Agenda item

Motion - Protecting Residents from Flood Risk

Minutes:

Councillor Allan Brame moved and Councillor Jason Walsh seconded a motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 13.

 

In moving the motion, Councillor Brame confirmed that he was happy to accept the Labour Group amendment, which was moved by Councillor Elizabeth Grey, and seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes as follows:

 

‘In paragraph 2, delete last four words, and insert, ‘….improve flood risk management.’

 

In first bullet point, amend wording to read, ‘….2015 and subsequent Flood Investigation reports have been acted upon.

 

In second bullet point delete the words, ‘(Council and United Utilities maintained)’ and delete, ‘…prone to…’ and replace with ‘…. at greater risk of…’

 

Delete the third bullet point.

 

In fifth bullet point, delete ‘…. necessary….’ and replace with ‘….Government grants are available….’

 

In fourth paragraph, first line, delete ‘…flood defences….’ and ‘…. should be’ and insert before ‘…designed…’ insert, ‘…was not….’

 

At the end of fourth paragraph, insert:

 

‘Council notes that all new infrastructure should be as resilient as necessary to cope with expected future increased rainfall caused by climate change and that existing infrastructure should be improved wherever there is the means to do so, and that property owners should be reminded of their duties in this regard.’

 

In the fifth paragraph, first line, insert after ‘…..programme…’, ‘… and any sources of outside funding available….’

 

In the fifth paragraph, delete all after, ‘…aimed at…’ and insert, ‘….reducing flood risk and adapting to climate change.’

 

After fifth paragraph, insert new paragraph:

 

‘Council further requests that Planning and Communications officers review the need for greater levels of communication with and education of residents regarding the dangers of flooding and the precise requirements and recommendations regarding removal of front garden green spaces and extension/creation of driveways with a view to reducing the “urban creep” associated with this and the serious flood risk posed.’

 

In the sixth paragraph, insert after ‘…risk…’, the word ‘…management…’ and after the word, ‘...therefore…’ insert, ‘… commits to following current Government guidance on nature-based solutions to flood defenceand…’

 

Insert new paragraph after penultimate paragraph:

 

Accordingly, Council asks Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee to set up a working group to look at how Wirral can better implement the Tree Strategy pledges on tree protection, working with the Tree Strategy Advisory Board and Wirral Initiative on Trees before the end of this calendar year and also to urge the Government to undertake a review of the whole TPO system to better protect all trees with a new system that assumes protection for all mature trees unless permission is granted for works or removal.’

 

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 9.1, the Council did not debate this matter, and having agreed to the Labour amendment, the substantive motion, as amended, was put and it was –

 

Resolved (64:0) –

 

Council places on record its thanks to everyone involved in the response to 9September 2021 flooding incident, including the emergency services, local businesses, Council officers and members of the community.

 

Council notes that work is currently underway by the Council to produce a Section 19 Flood Investigation Report as required by the Flood & Water Management Act 2010.  Council appreciates that partners such as the Environment Agency, United Utilities and other agencies will have an important role in understanding why the flooding was so severe and what possible measures might be taken to improve flood risk management.

 

Council recognises that the Flood Investigation Report will take time to prepare but seeks assurances from officers in particular with regard to:

 

  • how lessons learned from the 2015 and subsequent Flood Investigation reports have beenacted upon;
  • the current schedules of gully and roadside drainage cleansing and whether these need to be more proactive, especially in areas which may be at greater risk of flooding;
  • the steps needed to reduce the incidence of flooding on our key highway network;
  • the provision, in partnership with other agencies, of practical advice and help, including hydrosacks and, where Government grants are available, financial aid for businesses and residents to make their homes and premises more flood resilient;
  • the way in which our roads are resurfaced and whether more appropriate methods need to be considered;
  • the need to condition and enforce permeable/porous surfaces when homeowners are installing new driveways.

 

Council believes that Wirral’s infrastructure was not designed to cope with the much greater volumes of rainfall given the evidence of new volatility in weather conditions due to climate change. Council notes that all new infrastructure should be as resilient as necessary to cope with expected future increased rainfall caused by climate change and that existing infrastructure should be improved wherever there is the means to do so, and that property owners should be reminded of their duties in this regard.

 

Accordingly, Council requests a review of the capital programme and any sources of outside funding availableby the Director of Resources to bring forward schemes to the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee aimed at reducing flood risk and adapting to climate change.

 

Council further requests that Planning and Communications officers review the need for greater levels of communication with and education of residents regarding the dangers of flooding and the precise requirements and recommendations regarding removal of front garden green spaces and extension/creation of driveways with a view to reducing the “urban creep” associated with this and the serious flood risk posed.

 

Council recognises that trees and green space should be at the heart of flood risk managementand climate adaptation strategies and, therefore, commits to following current Government guidance on nature-based solutions to flood defence andrestates its commitment to preserve our existing stock of healthy trees and for increased strategic tree planting as part of this infrastructure.

 

Accordingly, Council asks Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee to set up a working group to look at how Wirral can better implement the Tree Strategy pledges on tree protection, working with the Tree Strategy Advisory Board and Wirral Initiative on Trees before the end of this calendar year and also to urge the Government to undertake a review of the whole TPO system to better protect all trees with a new system that assumes protection for all mature trees unless permission is granted for works or removal.

 

Council recognises that investment to prevent flooding in the first place is a better use of taxpayers’ money than the huge financial and human costs involved in dealing with the aftermath of flooding.