Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on proposed flood defence works at Hemingford Grey and the funding implications.

Noted the acknowledgement by the Environment Agency that St Ives, Hemingfords and Fenstanton section of the River Great Ouse required significant defence works to ameliorate flooding.

The Environment Agency is requested to consider as a matter of urgency an increase in the frequency that this section of river is dredged to facilitate the rates of flow in the river.

In the event that the increased dredging of the river does not alleviate flooding of the area, the Agency is requested to proceed with the improvement works to the flood bank.

That the Agency be requested to note the possibility that in the event of the bund being improved surface water may continue to cause flooding in Victoria Terrace and Greenfields, without the provision of a pumping station and in the event of a pumping station being installed no contribution will be made by the Council towards the capital cost and ongoing responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the pumping station.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended to the Minute Book) outlining the outcome of a study completed by the Environment Agency on the floods in Hemingford Grey in 1998 and 2001.  .

The study had concluded that the present flood bank to the north of Hemingford had a defence standard of less than 1 in 20 years and that some 400 homes south of the river were at risk of flooding. The report also sought the Cabinet’s views in respect of a request for funding by the Environment Agency for the implementation of pumping station to the south of the river to reduce the risk of flooding in this area.

While welcoming the Agency’s acknowledgement of the risk to flooding and the commitment of funding to alleviate the problem, Members were concerned that an improvement to the flood bank would provide an effective solution. Particular reference was made to the apparent reduction in dredging works to the rivers in recent years.

Having noted that funding had been allocated by the Government to the scheme proposed by the Environment Agency as part of an annual block grant, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that the acknowledgement by the Environment Agency that St Ives, Hemingfords and Fenstanton section of the River Great Ouse required significant defence works to ameliorate flooding be welcomed;

  (b)that the Environment Agency be requested to consider as a matter of urgency an increase in the frequency that this section of river is dredged to facilitate the rates of flow in the river;

  (c)that, in the event that the increased dredging of the river does not alleviate flooding of the area, the Agency be requested to proceed with the improvement works to the flood bank;

  (d)that the Agency be requested to note the possibility that in the event of the bund being improved surface water may continue to cause flooding in Victoria Terrace and Greenfields, without the provision of a pumping station; and

  (e)that in the event of a pumping station being installed no contribution be made by the Council towards the capital cost and ongoing responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the pumping station.