Working with Communities to Minimise Flood Risk

Chris MurrayHead of Strategic Planning

• Progress on working with communities

• Update on schemes• Funding challenges• The way ahead … catchment

based approach

But first a re-cap about our role as lead local flood authority …

Lead Local Flood Authority responsibilities

A ‘power’ to Investigate flooding - in line with the flood investigations policy

Ability to submit funding bids for flood alleviation schemes

Develop and maintain a Local FRM Strategy

Emergency response

Co-ordination of incidents

Providing sandbags/emergency equipment

Requirement to undertake flood alleviation scheme for all incidents of flooding

XA ‘duty’ to consent certain works on ordinary watercourses

A ‘power’ to enforce unconsented works on ordinary watercourses

A ‘power’ to enforce maintenance on ordinary watercourses

Consenting works adjacent to a ordinary watercourse

Consenting works on main rivers

Enforcing all unconsented works

Maintenance responsibilities

Statutory consultee for major planning application development in relation to surface water drainage

Responding on all flood risk related issues

Determining planning applications

Long-term maintenance/adoption of SuDS features

DEFRAThe Environment Agency

Hampshire County CouncilHampshire Highways

District and Borough CouncilsWater Companies

The Highways AgencyHampshire & Isle of Wight Resilience Forum

(HRF)Regional Flood and Coastal Committees

Town and Parish CouncilsNational Parks

Land and Home ownersLocal Developers

Local businesses and residents

How we work with communities..

• Support development of Flood Action Groups

• Support preparation of local Emergency Community Plans

• Work with individuals to help themselves through Property Level Protection

• Encourage Flood Action Groups to collaborate in support of achieving more joined up / bigger picture approach

How local communities can help…

• Develop local action plans, set out flood risk reduction measures, identifying local leads & useful contacts etc.

• Encourage Riparian Owners to fulfil responsibilities

• Specific action by parish or town councils - where appropriate

Schemes within Hampshire

Flooding studies and schemes

Bourne ValleySmall Schemes pathfinder to fund up to feasibility study

Farringdon /A32

Romsey

HambledonWorks being undertaken on site to alleviate flooding

Buckskin

WinchesterWater Lane project lead by WCC almost completePark Avenue proposal to start April 2016

Wickham

North Gorley

Candovers

Romsey

Short Term actions completed:

• Ditch clearance throughout Romsey • Feasibility study to explore options• Repairs to riverbanks and structures • Local Flood Action Groups

established • Initial assessment to join all

proposals for Romsey into a single package

• Joint approach from all risk management authorities

Farringdon/A32 Affected 13 properties and a significant section of road Two university projects working on flood modelling & the

wider cost implications Flood Action Group established FAG, Councillors and Officers in joint approach to look at the

longer term options for managing or mitigating flood risk

Buckskin Multi- agency flood group continued

Local Flood Action Group developed a flood response plan

Number of short term actions - clearing existing infrastructure, reconstructing soakaways, relocation of electricity substation

Now focussing on longer term flood mitigation

• Options appraisal undertaken • Feasibility study being completed

Candovers Actions by HCC, riparian landowners, parish council and the EA

has helped..• Improve network of ditches• Improve/increase the highway drainage network

HCC commissioned a detailed feasibility study • Hydraulic modelling completed for Preston Candover

downstream to the village of Northington• To understood the catchment as a whole and the

implications of upstream measures

Outcomes to be discussed with parish council and Flood Action Group

North Gorley Joint work between HCC, Natural England & local residents helped…

• Address SSSI designation issues with watercourse cleared by February 2015

• Reduced the individual burden on riparian owners to get permission separately from Natural England

Future role for parish council?

Wickham

Multi- agency flood group including community representatives

Flooding report published providing better understanding of flood risk mechanisms

Recommendations from report being considered Southern Water looking at Drainage Area Plan for Wickham

Funding challenge

• National funding (Defra) mechanisms not suited to rural groundwater flooding event – thresholds not met

• Engaged with Defra & EA to investigate alternative ways of assessing impacts & fund allocation

• Successful bid for the Defra ‘Small Scheme pathfinder projects’ for Bourne Valley (£77,500 for feasibility) - combines a number of small scale projects in a ‘catchment’ approach to show cost/benefit

• University project in Farringdon - how full costs of flooding are calculated - specifically socio-economic costs rather than direct damages

• HCC exploring new sources of funding for flood risk - Local Growth Fund Opportunities, Biodiversity projects, CIL etc.

• Indicative funding allocated from Grant in Aid and/or Local Levy for 12 schemes

Catchment Approach

• Moves from administrative boundary approach to a river catchment approach

• Holistic approach to ensure flood risk not transferred downstream

• Acknowledges that flooding is not always from one source - often requires a multi-agency approach

• Maximises the potential for national funding by packaging proposals

• Recognises the importance of local community input and knowledge

• Developed from the Test and Itchen pilot areas

Policy Framework • Guidance on how to develop a

catchment-based approach & which organisations should be involved

• Likely to be a range of measures and options varying in size, complexity & timescale

• Identifies a hierarchy of actions - some require more resources and funding

• Catchment Plans to be prepared which will lead to specific Action Plans

Questions from the floor

Refreshment Break