Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Transport on the recently published consultation by the Environment Agency on the St Ives and the Hemingfords Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Noted that the Cabinet has re-affirmed their support for the proposed scheme subject to the determination of any unresolved planning or conservation matters.

Noted that the Head of Environment and Transport has been authorised to continue to seek to secure the provision of any pumping installation wholly to the Environment Agency funding without any significant District Council financial input.

Noted that the Head of Environment and Transport has been authorised to convey their views to the Environment Agency.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environment and Transport (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the Environment Agency’s “preferred option consultation” in respect of the proposed St Ives and the Hemingfords Flood Alleviation Scheme.  The scheme would provide protection against a 1 in 100 year flood event to substantial areas of St Ives, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots and the Greenfields area of the Fenstanton Parish.  In total it was anticipated that some 1,600 houses would benefit from the scheme.

Executive Councillors were reminded that at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15th July 2004, the outcome of a study by the Agency on flooding in Hemingford Grey in 1998 and 2001 had been reported and support obtained in principle for the measures proposed.  However, it had been agreed that no contribution should be made by the Council towards the capital cost and ongoing maintenance and operation of the scheme.

Having been assured that the scheme had been designed in such a way to avoid flooding of the Dolphin, Old Mill and other adjacent premises, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)that, subject to the determination of any unresolved planning or conservation matters, Cabinet re-affirm its support for the proposed scheme;

  (b)that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised to continue to secure the provision of any pumping installation wholly through Environment Agency funding and without any significant District Council financial input; and

  (c)that the Head of Environment and Transport be authorised to convey the views of the Cabinet to the Environment Agency.