records must include information on ownership and condition.

2.         Next Steps – Work Load for 2011

It was reported that Sefton must demonstrate that they:-

• Understand the risk;
• Plan for that risk;
• Maintain and Improve defences;
• Communicate the risk to outside bodies and communities;
• Understand their spacial awareness;
• Have Emergency Plans in place.

3.         Concern relating to awareness at senior management level within Sefton MBC

Ms. Bursnoll reported that the key issue for Sefton was to designate Officers to have a direct responsibility to take the several duties that have been placed on the LLFA forward.  She emphasised the importance of this matter as the LLFA.

4.         Concern that not all funding assigned from central government has been made available for new duties

Ms. Bursnoll explained that the Government provided £121,000 to Sefton to carry out the new duties.  It was reported that the funding was part of the Area Based Grant (local service Support Grant) and was unringfenced which meant that Sefton had secured £70,000 of the money for those new duties.  It was reported that wherever possible a request to designate the relevant amount to enable Sefton to discharge their duties as the LLFA could be fulfilled.

RESOLVED: That:

(1)      Ms. Claire Bursnoll be thanked for the verbal update in relation to the Floods and Water Management Act  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive a presentation from the Strategic Director - Place

The Committee received a detailed presentation from Mr Phillip Raynor, Flood Risk and Water Management, Capita Symonds in relation to the draft Surface Water Management Plan for Sefton.

The presentation detailed:-

·        What the Surface Water Management Plan was.

·        The area covered by Sefton.

·        A summary of Assessment.

·        A summary of Surface Water Flood Risk Issues.

·        Recommended Actions.

The presentation highlighted that the Surface Water Management Plan would provide an overview of surface water flood risk within high-risk areas of Sefton.

It was also emphasised that the plan would present an action plan of recommendations to:-

·        Ensure that the Flood and Water Management Act and Flood Risk Regulation responsibilities would be met.

·        Improve data sharing and coordination with key partners and stakeholders.

·        Improve communication with and involvement of communities at risk.

·        Maximise funding opportunities to deliver actions.

·        Address remaining uncertainties.

·        Increase the effectiveness of the emergency response.

·        Reduce the chance and consequences of flooding.

·        Facilitate future reviews and updates

Mr Raynor reported that the final version of the Surface Water Management Plan would be submitted to the next Meeting of this Committee.

Members raised concerns in relation to the increase of insurance premiums for those property’s situated in high risk areas.  It was highlighted that some of those high risk areas were in Sefton’s most deprived areas. 

Ms Bursnoll reassured Members that resilience grants were available and highlighted the importance of Communities being aware so that they can manage the risk and have an understanding of the Emergency Plan in place should an issue arise.

RESOLVED:           That Mr Raynor be thanked for the presentation.

Report of the Strategic Director – Place

The Committee considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director in relation to the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, Preliminary Assessment Report.

The report highlighted that it was in December 2009 that the Flood Risk Regulation 2009 came into force and that the Regulations require the Environmental Agency (EA) to assess, map and plan for flood risks from the sea, main rivers and large raised reservoirs.

Members were also reminded that Sefton is the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Act and that the Act requires LLFA’s to assess, map and plan for flood risks from other sources of flooding (not covered by the EA) or where sources of flooding interact.

It was reported that the Preliminary Assessment Report (PAR) was based on available and readily derivable information. It was further reported that the LLFA must determine whether, in its opinion, there was significant flood risk in its area and identify the part of the area affected by the risk.  It should assess the probability and consequences of past and future flooding and provide evidence to determine flood risk areas.

RESOLVED:            That the Preliminary Assessment Report be approved and submitted to the Environment Agency. 

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

The Committee considered a report from the Director of Corporate Commissioning which explained the function of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services).  The report had been compiled especially for the benefit of newly-elected Members.

RESOLVED: That the report be received.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

The Committee considered the report from the Director of Corporate Commissioning submitting the most recent Cabinet Member reports for March – May 2011 for the following portfolio’s which fall within the remit of this Committee:-

Cabinet Member - Regeneration; and

Cabinet Member - Technical Services.

RESOLVED:That the most recent Cabinet Member reports for portfolio’s Regeneration and Technical Services be accepted.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

The Committee considered the report from the Director of Corporate Commissioning in relation to the Committee’s programme of work.  A number of Key Decisions within the latest Key Decision Forward Plan fell under this Committee’s remit.

The Committee were advised that the Rimrose Valley Working Group at it’s meeting held on 16 March 2011 would propose to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) that the Working Group would continue the review in 2011/12. 

The Chair, Councillor Peter Papworth requested that Members think about issues they would like to debate as part of the Committee’s Work Programme for that year (2011/2012).

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the contents of the Key Decision Forward Plan for the period 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2011 be accepted;

(2)       the progress and actions of the cross-cutting Working Group, to scrutinise health inequalities within the Borough, be supported;

(3)       the verbal update and actions of the Rimrose Valley Working Group be supported;

(4)       the Director for Older People be requested to submit a presentation to a future Meeting of this Committee in relation to the progress of the Cultural Centre, Southport; and

(5)       the Strategic Director Place be requested to submit a presentation to a future Meeting of this Committee in relation to the Core Strategy and it’s link to a Strategy for Employment and Education.