Agenda item

To consider a report by the Interim Highways Asset and Risk Manager (copy attached) to examine the Council’s policy for maintaining countywide highway drainage.

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport, along with Head of Highways and Environment were in attendance to present the report on Highways Grids and Gullies maintenance programme.

Lead Member, Barry Mellor, introduced the report to provide Members with an understanding of how DCC’s statutory duties under the Highways Act and Flood and Water Management Act were met in terms of managing surface water through maintenance of the highway drainage network and critical flood risk culverts to ensure that the highways were well drained and, therefore, safe and properties were protected during times of storms. 

Members stated that the main cause of blockages to gullies were leaves.  The Lead Officer explained that often gullies were reported as blocked but it was only the temporary coverage of the leaves that was causing an issue – the resources needed to clear those were not the same as actual blockages.  Correct reporting of the issue would prevent delay in responding.  It was queried how to make sure the correct information was gathered to ensure the correct resources were sent out to the area concerned.  Also how to raise awareness at City, Town and Community Councils.

The Head of Highways and Environment, Paul Jackson, responded that occasionally it was the capacity of the drain, if there was a sudden heavy downpour and sometimes the gully would clear by itself.  The education of the public, Councillors and City, Town and Community Councils would be the way forward as this would assist in managing resources and this would be picked up in the future.

During discussions the following points were raised –

(i)             How significant was run off from properties who had paved over their gardens and permeable driveways?  Also, to a certain extent, the farming community where compacted land existed so it contributed to flooding issues.

The Head of Service responded there was no hard evidence regarding this but it was a trend for some homeowners.   Discussions were taking place with Welsh Water and the Welsh Government as it was recognised that waterfall was on the increase.  Also liaising with the Planning team and other departments needed to take place regarding permits for new developments around that particular issue.  Unfortunately, it was likely to be a continuing problem if the current trend continued.

(ii)            The Lead Member for Environment and Transport informed the Committee that meetings had taken place with Welsh Water regarding the old Victorian drains in Rhyl as they could only take so much  water where it goes into Marine Lake and pumped into the storage system there.  Unfortunately, the tank was not big enough to take all the water if there was a substantial downpour.  When the tank was full, it was let out into the sea but it was not only water but sewerage also.  It was stated that both Welsh Water and NRW needed to come together to work on a solution for this issue.

(iii)          The Head of Service clarified that work was done on a risk based approach and it would be dependent on the level of traffic on a particular road, on the speed limit on the road and the level of risk associated with the risk assessment as to how quickly the team could get to the location and deal with the issue.   If a report was received of an issue in a known flood area, where there was a heavy amount of traffic and properties were at risk of flooding that would be a major priority.  If a report was received of an issue on a more rural road where there was little traffic and not a known flooding area, it would be lower on the risk assessment.

The Authority had two tankers one which covered the north of the county and one which covered the south of the county.   There was a demand on those two tankers to cover the whole of the county and, therefore, the risk based approach had to be taken and every issue assessed on its own merits at the time it was reported.

(iv)          Councillor Sandilands raised issues regarding the Rhyl – Prestatyn gutter but this was recommended to be discussed further outside the meeting as this was not the responsibility of the council.  Councillor Sandilands then asked how often do the grids and gullies get inspected in the year, especially the subsidiaries which led in to the Rhyl and Prestatyn gutter.

The Head of Service responded that the gullies were assessed on a risk based approach so, if it was a known flood area they would be inspected more frequently during the year than areas where there were no historic reports of flooding.   The gullies referred to were inspected twice a year but if an amber or yellow alert for flooding was received then they would be checked again.  Potentially inspected three times per year.

It was confirmed that the relationship between DCC, NRW and Welsh Water was good but, unfortunately, NRW and Welsh Water also had financial issues and were dealing with those accordingly.

(v)           Issues were raised regarding grids in certain areas of Denbigh and it was confirmed that the Head of Service would look into those issues outside the meeting.

(vi)          It was confirmed that there was an issue recruiting winter maintenance drivers, but this was a national issue not just local.  Therefore, if needed to carry out winter maintenance and short of drivers then the driver from the tanker would be utilised.  That had to be managed as a service and it had been an issue for a number of years.

(vii)         Officers and staff who traverse the county on a regular basis, could,  if they had an understanding of what issues may look like, report them, that would be extremely helpful.  It would all rely on education, not only of staff but members of the public, and councillors.  There was a lot of work to be carried out to make the general public aware of what the capability capacity was of the drainage network in the county.

(viii)       Information on Gullysmart.  It was confirmed that Gullysmart was now in operation but it would take some time to collate all the data.  Unfortunately, they were unable to give a timescale on completion but the work had begun.

(ix)          Issue regarding sand causing problems after particularly strong winds on the coast. 

It was confirmed that highways and streetscene had a co-ordinated approach to clear sand from the highways.  If the sand was on privately owned land then it was the responsibility of the owner to manage the risk.  

The Chair summarised the discussion, as working with the Communication Team to educate the general public, councillors and staff.  Concerns were raised regarding planning aspects, especially new developments.  There had been some items which were to be dealt with outside the meeting in their relevant forums.

RESOLVED that, subject to the above,

(i)             the Communities Scrutiny Committee has considered the report and confirmed it was happy that the correct approach to highway drainage maintenance was being applied so that the best alignment between the risk to users and the available funding was being achieved, and

(ii)            it was recommended that communication with City, Town and Community Councils would take place to assist in managing resources.