Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: Cabinet;                        

a)    Noted the work to date on securing £6.2m of Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme grant allocation for West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, and the next steps required to progress the project.

b)    Approved the use of the ring-fenced Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme grant funding of £6.2m to deliver innovative flood resilience measures across the two catchments, one in each of West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, as set out in the report.

REASONS:

1.     The recommendations proposed align closely with the objectives established in the WNC Corporate Plan 2021-2025.

2.     The recommendations proposed align with the Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and will see the significant improvement in flood resilience of communities in two priority catchments, with learning to be applied to future flood risk management work across both councils.

3.     The recommended course of action is in line with the objectives, outputs and benefits expected from the Flood and Coastal Risk Innovation Programme (FCRIP), to develop and test new approaches to improving flood resilience.

4.     The recommendations above are required to progress the flood resilience measures as submitted to the FCRIP.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: None

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DECLARED AND DISPENSATIONS GRANTED: None

At the Chairman’s invitation Councillor Phil Larratt presented the report, copies of which had been previously circulated.  The flood tool kit was mentioned as a way to help people prepare should flooding occur, various solutions were discussed in the report, such as nature based solutions, flood wardens and making properties more resilient. There had been discussions between the council and Anglian Water.

Councillors made the following comments.

·         Some areas such as Far Cotton had not been mentioned in the report. Would Far Cotton be first on the list to receive assistance of any flood money received from the government.

·         The flood mobile had been useful, with regards to further resilience would there be grants provided for people to put these practices into place.

·         The committee was asked whether flood proofing would be more green.

Councillor Pinder Chauhan noted that this money had been allocated to flood resilience as it could be the only funding they receive.

The Assistant Director Assets noted that the funding had been given specifically for flood resilience and a more permanent solution would be required for Far Cotton.

Councillor Phil Larratt noted that the report was not about stopping flooding but about community resilience.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet;

1. Noted the work to date on securing £6.2m of Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme grant allocation for West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, and the next steps required to progress the project.
2. Approved the use of the ring-fenced Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme grant funding of £6.2m to deliver innovative flood resilience measures across the two catchments, one in each of West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, as set out in the report