Agenda item

Report of the Director of Environment and Resident Experience. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Resident Services and Tackling Inequality

The Cabinet Member for Resident Services and Tackling Inequality introduced the report. It was explained that the Council would work to invest in flood prevention measures and drainage improvements to reduce the possibility of flood damage for residents.

It was explained that Climate change was likely to increase the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall and the risk of flooding.

The Council had invested in its drainage infrastructure over the last few years and proposals had been put forward for further capital investment of £4.8m over the next five years, which would also be supported by annual revenue funded gully cleansing programmes.

It was explained that this investment would allow the Council to carry out repairs to faulty road gullies and their drainage pipes, along with the installation of sustainable drainage schemes across the borough.This would be supplemented with external funding opportunities from the Greater London Authority, Thames Water, the Environment Agency and any other bidding opportunities as they arise.

It was highlighted that, despite investment, it was expected that the Council would still see some flooding occurring primarily due to drainage infrastructure’s inability to cope with intensive rainfall events. It was stressed that the Council would continue to lobby Thames Water to maintain their assets through cleansing, repairs and by upgrading their assets. The Council would additionally continue to seek funding opportunities from external funding sources to complement its own investment for flood risk reduction measures.

The Cabinet Member explained that the Council would continue to work with residents, community groups, businesses, and other interested parties to co-design flood reduction schemes that alter the existing infrastructure. It was explained that this engagement would extend to any proposed disruption resulting from construction works and the maintenance of the soft landscaping in some Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) features. It was explained that the Council would also work with communities to build resilience and help them protect themselves from flooding.

Following questions from Cllrs Hakata and Emery, the following information was shared:

• Officers explained that Haringey contained significant numbers of waterways within it, and that the adequate numbers of SuDS were required to alleviate the risk of these overflowing and causing damage to residents and businesses in the borough.
  
  
• It was explained that it was difficult to measure the success of flood prevention measures, due to lack of severe rainfall over the past few years. However, it was noted that success had been achieved during current rainfall levels.
  
  
• The Cabinet Member stressed that the current Victorian infrastructure was no longer fit for purpose. The Cabinet Member noted that they were lobbying for the improvement of any areas of Thames Water infrastructure that required improvement, which included Park Road and other misconnections.
  
  
• Officers explained that the Council had cleared gullies after 2021, and that previous attempts to clear had been impeded by parked cars within gullies. The Council would suspend parking bays to ensure that gullies could be cleared.
  
  

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the updated LFRMS for the borough and the costs identified in the 5-year Delivery Plan.

2.    Delegated decisions relating to flood water management scheme design and implementation including:

a.    the undertaking of all necessary consultations and the making of traffic orders for such schemes; and

b.    the consideration of all objections/representations received in respect of a consultation, subject to all significant or substantial objections or concerns raised about a scheme not covering two or more wards being reported to the Cabinet Member for Inequality and Resident Services; to the Head of Highways and Parking, subject to Key decisions being taken by Cabinet.

Reasons for Decision

To comply with the Council’s legal duties in the FWMA.  The Council would publish the LFR to inform residents and other stakeholders about flood risk issues.

This Flood Water Management Deliver Plan FWMDP set out the Council’s flood water management and highways drainage resilience proposals for the next 5 years and how they aligned with the Council’s strategic objectives.

This report provided detail of the funding arrangements and seeks authority to proceed with the development and delivery of flood water management projects.

Alternative options considered

No other options were considered. The Council had a duty to manage flooding including reducing the risk of flooding in the borough. This updated LFRMS and 5-year delivery plan set out how the Council would meet this duty. The programmes arising would be informed by data from actual flooding events, as well as Council’s LFRMS, Surface Water Management Plan and the existing Highways Asset Management Strategy.