North Yorkshire Council
Richmondshire (Yorks) Area
Constituency Committee
12 June 2023
Report on the on-going work
associated with the delivery of the North Yorkshire Flood Risk
Strategy (2022-2027)
Report of the Corporate Director of
Environment
1.0 PURPOSE
OF REPORT
1.1
To inform members of the Richmondshire (Yorks) Area Constituency
Committee of the on-going work associated with the delivery of the
North Yorkshire Flood Risk Strategy (2022-27).
2.0
BACKGROUND
2.1
Following the Pitt Report in 2008, one of the duties given to the
Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) in the Flood and Water Management
Act (2010) is the development of a Flood Risk Strategy (described
in the legislation as a ‘Local Flood Risk Management
Strategy’) which the Council (NYC) as the LLFA must develop,
maintain, apply and monitor.
2.2 The
North Yorkshire County Council Strategy was first launched in 2015.
Since then, there have been significant and widespread flood events
across the county. Significant events include Boxing Day 2015,
where over 260 properties were internally flooded across the
county, July 2019 where 513 properties were flooded in
Richmondshire and in 2019 and then in 2020 approximately 96
properties were internally flooded in events across the
county.
2.3
Successive and repeated flooding events across the county from
multiple sources eg main river, surface water coupled with the
increasing pressure on limited resources, has underlined the
importance of developing a more integrated, comprehensive and
risk-based approach for managing the risks of flooding, including
identifying clear lines of responsibility and targets for
improvement.
2.4 The
updated North Yorkshire Flood Risk Strategy (“NY
Strategy”) was introduced in 2022. It looks to incorporate
the knowledge gained during the period of the first strategy into
the management of flood risk within North Yorkshire.
3.0
Objectives of the North Yorkshire Flood Risk Strategy.
3.1 There
are different approaches to managing flood risk depending on the
probability and consequences, as well as the technical nature of
the risk.
3.2 The
following terms are used to group and describe the kind of actions
that can be pursued:
·
Prevention of risk: for example, by
not building homes in areas that can be flooded we can prevent
risks from arising in the first instance.
·
Protection from risk: for example,
by using waterproof boards over doors and airbricks people can
protect their properties from the damage caused by flood
water.
·
Preparing for risk: for example, by
improving awareness of flood risk, or by providing warning and
forecasting for floods, people can take precautions to safeguard
their property.
·
Recovery and Review of risk: for
example, by improving access to tradesman and other services,
recovery after flooding can be improved.
3.3 The NY
Strategy focuses on the development and delivery of those sources
of information and delivery mechanisms, relating each action to the
four broad categories of measures above, and to the six North
Yorkshire Flood Risk Management priority objectives:
1. Individuals
and communities are empowered to take a proactive role in managing
flood risk
2. Improved
knowledge and understanding of flood risk and management
responsibilities for all stakeholders, communities and the
media
3. Promote
Sustainable and appropriate development
4. Improved
knowledge of watercourse networks and drainage
infrastructure
5. Flood risk
management measures that deliver social, economic and environmental
benefits
6. Best use of
all potential funding opportunities to deliver flood risk
management measures
3.4
Highlights from the work to support these objectives undertaken
over the last year by the LLFA team are explored in more detail
below:
3.5
Individuals and communities are empowered to take a proactive role
in managing flood risk
3.6 In April
a community event was held in Kirkbymoorside, focussing on
resilience and preparedness. Led by NYC the LLFA team attended to
promote the Rye Villages and Kirkbymoorside Scheme which is
currently in development and representatives from the Resilience
and Emergencies Team were available to discuss preparedness. The
event was also supported by the Council’s consultant, JBA
Associates who are providing property surveys in association with
the scheme and there were also examples of installed property flood
resilience measures. The event was also supported by North
Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and several teams from the
Environment Agency, including the response team and also the local
programme team which is undertaking a natural flood management
scheme above Kirkbymoorside which will complement the flood
resilience scheme being delivered by NYC.
3.7 It is
intended to continue to deliver these events to give the community
opportunity to talk to representatives from Risk Management
Authorities and find out more about how they can proactively work
with organisations to manage flood risk. The next event in planning
is to be held in South Craven, which is also a location presently
included in the North Yorkshire Council Flood Risk
Programme.
3.8 The team
has also been working in Bolton Percy with the community flood
group as part of the lower Aire villages work, to provide
additional pump capacity, the on-going maintenance for which will
be managed by the local flood group, affiliated to the Parish
Council. It is expected that this scheme will be delivered in the
next quarter.
3.9 Improved
knowledge and understanding of flood risk and management
responsibilities for all stakeholders, communities and the
media
3.10 The LLFA team
continues to work closely with stakeholders and the community in
managing flood risk. In the last year, the team has continued to
work closely with various communities including those in the Dales
where a scheme covering various villages in Wensleydale and
Swaledale is in preparation.
