Agenda item

To consider a report the Highways Asset and Risk Manager (copy attached) which presents the findings of the Section 19 investigation into the flooding of properties as a result of Storm Babet.

10:45am – 11:15am

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport introduced the report (previously circulated) to the meeting. It was explained that on the 20^th October 2023, there was a period of very heavy rainfall which affected a lot of the properties in the North of the County. National Resources Wales (NRW), Denbighshire County Council (DCC) and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) investigated why these floodings occurred. The purpose of the report was to introduce the findings or their investigations to the Committee and ask for any comments from members.

The Asset and Risk Manager advised that he was willing to attend each Member Area Group (MAG) meeting regarding the same and to provide an update. The Corporate Director: Economy and Environment added that Storm Babet was a significant storm which affected 62 homes and six businesses.

As part of the investigation, a door knocking exercise occurred to compile the information that was presented. It was noted that the report was multi-faceted and focussed on the properties affected and an attempted to ascertain solutions moving forward. Members attention was drawn to Sections 7 and 8 of the report (Appendix 1 to the report) which focussed on flood event and the improvements identified.

The meeting then opened up to members for questions. Members suggested that more maintenance that could be done to clear ditches and culverts, maybe this could have prevented further flooding. Comments were made by members surrounding maintenance of the pumping station in Rhyl which appeared to be lacking.

Officers responded and advised that maintenance was not just required to Denbighshire County Council’s infrastructure but also to DCWW and NRW assets. The authority was looking to replace the system being used at that time from hiring individual contractors to clear green spaces and introduce a more ad-hoc system where hotspots would be identified and to approach the issue this way. It was also important to note that the authority had not stopped clearing ditches, this work was undertaken on a risk-based approach.

The role of farmers in contributing to the maintenance of these ditches and culverts adjoining their land were also discussed. The Head of Highways and Environmental Services advised that more work was required with farmers and landowners with a view to building better relationships to try and improve these issues, but this had proved to be a challenge in the past. Members asked how much cooperation there was from farmers to contribute to maintenance of hedges and ditches for example. It was advised that it was a difficult situation. The previous Asset and Risk Manager had tried to get some movement with this and increase engagement with the farming unions with the intention of using this as a leverage tool, however, ultimately, the land was privately owned despite affecting DCC infrastructure.  The Council could not access any land or property in private ownership without the owner’s permission, so it was a very difficult situation to manage.

Members raised concerns surrounding the inspections of river bunds and their maintenance and NRW and DCWW’s cooperation with respect of this.  It was asked when these bunds had last been inspected and whether if the bunds had not been inspected, serious floods could have been occurred. It was advised that the exact time frame for the inspection of each bund was not known, but officers offered to report back to members regarding the frequency. Officers advised that the authority liaised with DCWW and NRW regularly regarding the maintenance of all flood risk assets and were given assurances by both organisations that regular maintenance work was undertaken on their assets.  Officers actively liaised with third parties however, these organisations had their own budget constraints.

Officers advised that preventative work was carried out and this work involved examining culverts around the county, especially those close to where flooding had previously occurred.  As soon as weather warnings were received officers visited these well-known problem areas. The authority had invested in new software that enabled it to compile a profile of each infrastructure asset, the data profile of each asset held on this system would inform the Council’s flood risk assessments in each area.  Over time, the more data that was collected the more accurate the Council could identify hotspots more clearly and quickly.

Officers assured members that flood risk assessments would form part of the development, planning and consultation phases for the Council’s new Local Development Plan (LDP).

Members emphasised the need for local volunteer Flood Groups to be established and supported and these were valuable networks to help residents plan and deal with flooding incidents.

At the conclusion of an in-depth discussion, and subject to officers discussing matters pertaining to the Maes y Gôg estate in Rhyl with the local member, the Committee:

Resolved: 

(i)             to support the implementation of the improvements or the revision of working practices identified within the report with a view to mitigating against the future risk of flooding in the county; and

(ii)           that a Member Scrutiny Proposal form be issued to the relevant Committee members for completion with a view to inviting representatives from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to a future meeting to discuss flood related matters.