Cabinet agreed that this item be moved on the agenda
A report on the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Section 19 Investigation into the December 2015 floods across Lancashire was presented. It was noted that this was a statutory duty on the Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority.
It was noted that the report now presented discharged the statutory duty, and would be followed by further reports into the individual flood incidents at each identified location, based on detailed investigations undertaken.
It was additionally noted that since the publication of the investigation report representations area had been received from Burscough Parish Council. It was noted that a meeting had already been arranged with the Parish Council to discuss flooding in its area.
Resolved: That
i. the report at Annex 1 be approved as discharging the County Council's obligations under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in regard to the December 2015 floods
ii. the proposal for further reports and the means of progressing flood investigations, communications and risk management activities within affected communities identified in the report at Annex 1 be approved.
The Committee agreed that County Councillor C Dereli be allowed to speak on this item in accordance with Standing Order 19(1).
The Committee considered a report on the investigations which had been carried out by the County Council, as Lead Local Flood Authority, following the flooding in Lancashire in December 2015. The purpose of the investigations was to identify which flood risk management authorities had or still have relevant functions to be exercised in regard to these flood events.
It was noted that the report discharged the Council's Section 19 responsibilities under the Flood and Management Water Act 2010. The Committee was informed that the report started the major process of publishing the findings of the Lancashire flood risk partnership into how local communities were flooded, so that ways of managing the risks and impacts of similar events in the future could be developed.
The Committee acknowledged that the December 2015 flooding had been caused by the extreme and unprecedented rainfall events of November and December 2015. However, it was important that all risk management authorities and other responsible partners including land owners undertook their duties seriously and fully utilised the powers available to them to manage the risks and impacts of similar events in the future.
The Committee was informed that an individual report for each district council area in Lancashire would be published in the near future. These would cover the investigations undertaken at each identified location, any flood risk improvements already completed and the opportunities for further investigations and/or works.
It was also reported that since the publication of the investigation report representations about flooding in the Burscough area had been received from the Burscough Parish Council and the West Lancashire Labour Group. It was noted that a meeting had already been arranged with the Parish Council to discuss flooding in its area.
Resolved: Thatthe recommendationsset outin thereport toCabinet benoted, and thatno additional commentsor suggestedalternative recommendationsbe made.