3.11 The LLFA team has
worked with the Communications team to raise awareness of
preparedness and resilience relating to the event in the Rye
Villages. Although the scheme in preparation is principally aimed
at specific villages, the associated messages regarding
preparedness are nevertheless applicable to all living at flood
risk. It is intended that there will be information about
preparedness in the next Council newsletter.
3.12 Promote Sustainable
and appropriate development
3.13 The LLFA team is a statutory consultee to the
planning process on surface water drainage. The team reviewed 459
planning applications during financial year 22/23.
3.14 The Department for
Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) carried out a review
for the implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water
Management Act 2010 and published its findings in January
2023. It recommended implementation of Schedule 3 subject to
final decisions on scope, threshold and process. A
consultation will be carried out by the Government in 2023 for
views on the regulatory impact assessment, national standards and
statutory instruments. Implementation of Schedule 3 is
anticipated to commence in 2024. This will see the
Council become a SuDS approval body, independently of the planning
process and will significantly alter the work of the LLFA team
towards the delivery of new development. The team is therefore
working both in house, to prepare for the implementation and also
working with colleagues regionally to ensure there is consistency
in approach across LLFA’s in the wider Yorkshire
region.
3.15 Improved knowledge
of watercourse networks and drainage infrastructure
3.16 The LLFA is
currently working with City of York Council to deliver the York and
North Yorkshire Flood Innovation Scheme. The scheme is described in
detail in table one within section 5 below however in brief, the
scheme aims to explore opportunities for natural flood measures
using a whole catchment approach. The scheme concentrates on
delivery in the upper Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse catchments, with
the aim of providing benefits across a wide area. This will see
North Yorkshire and York communities benefit. At present, the
catchment is being modelled so the appropriate locations and
interventions can be understood and will offer significant
understanding of watercourse networks in a large part of North
Yorkshire. This will also give potential benefits into the
future.
3.17 The team is also
supporting the work of the Environment Agency to deliver the Humber
Strategy, which is a long-term plan relating to the management of
the Humber Estuary, however the management of the Humber has far
reaching implications for its tidal reaches which extend into North
Yorkshire. This work is offering a detailed understanding of the
Humber.
3.18 Elsewhere, the team
continues to undertake investigations as part of its duty to
investigate following flood events. This often includes drainage
studies, and the team has worked to map locations where
investigations have been undertaken.
3.19 The team is
presently working on a Scarborough town model looking at drainage
infrastructure which has caused historical annual flooding and a
drainage study in an area of Ripon with on-going issues.
3.20 Flood
risk management measures that deliver social, economic and
environmental benefits
3.21 The programme of
the flood risk management team is based on a criteria which
prioritises locations where flood investigation has been undertaken
based upon the social, economic and environmental benefits that can
be achieved. For example, the number of properties impacted, the
number of incidents of flooding, the wider economic implications of
the flood event (impact on access to shops and other facilities,
businesses affected etc.) The team always considers natural flood
measures in options assessment, given the wider environmental
benefits that can be achieved.
3.22 Based on this
criteria, the team programme is generated. Locations where work has
been on-going over the last year is listed in table one below with
a status update.
Table One: Update on the LLFA Programme
|
Scheme
|
Description
|
Status
|
|
Malton and
Norton
|
Drainage
work to assist and quicken emergency response to flood alerts,
which had been identified made a significant difference to the
outcome of events. Property level resilience measures provided to
houses and businesses at highest risk.
|
Complete.
Subject to delays due to delivery over covid and requirement for
access to over 100 properties during this time.
|
|
Rye
Villages
|
Options work
identified property resilience was most appropriate measure for
most locations.
|
About to move
to delivery phase. Working with EA to potentially fund through
FDGIA. Survey consultants engaged, presently working to procure
contractors.
|
|
Kirkbymoorside
|
NYC will
deliver Property level resilience to homes and businesses at
highest risk. The EA will deliver a natural flood management
project in the higher catchment to complement this work. it is
expected that the reduced flows and protection at individual
property level will reduce the risk of flooding in affected areas
of the town.
Drainage survey
also in planning to ensure system is in good
maintenance.
|
As
above.
|
|
Scarborough
Town
|
Surface water
model built. Scenarios to be tested in the model to understand
blockage consequence and where work may be best
targeted.
|
This has been
on hold to permit other projects to be accelerated. Work to resume
in 2023-24.
|
|
Dales
Villages
|
Options reports
completed 2022. It was recognised the need to deliver flood routing
and the improvement to trash screen and gullies in some locations
to improve drainage. This is presently being developed.
In addition to
this property flood resilience was identified as an option for most
communities. At a community event in February 2022, it was stated
that it could be between 12 and 18 months before this would be
rolled out. The team is presently working to secure contractors on
frameworks to deliver this commitment. It has however been
necessary to deliver this alongside other projects with similar
themes across county, given there are opportunities for efficiency
by looking at the projects holistically and therefore the dates of
rollout are subject to progress in other locations. Our intention
is to start in Kirkbymoorside, moving onto other villages in the
Rye catchments, before moving on to the Dales.
