Agenda item

To consider a report (which includes two confidential appendices) by Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport (copy enclosed) regarding two potential coastal defence schemes for Central Rhyl and Central Prestatyn and seeking Cabinet approval to present the project to Council with a recommendation to fund the construction phase of both schemes.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       confirms that it has considered the content of the Well-being Impact Assessments for each scheme (attached at Appendix 3a and 3b to the report);

(b)       supports the proposal to progress the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence scheme to the construction phase, using the grant aid funding model set out by the Welsh Government, and agrees to the proposal being presented to Council for a decision;

(c)        supports the proposal to progress the Central Prestatyn Coastal Defence scheme to the construction phase, using the grant aid funding model set out by the Welsh Government, and agrees to the proposal being presented to Council for a decision, and

(d)       delegates authority to the Coastal Defence Project Board to deliver the schemes.

Councillor Barry Mellor presented the report regarding two potential coastal defence schemes for Central Rhyl and Central Prestatyn and sought Cabinet approval to present the project to Council with a recommendation to fund the construction phase of both schemes.  The report included two confidential appendices detailing financial information and Cabinet was asked to move into private session in the event they were minded to discuss the confidential elements of the documentation.

The Corporate Director: Economy and Environment, Section Manager – Network Management and the Coastal Defence Consultant were also present for this item.

An update on the development of the two schemes was provided in order to reduce flood risk in the Central Rhyl and Central Prestatyn areas.  The Council had worked closely with the Welsh Government on the development of the schemes and a final business case would be submitted shortly for Welsh Government approval.  The combined cost of both schemes was approximately £84m with 85% funded by the Welsh Government as grant in aid paid to the Council over a 25-year period through the Revenue Support Grant.  Extensive consultation on both schemes had been carried out and Communities Scrutiny Committee and the Budget Board had scrutinised the proposed schemes and supported submission of the project for approval.  Planning permission had been granted for both schemes in July 2022.

The reasoning for the schemes was further explained with reference to the impact of climate change, deterioration of existing flood defences and the devastation of flood events.  The success of the East Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme was also highlighted and lessons learned from that project.  The Central Rhyl Scheme was designed to significantly reduce flood risk to approximately 600 residential and commercial properties and the Central Prestatyn Scheme was designed to protect over 2000 residential and commercial properties; both schemes were crucial to the security and sustainability of those towns for residents, businesses and tourism.

The following matters were raised during the ensuing debate –

·       Councillor Gill German was keen to ensure concerns expressed by residents (following press reports) who lived close to the Central Prestatyn Scheme had been addressed.  She was advised that most of those concerns had been based on a misunderstanding of the plans.  Officers had engaged with residents to give assurances in that regard and clarified that the scheme was much further away from the boundary of their properties than reported in the press with further adjustments made to extend that distance, and there had been no plans for a walkway/cycleway on top of the bund which had been a further concern

·       the Leader and Councillor Gill German (ward members) advised they had been in the area recently actively speaking to residents together with the third ward member Councillor Kelly Clewett, and no concerns had been raised regarding the Central Prestayn Scheme.  Whilst it had been pleasing to note the comprehensive engagement which had already taken place, the Leader stressed the importance of continual proactive engagement and dialogue with members and residents going forward, particularly given the inevitable disruption caused as a result of the construction phase.  Assurances were given that, if the schemes were approved, further discussions would take place on the detail of the schemes and programme of delivery.  Similar engagement measures to those undertaken during the East Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme were proposed which included regular newsletters and a drop-in facility

·       Councillor Rhys Thomas referred to the Central Rhyl Scheme and concerns regarding the detrimental impact on the operation of Denbighshire Leisure Limited’s (DLL) facilities such as SC2, alongside other proposed regeneration works in the area, with the need to minimise the impact as much as possible.  It was confirmed that dialogue had been ongoing for some time with DLL during the development of the projects.  The impact on DLL and other businesses and residents would be considered when planning the detail of the project which would be delivered in phases with a view to minimising the disruption caused.  A coordinated approach with other regeneration projects in the area was also being taken to further minimise the impact of those developments collectively

·       Councillor Hugh Irving reported on representations received from residents over the last couple of weeks voicing concerns over the Central Prestatyn Scheme whom he had referred to the ward members and lead member.  The relevant members advised that they had received no such representations.  The Leader reiterated the importance of community engagement and as the Prestatyn ward member along with Councillors Gill German and Kelly Clewett, they were keen to hear from residents and urged them to get in touch with any issues or concerns so that they could be appropriately addressed.  Officers also reiterated the extensive consultation as part of the planning process and provided further assurances that community engagement would continue throughout the process

·       Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones reported on representations she had received regarding the Central Rhyl Scheme including the effect on tourism and questions over when the centre of Rhyl had been flooded.  It was noted that during the Towyn floods in 1990 significant parts of Rhyl Promenade and High Street had flooded.  However, the scheme had been proposed because of the significant risk of future flooding due to the impact of climate change and failing condition of existing flood defences which would have a massive impact on the sustainability of Rhyl as a town for business and tourism.  It was reiterated that the East Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme had been completed significantly under budget and there was confidence in the budget and project delivery.

The Lead Member and officers also answered questions regarding timescales for the schemes and cost certainty.  It was noted that the contractors would provide a very detailed programme and once a start date had been confirmed an overview of the overall programme could be shared.  Much work was also being done to review and revaluate costs prior to the full business case being submitted.  Officers had been engaging with the Welsh Government throughout the development of the project about the proposals and potential costs and although costs had escalated there was confidence that the Welsh Government would support the schemes.

At the close of debate, the Leader again highlighted community engagement as a vital part of the process to ensure all affected were kept informed.  He drew attention to the contact details for ward members on the Council’s website and urged residents to get in touch with any concerns so that they could be addressed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      confirms that it has considered the content of the Well-being Impact Assessments for each scheme (attached at Appendix 3a and 3b to the report);

(b)      supports the proposal to progress the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence scheme to the construction phase, using the grant aid funding model set out by the Welsh Government, and agrees to the proposal being presented to Council for a decision;

(c)      supports the proposal to progress the Central Prestatyn Coastal Defence scheme to the construction phase, using the grant aid funding model set out by the Welsh Government, and agrees to the proposal being presented to Council for a decision, and

(d)      delegates authority to the Coastal Defence Project Board to deliver the schemes.