This change will increase the taxable value of the system six to eightfold. This report is only an update and there are no significant risks arising from the implementation of the proposed recommendations.
RECOMMENDATIONS Recommended -
APPENDICES None
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS None
Report of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the meeting to be
Subject
Summary statement
- BACKGROUND
- OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
- FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE APPRAISAL
- RISK MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES There were none arising from this Scrutiny Review
- LEGAL APPRAISAL
- EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
- SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS
- GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IMPACTS There were none arising from this Scrutiny Review
- COMMUNITY SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
- HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
- TRADE UNION
- WARD IMPLICATIONS
- NOT FOR PUBLICATION DOCUMENTS None
- OPTIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- APPENDICES
Report of the Committee for Inspection and Control of the Environment and Waste Management for the next session. Much valuable work is currently underway and this review aims to bring these different work streams together to make improvements.
DRAFT - Report of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee
May 2017
Water
Management across the
Bradford District
Membership of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee
EWMOSC)
Members
Contents
- Summary of Scrutiny Review Recommendations 21
- Terms of Reference
- Executive Summary of Bradford Council’s ‘Review to Consider the Future of Water Management and the Associated
- Extract from the printed minutes of the EWMOSC meeting on 26 July 2016 during which the committee reviewed
- EWMOSC evidence-gathering sessions and witnesses
- List of briefing reports provided to this committee
- List of background documents
- Chair’s Foreword
- Introduction
- Findings
The cost of the damage to residential and commercial property was estimated at around £34 million. The Environment and Waste Management Review and Scrutiny Committee undertook this investigative review to ensure that Bradford Council and its partner agencies are better able to deal with future flooding in ways that we hope will help mitigate the impact of these inevitable extreme weather events. to soften. about the lives of the people and communities we serve in the years ahead. At its meeting on Tuesday 19 January 2016, Bradford Council agreed for the Corporate Review and Investigation Committee to undertake an in-depth investigation into the effectiveness of the Council and its Partners in dealing with the District-wide floods of December 2015.
This meeting included a comprehensive presentation by Council staff on the implementation to date of the recommendations of Bradford Council's 2005 'Review to Consider the Future of Water Management and the Associated Problems of Flood in Bradford District' (see Annexes 2-4 of this report for full details of the recommendations from 2005, the officers' presentation on 26 July and the associated committee proceedings). As a result of the review, this committee made a total of 26 recommendations for the treatment of colleagues. All are contained (a) in the body of the report and (b) summarized at the end of the main body of this report for ease of reference.
This section presents the findings of the Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee in Water Management in the Bradford District.
Key Line of Enquiry 1
Examine the policies that impact on either the mitigation of flood risk or contribute to that risk
That the Council work closely with the partner city region authorities to finalize the supplementary planning guidance as soon as possible and that officers quickly set a date for these documents to be published. That the Council continues to review the development of its 'register of structures or features affecting flood risk'. 6 This 'whole catchment' approach is illustrated in the Upper Aire Catchment Network Information Document published by the Environment Agency in March 2017 and included in Appendix 3 of this report.
That the Council urgently reviews its standard policy of non-inspection of the sustainable urban drainage characteristics and flood risk aspects of completed projects, particularly in relation to larger projects and including SUDS already installed to date, to ensure that these developments are consistent with our LFRMS; and that the costs thereof shall be borne by the developer to the extent practicable. That the Council ensure that its flood risk management strategy continues to balance the needs of the Aire and Wharfe Valley watersheds.
Key Line of Enquiry 2
Identify potential sources of funding and other resources that could assist in reducing the risk and impact of flooding
The agency also highlighted opportunities to seek partnership funding from the Department for Transport's National Productivity Investment Fund. That Council consider the potential for using funds from the Community Infrastructure Tax for flood mitigation measures. That the Council liaise with other West Yorkshire local authorities to secure funding from the Department for Transport's National Productivity Investment Fund.
Key Line of Enquiry 3
Develop an action plan to reduce the risk and impact of flooding and use in response to any future incidents
In the words of one participant, it is crucial to ensure that “actions are people-centred”. One councilor expanded on this approach to highlight the need to plan for “general resilience to meet whatever happens” and that. That the Council takes steps to ensure that the Danish Environmental Protection Agency's new climate quotas are used when preparing the land allocations.
That the Council review the necessary actions to ensure that land required for current and future flood management is protected from development to mitigate the impact of climate change. That the Council review its record to date of enabling community engagement around the challenges of water management and flooding and explore the options for developing more resilient local networks in future years. That the Council works closely with Yorkshire Water to identify key locations where surface water drainage problems exist to ensure its action planning delivers early, tangible results for our community.
That Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency will carry out a full investigation of potential sources of sewage pollution in the Bradford Beck catchment area in the next investment cycle (AMP7, commencing with PR19).
Key Line of Enquiry 4
Consider future climate change assumptions and their impact on the frequency and severity of flooding incidents
They stated that "the maintenance budget that we used to have has not been increased since the 1990s ... and has been transferred to the salary budget". They went on to state that the Council essentially carries out "minor repairs" and confirmed that they would prefer to be more "proactive" in this area. The officers' briefing paper on 24 January highlighted that flooding poses challenges for older residents, for residents at risk of mental health problems and for residents in poor health and/or on low incomes.
This is particularly important in the 'recovery phase' after flood events, as the Council seeks to look after those who 'rely on social care and. Some participants highlighted the need for more 'bottom-up' activity to respond the increased flood risks of climate change - particularly as a means of alleviating the Council's own resource constraints in this area. That the Council urgently review capital and revenue funding sources for the maintenance of drainage systems and streams/rivers owned by the council in order to ensure that we cope with increased water flows and associated levels.
That Council update its LFRMS to include the development of "bottom-up" actions to support sustainable drainage, mitigate flood risk and enable communities to recover from flood events.
Key Line of Enquiry 5
Consider measures which could be taken to reduce the rate of water runoff into the river system
That the Council publish minimum design standards (in the form of supplementary planning guidance) so that developers and their consultants are clear about the standards required for acceptable planning applications in relation to runoff and sustainable urban drainage systems, and seek to ensure that this process is completed by the end of April 2018. That Council proactively liaise with partner organizations to identify opportunities for additional Natural Flood Management projects across the District (such as in the Clayton Beck catchment). That the Council work with Friends of Bradford's Becks on water management projects in the Canal Road area.
That the Council work with partner organizations to gather existing knowledge and practice of Natural Flood Management in the form of a 'best practice manual' to involve the community and guide the implementation of these types of measures. That the Council incorporates the 'Green Streets' approach into its planning process and infrastructure development schemes. That the Council identify future opportunities where it can show leadership in reducing and slowing water flow through its own actions, such as in the road and cycleway engineering schemes it designs and through its ongoing refurbishment of the Council Estate (possible measures could include control of roof drainage by disconnecting building drains from the sewer system and installing planters, soakaways and green roofs).
That the Council investigate what more it can do to promote community and individual awareness of what can be done locally to reduce water runoff and flood risk.
Key Line of Enquiry 6
That the Council consider either (a) signing the "Blue and Green Infrastructure" statement issued by Newcastle City Council and five partner agencies in February 2016 or (b) issuing its own statement to support the prioritization of Blue-Green infrastructure in the management of the flood risk across the Bradford District.
Consider the effect of increased flooding risk on proposed development and the effect of proposed and possible future
Concluding Remarks
The process of providing support and guidance to those affected by flooding across the district, by Bradford Council and its partners, is complex and requires a multifaceted approach. It is therefore imperative that an effective approach to district-wide water management be adopted by Bradford Council and its partners. This committee has endeavored to take a balanced approach in its deliberations in relation to this review and has endeavored to ensure that this report incorporates the views and concerns of all stakeholders.
That Bradford Council's Environment and Waste Management Scrutiny and Scrutiny Committee receive a report before the end of April 2018 monitoring progress against all recommendations contained in this review.
Summary of Scrutiny Review Recommendations
That the Council take steps to ensure that the new Environment Agency climate change permits are implemented in site preparation. That the Council urgently review the sources of capital and revenue funding for the maintenance of drainage systems and council-owned streams/rivers to ensure that we can cope with increased flows and water levels. That Council continue to update its LFRMS to take into account the disproportionate impacts arising from the increased risk of flood events associated with climate change.
That the Council work with partner organizations to bring together existing knowledge and practice of natural flood management in the form of a best practice manual to engage and guide the community. That the Council is taking a 'whole catchment' approach to reducing water runoff, working with neighboring local authorities (particularly Leeds, but also those 'upstream' from our district) and partner agencies. That the Council incorporate sustainable urban drainage messages and policies into its wider community engagement, such as the benefits of permeable driveways, along the lines of the Friends of Bradford's Becks Ten Point Plan.
Bradford Council's Environment and Waste Management Review and Review Committee receives a report before the end of April 2018.
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Water Management Scrutiny Review
EWMOSC Water Management Scrutiny Review
Executive summary from the ‘Review to Consider the Future of Water Management and the Associated Problems of Flooding in Bradford
EWMOSC Water Management Scrutiny Review
Officer presentation summarising progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the 2005 review
EWMOSC Water Management Scrutiny Review - Participants
First evidence-gathering session, City Hall, Bradford, 24 January 2017
List of briefing reports provided for the EWMOSC in connection with the water management
List of background documents