In addition to
the above we are also continuing to work with the City of York
Council on the York and North Yorkshire Catchment Solutions Project
which provides an opportunity for funding and a facilitation of
project delivery in the locations identified through the use of
existing relationships built between the Dales to Vales Rivers
Network members and local landowners.
The project is
innovative, with a requirement to challenge existing national
policies on flood management and how we go about managing risk on a
catchment-based approach. There are 4 workstreams for the project
being led by the City of York Council, this includes looking
at
1)Hydraulic,
environmental and economic modelling,
2) Physical
natural Flood Management (NFM) demonstration projects
3) Engagement,
visualisation and interpretation
4) Delivering
flood risk investment opportunities.
By its very
nature, there are a number challenges that need to be addressed,
with assurances provided to DEFRA through outline and full business
cases.
As part of
workstream 2, Circa £2 million of the £5.8million
allocated has been earmarked for pilot projects where the
innervations will be delivered. The project team have been working
hard with partners and consultants to devise a grant criteria which
will prioritise areas for investment. Again, as an innovative
project the emphasis is on devising new ways of funding natural
flood management that provides benefits locally and across the
whole catchment, where these areas such as Upper Dales may not have
otherwise attracted such investment. There is a vast number of
variables that need to be brought into a simplified approach using
modelling and existing funding rules and this will take
time.
The overarching
objective of the project is to provide benefits across the
catchment, from the Upper Dales to York. There are a number of
challenges in delivering catchment-based approaches, particularly
in respect of engagement, there is therefore a package of work
looking at how engagement is to be targeted and rolled
out.
At the moment
the team continues to work with the City of York Council on all the
workstreams and once a grant scheme has been approved, there will
be a rollout of the pilot projects across North Yorkshire and the
Dales.
|
|
|
South Craven
Villages
|
Options
assessment completed during 22/23. Multi-disciplinary community
engagement event presently in planning to share ideas with the
community.
|
On-going.
|
|
Bolton
Percy
|
The team has
been working with the community flood group following the 2019
floods, to provide additional pump capacity, the on-going
maintenance for which will be managed by the local flood group,
affiliated to the Parish Council. It is expected that this scheme
will be delivered in the next quarter.
|
Nearly
complete.
|
|
Great
Ayton
|
Partnership
work delivered through the Northumbria Independent Drainage
Partnership. Surface Water systems modelled. Northumbria Water
taking forwards some actions. Necessity for NYC to apply for EA
Flood Defence Grant in Aid to support partnership elements during
23/24
|
On-going
|
|
Easingwold
|
Options
appraisal to commence 23/24
|
Not yet
started
|
3.23 Best
use of all potential funding opportunities to deliver flood risk
management measures
3.24 The team is working
with the Environment Agency to secure funding for Kirkbymoorside
and Rye Villages. It is however anticipated that all projects will
be supported by either Flood Defence Grant in Aid or the local
levy, administered by the Regional Flood and Coastal
Committee.
4.0
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
4.1 The work
of the LLFA is undertaken as part of its statutory duties under the
Flood and Water Management Act (2010) so therefore no alternative
options are considered.
4.2 The
flood programme is delivered under the Council’s powers to
undertake work to address surface water flooding contained in the
Flood and Water Management Act (2010). Locations included in the
programme based on their score against a criteria agreed by BES
Executive Members in 2018. All locations are subject to detailed
options appraisal, with those viable options delivering the optimum
cost -benefit then being progressed.
5.0
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 There
are no financial implications arising from this report which is for
information only.
6.0 LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
6.1 The
Flood and Water Management Act (2010) provides that the Lead Local
Flood Authority (LLFA) must develop, maintain, apply and monitor a
Flood Risk Strategy. This report seeks to update members on the
work undertaken over the last year to support the NY
Strategy.
It is acknowledged further consideration of any legal implications
will be required during the delivery of Strategy.
7.0
EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1 There
are no equalities implications arising from this report, which is
for information only. An Equalities Impact Assessment is included
as Appendix A to this report.
8.0 CLIMATE
CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
8.1 There
are no climate change implications arising from this report, which
is for information only, however the delivery of flood mitigation
supports the council’s objectives towards the addressing of
the implications of climate change on its communities. A copy of
the Climate Change Screening Report is included in Appendix
B.
9.0
REASONS FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS
9.1 The
report is for information only. Members are therefore recommended
to note the content of the report which details the on-going work
to support the fulfilment of the NY Flood Risk Strategy, 2022 -
2027.
|
10.0
|
RECOMMENDATION
|
|
10.1
|
It is
recommended that Members note the content of the Report.
|
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENTS: NY Flood Risk Strategy.
Karl
Battersby
Corporate
Director – Environment
County
Hall
Northallerton
12 June
2023
Report Author
– E Mellalieu
Presenter of
Report – E Mellalieu
Note: Members
are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with
any detailed queries or questions.
