Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

It was RESOLVED to approve the draft Flood Risk Strategic Plan and the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) for consultation with the public and key stakeholders.

The report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property incorporating the Draft Flood Risk Strategic Plan was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property said that the Flood Risk Management Plan provides a summary of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.  He noted that both documents set out the Council’s ambitions for managing flood risk in Anglesey for a six-year period which will be reviewed annually.  The development of the Flood Risk Strategic has been funded through existing revenue budgets and annual flood risk management grants from Welsh Government.  There are good examples of work undertaken to alleviate flooding in Beaumaris, Valley, Dwyran and Pentraeth areas. 

The Head of Highways, Waste and Property reported that there is a statutory responsibility on the Authority to deal with flooding and flood risks.  Due to the impact of climate change it will result in additional rainfall and storms.  Work is undertaken with partner organisations and local communities to increasing the awareness of flood risks, however, achieving the objections within the Plan will be dependent on financial resources together with grant funding from Welsh Government.  He further said that additional engagement and raising awareness of flood risks is paramount, but it is dependent on staff resources to reach those aims.

The Chair referred that coastal erosion is also a factor, and he noted that partnership working in paramount in achieving the alleviation of flooding.  He referred to the work undertaken by the Flood Wardens within the local communities, but the work undertaken is dependent on grant funding from Welsh Government.  The Chair wished to thank the staff for their work. 

The Deputy Leader referred to the flooding issue within his ward in Menai Bridge and Llanfairpwll in 2017. However, there is still no solution identified to alleviate the potential risk of the incident occurring again.   The Head of Highways, Waste and Property responded that there were two incidents in 2017 in the Penlon area of Menai Bridge and in Llanfairpwll.  He said that when a property is flooded, a Part 19 report is prepared under the Flooding Act which focuses on the impact on the residents.  Discussion, thereafter, is undertaken with Welsh Government for grant funding to prepare a business plan which is a lengthy process.  He further said that there will be challenges to alleviate the flooding issues in these areas as there are several properties within narrow streets together business properties which will result in problems with moving the drainage issues into the watercourse.  Significant work already been undertaken and on-going in the area but there are challenges as regards to the alleviation plans to ensure that occurrence of flooding will not happened again.  There are also issues with installing large drainage pipes through people’s gardens and near boundary walls which can be of concern to residents of the area.  Prioritising and scheduling the plans is challenging with high costs of the works that will need to be undertaken.  Welsh Government affords 85% of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7