1.1To Publish the Councils Flood Risk Management Strategy

BOROUGH OF POOLE

6 JUNE 2017

PORTFOLIO HOLDER DECISION COUNCILLOR RAMPTON: REPORT OF THE PROPOSAL TO PUBLISH THE FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE BOROUGH OF POOLE

PURPOSE

1.1To publish the Councils Flood Risk Management Strategy.

DECISION REQUIRED

2.1Portfolio Holder approvesthe publicationof the Council’s Flood Risk Management Strategy.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

3.1Following the national floods of 2007, which affected over 55,000 homes and businesses across the UK, the Government made it a legal requirement to produce a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. This ensures every Lead Local Flood Authority takes strategic responsibility for managing the risk of flooding.

3.2The Flood and Water Management Act (2010) acknowledged that despite everyone’s best efforts to prevent the risk of flooding, it is a natural event that will sometimes occur. The Borough of Poole will use Surface Water Management Plans to address all types of flooding from tides, surface water groundwater and drainage. Solutions will be investigated for these specific areas and discussed with neighbouring and other Risk Management Authorities to help identify funding opportunities.

3.3The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy details how the Borough of Poole will fulfil its requirement to address the flood risk in Poole and how the Council will produced Surface Water Management Plans for all of the surface water catchments in the borough to identify flood risk.

3.4This document has been out to public consultation. The draft Flood Risk Management Strategy was published in January 2016. The consultation period ran from 28 Jan – 10 Mar 2016. The responses were considered.

3.5Once the flood risk has been identified in the Surface Water Management Plans,the next stage will be to investigate and then propose possible mitigation and management solutions. To implement these solutions will require the Councilto seek funding form the Environment Agency and other appropriate sources to address the flood risk where practicable and economically viable.

4.FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1There are no financial implications associated with the Flood Risk Management Strategy.

5.LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1As Lead Local Flood Authority under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) the council is legally required to produced and publish a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

6.EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

6.1No issues have been identified.

7.CONCLUSIONS

7.1Approval is required from the Portfolio Holder to proceed with the publication of the Councils Flood Risk Management Strategy.

Julian McLaughlin

Head of Growth and Infrastructure

Report Author:D. Robson

Contact officer:D. Robson Tel: 01202 261330 email