Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Public Realm.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Public Realm was submitted to consider two flood alleviation schemes in Topsham. One was for funding towards the cost of flood alleviation and protection measures for up to 120 properties in Ferry Road Topsham, north of St Margaret’s Church, at particular risk from tidal flooding. The second scheme was for funding to underwrite a scheme to provide flood resilience to around 50 further properties at the lower end of Ferry Road and The Strand.  

The Assistant Director Public Realm advised of the concerns raised by Scrutiny Committee – Economy with the proposals for Scheme One in relation to the ‘earth bund’ and that a more permanent structure should be created. The Committee had recommended that this scheme be deferred to allow further investigation work to establish the most appropriate solution.

Councillor Leadbetter supported Scrutiny Committee – Economy’s recommendation and proposed that the recommendations 1 – 3 of the circulated report be deferred to enable further work to be undertaken into the most appropriate and cost effective way forward for Scheme One. Councillor Sutton seconded that motion, which was carried.

Members agreed that the Environment Agency should be invited to Scrutiny Committee – Economy to brief Members on the proposals for scheme one.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 12 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve underwriting up to £15,000 of the cost of Scheme 2: Ferry Road South, described in paragraph 8.4 of the circulated report to enable the works to be commenced during the current financial year.  This amount to be conditional upon suitable guarantees from the Topsham Emergency Group being in place for the repayment of the money.

To consider the report of Assistant Director Public Realm.

Councillor Baldwin attended the meeting and spoke Under Standing Order 44 on this matter.

The Assistant Director Public Realm presented a report which sought Members’ consideration for funding towards the cost of flood alleviation and protection measures for two schemes in Topsham.  The first scheme related to 120 properties in Ferry Road Topsham, north of St Margaret’s Church, which was at particular risk from tidal flooding.  Despite contributions having being identified, there remained a shortfall of up to £100,000 and one option would be the possibility to secure contributions from householders who would directly benefit from the scheme.  If funding for the shortfall could not be secured, then the scheme would not proceed. The report also included details of a second scheme and a request for the Council to underwrite the provision of enhanced protection to around 50 further properties to the south of the scheme above, at the lower end of Ferry Road and The Strand.  Members were reminded that whilst the City Council had no statutory obligation to fund the flood scheme, nor, was there an available budget, staff resources would be absorbed to undertake the administration and co-ordination of the funding of the schemes.  The Assistant Director Public Realm added that the two schemes were not dependent on the other.

Councillor Baldwin attended the meeting as she was concerned over the proposals in relation to Scheme 1, as just over 3,500 individuals would collectively have to find £80,000 to protect their homes.  She felt that there was a moral obligation and commented on the City Council’s recent contribution towards the £3 million flood alleviation scheme which would protect the homes of citizens in St Thomas from flooding.  She thanked the City Council for their support in the past, which had included providing sandbags and assisting with the clear up operations and she hoped that would continue.  Councillor Baldwin was also concerned about the detail of Scheme 1 to create an ‘earth bund’ or earth wall that would abut the River Exe.  The scheme had recently been discussed by the Topsham Community Association which had expressed some concern over the maintenance of the scheme and questioned how the water would be reabsorbed into the river if there were exceptionally high winds and a tidal overflow.  She suggested it would be more beneficial to place the flood barrier on the Ferry Road side of the recreation ground, which was a much shorter distance and would protect the houses rather than the recreation field, and that work could easily be covered by the £20,000. She asked for further work to be carried out to consider other engineering solutions.

A Member concurred with Councillor Baldwin and considered that there was every possibility that the earth bund would wash away and that at the very least a more permanent structure should be created to protect the houses. A Member referred to one of the recommendations to contact Hugo Squires MP to establish whether there was any available funding, and felt that was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62