Decision details

Cabinet received a report following a referral from CMT on 5^th August 2014.

The purpose of the report was to:

·         introduce the statutory requirement for Peterborough to have a local flood risk management strategy,

·         present the resulting Draft Peterborough Flood Risk Management Strategy (FMS),

·         to consult and seek approval from Cabinet for public consultation to take place on the FMS.

·         convey the formal recommendation from Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny that the City Council’s Constitution was amended to make the FMS major policy.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED:

1.    To approve the Draft Peterborough Flood Risk Management Strategy for the purpose of it being publically consulted on during October and November 2014;

2.    To support the proposal of the Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee to include further explanatory text in the Flood Management Strategy prior to its publication, as set out in paragraph 5.7 of the report; and

3.    To support the recommendation of the Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee to amend the Constitution and thereby place the Flood Management Strategy as a Major Policy item.

The Flood Management Strategy will:

·         Meet statutory requirements;

·         Make Peterborough more resilient to flooding;

·         Help to co-ordinate and attract investment into Peterborough for both flood risk management and wider environmental and amenity improvements;

·         Assist with delivering a sustainable city that can embrace growth targets

·         Be a reference guide for City Council officers, Flood Warden, Parish Council and communities who want to more know more about flood and water management.

The Council is required to produce a local flood risk management strategy in accordance with its duties as a Lead Local Flood Authority. It is therefore not an option to not produce a strategy. The only available alternative is to produce a document that covers only the sources of flooding that Peterborough City Council is responsible for. This option was rejected in favour of preparing a plan in partnership with all other flood risk management authorities, covering all sources of flood risk. The chosen option is believed to be more useful for the reader, more efficient and more likely to enable Peterborough to draw down partnership funding.

None.

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010.