Agenda item

To present the report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

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

The report was presented by Councillor Nicola Roberts, Portfolio Member for Planning, Public Protection and Climate Change on behalf of Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property who had tendered an apology for absence. She reported that under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 the Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, has a duty to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management. The Flood Risk Management Strategic Plan sets out the Council’s ambitions for managing flood risk in Anglesey for a six year period, consistent with the objectives, measures and related policies and legislation set out in the National Strategy.

In the subsequent discussion, the committee raised the following matters –

·      Whether the Council has considered ways in which it can improve public engagement with the consultation process.

The Portfolio Member for Planning, Public Protection and Climate Change explained that the public consultation took place over six weeks and made use of multiple channels to ensure that it was accessible including drop in events, e-mail, social media, online questionnaire and radio interview. The Head of Highways, Waste and Property confirmed that the consultation process was conducted in accordance with Council guidelines which are regularly reviewed for effectiveness. It may be the case that people who are not directly impacted by the subject matter are less inclined to participate.

·      The ways in which the Strategic Plan aligns with the Council Plan and its relation to Planning Technical Advice Note 15 (Development, Flooding and Coastal Erosion)

The Head of Highways Waste and Property referred to the legislation which requires the Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management which then aligns with the Council Plan in terms of the Council’s objectives for climate change. The Head of Highways Waste and Property highlighted the reference in the strategy to the SAB (Sustainable Drainage Approval Board) which is separate from the planning process and ensure that proposed development sites are suitable from the perspective of managing flooding both on site and within the wider community.

·      Reference was made to the situation in Dwyran and in Menai Bridge and to the progress and status of plans and works in those areas, the responsibilities of the agencies involved and whether there should be enhanced efforts to expedite matters.

The Head of Highways, Waste and Property updated members on the position in the two specific areas and confirmed that the Council and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have different responsibilities with regard to managing flood risk and that they work collaboratively to protect communities against flooding. He confirmed that both the Council and NRW can apply for Welsh Government funding for flood alleviation works and he referred to the factors involved and explained that that there can be greater challenge in succeeding with business cases for schemes in rural rather than urban areas due to the higher density of the population in the latter.

A proposal was made and it was agreed, that in order to make the Strategic Plan complete it should also include the planned maintenance schedule as well as a copy of the capital plan for 2025/26 which shows the planned expenditure on flood relief schemes in the next financial year.

Having reviewed the scope and content of the Flood Management Strategic Plan the Corporate Scrutiny Committee resolved to recommend the Plan to the Executive for approval and adoption with an additional recommendation that it also include as appendices the planned maintenance schedule along with the capital plan for 2025/26 showing planned expenditure on flood relief schemes in the next financial year.