Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery introduced the report and stated that money had been set aside in the Capital Programme to reduce flood risk and increase resilience under the heading ‘Flood Action Plan’. There has been a focus on measures with a local impact as large projects were deemed unsuitable for the south of the Borough, most affected by flooding. This was supported by the review of the Water Management Cycle by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee last year. The proposals would support Natural Flood Management by providing £57,000 for the South East Rivers Trust to carry out further feasibility and design work. The Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board had also agreed to provide £72,000 in funding. The location was based in the Headcorn and Sutton Valence parishes on the River Sherway but, if successful, other locations could be investigated.

The Committee supported the recommendations, but it was raised that other measures should be considered over time. This was agreed to be added to the first recommendation.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to CABINET: That

1.  £57,000 be allocated to scoping, feasibility and design work, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, with other measures considered over time as appropriate;

2.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery, be delegated authority to conclude agreement on terms for disbursement of the funding with the South East Rivers Trust and the Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board; and

3.  A review of the outcomes from the proposed work be reported to Cabinet within 12 months.