Archived decisions

Update to the Select Committee


2 November 2009

Flood Risk in Hampshire

(Please note: the following has been transferred word-for-word from the original PowerPoint presentation)

At the last select panel in July 2008 we concluded with:

Flood Risk- Summary

    · Flooding poses one of the greatest threats to the country in terms of well-being, property damage and disruption. (ref Pitt Report 25 June 2008)

    · It is impossible to prevent all flood events

    · The County Council has good systems in place to respond quickly to events and manage the risk.

    · The Pitt report puts the onus for managing flood defence with the Local Authority - The recommendations of the report will need to be evaluated and incorporated.

Prevention is better than a cure - How we are stopping the problem getting worse

    · Pressure on new housing / growth from the SE Plan

    · Regional strategic flood risk assessment (SFRA)

    · Core Strategies and local SFRAs

    · Shoreline management plans & coastal defence strategies

    · Surface water management plans

However - Since July 08 there has been a lot of rain

    · With flooding :

    · Coastal in February 2009

    · Surface water flooding locally throughout the year - but not as serious as 2008 and 2007

    · Ground water levels are seasonal normal - no immediate threat at this time!

Since then we have:

    · Implementing the 98 recommendations of the Sir Michael Pitt's report

    · Responded to the New Flood and Water Management Bill - broad support but with reservations on the resource and funding streams.

    · Anticipating the Bill being enacted within the next parliamentary session

Hampshire County Council will be a lead Authority for Flood Risk Management

    · We have:

    · Set up the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Flood and Water Management Board - senior representation - strategic steer

    · Set up sub groups to support the development of Flood Risk management strategies - Multi Agency

At the Planning and Operational level

    · Set out the framework for Surface Water Management Plans (SWMP's).

    · Secured funding from DEFRA (£125k) for SWMP's for Basingstoke and Rushmoor

    · Reviewed the Flood Response Plan

    · Tested Plan against flood scenarios

    · Developing strategy for highway drainage renewals based on flood risk. More investment required

At the operational level

    · Mapping of highway drainage

    · Flood risk mapping

    · £800,000 2009/10 Funding for highway drainage & flood mitigation schemes (£300,000 recently granted by leader)

    · Identified improved routine drainage maintenance operations

    · Future budget planning & provision

Multi Agency Work - Cat2 Responders

    · GOSE Cat2 Sub Group established, Pitt Review and Flooding standard agenda item.

    · Utility infrastructure mapped for flood risk.

    · Infrastructure owners have re-assessed their assets for flood risk and shared the information.

Multi Agency Flooding Exercise

    · Exercise Tempest - 23-26 February 2009.

    · Multi-agency flooding co-ordination exercise, involving EA Southern, ESCC, ESFRS, EDF Energy & Southern Water.

    · Practical demonstration of Demountable Flood Barrier System at an EDF sub-station and SWS wastewater treatment works.