Agenda item
Flood and Water Management
Minutes:
Steve Webster, Service Manager for Flood and Water Management at Somerset County Council (SCC) provided members with a presentation about flood risk management and the role of SCC as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). The presentation included an overview about:
· Responsibilities of the LLFA
· Risk management authorities as defined by the Flood and Water Management Act, and the roles of each authority
· Responsibilities of riparian and property owners
· A summary of flood risk management – the bodies and types of watercourses
· Potential changes, as yet to be confirmed by government, for flood risk management from 6 April 2015
Responses by the Service Manager to questions from members included:
· With reference to riparian owners there are enforcement powers available, which were transferred to the LLFA in 2012, and timeframes for action varied depending on the circumstance
· Depending on the nature of a watercourse, consent, and possibly planning permission, would be required for culverting.
· Retrospective consents are not issued
· Future management of SUDs was a concern and the issue was acknowledged
· Groundwater issues are difficult to deal with and could often only be dealt with when the water reached the surface, but generally springs were within the remit of the LLFA
· The Somerset Rivers Authority was a mechanism to increase funding for flood management and a means of co-ordinating the different bodies
At the end of the discussion, the Chairman thanked the Service Manager for attending and providing an informative presentation.
RESOLVED: |
That the presentation be noted. |
Supporting documents:
- Flood and Water Management, item 163. PDF 19 KB
- Appendix A - Land Drainage Responsibilities, Powers, Rights and Roles, item 163. PDF 172 KB
- SCC Flood and Water Management Presentation half size, item 163. PDF 353 KB