Agenda and minutes

To be notified of the appointment of any Substitute Members.

There were no Substitute Members reported.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensations in relation to any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest or Dispensations reported.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2020.

Resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 January 2020 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To give consideration to a presentation which provides an update on the surface water and drainage works which have been undertaken and completed since 2012.  The presentation will also provide initial thoughts on the future direction and shape of the Council’s Flooding Strategy which is due to be updated later this year.

Consideration was given to a presentation which provided an update on the works undertaken in relation to the management of surface water following the severe flooding events in the Borough during 2012.

It was explained that the North Tyneside Surface Water and Drainage Partnership had been established in March 2013 and had brought the various partners and stakeholders together to direct and influence works which would reduce the impact of such events in the future.  The Partnership also provided a forum for the exchange of ideas and good practice. 

A Local Flood Risk Management Strategy had been developed in 2014 with a number of key objectives, including the encouragement of direct involvement in decision making, the targeting of resources where they would have the greatest effect through the adoption of a risk based approach, the encouragement of sustainable solutions to the management of local flood risk, the provision of encouragement and support for communities and landowners to take action and to contribute to flood risk reduction and to have emergency plans in place and effective responses to incidents of flooding. 

It was explained that a list of over 30 sites had been identified as a priority for works to be undertaken.  There had been a strategy to reduce the reliance on major drainage infrastructure works to address flooding issues by making better use of natural solutions such as watercourses and holding ponds to deal with the excess water.  At Green Lane, Dudley, for example, a local watercourse had been diverted away from housing to provide flood protection.  Phase one of the drainage improvements at Murton Village had included improved  drainage from the highway, the increased storage capacity of the adjacent ditch and a reduction in vehicle speeds through the installation of road humps, all of which contributed to the protection of individual properties.  In Woodburn Drive gabion baskets had been installed as a flood barrier.  Excess surface water was then held within the bridleway and channelled via a filter drain to a nearby culvert and then out to sea.  At Fairfield Green three large dry storage basins, connected by a series of ditches, had been constructed and this allowed excess water to be discharged in a controlled manner.

Several case studies were outlined which demonstrated partnership working to address a particular issue.  For example, the Killingworth and Longbenton Sustainable Sewerage Project involved Northumbrian Water, the Environment Agency and the Local Authority, along with other organisations and individuals including landowners, developers and the local community.  As a result, flood alleviation schemes of around £20m had been delivered and hundreds of properties in the area had been better protected.  All priority sites in the area had been dealt with.  Local emergency response plans had been improved and local residents were better informed as well as having a local flood warden scheme in place.

It was explained that the main objectives of the existing Strategy had been achieved and although the formal partnership had been dissolved the Authority and its partners continued to  ...  view the full minutes text for item E23/19