Agenda item

Consider report by Depute Chief Executive Place providing  an update on the extent of damage caused by recent winter storms and the measures being taken and required to rectify this damage in a timely fashion that fits with the Government’s Bellwin Scheme. (Copy attached.)

With reference to paragraph 10 of the Minute of the Executive Committee of 16 February 2016, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Depute Chief Executive –Place providing an update on the extent of damage caused by recent winter storms and the measures being taken and required to rectify this damage in a timely fashion that fitted with the Government’s Bellwin Scheme.  The report was a follow-up to the report taken to Executive on 16 February following the major flooding events caused by storms Desmond, Frank and other flooding in 2015/16.  The report outlined the work which had been done to date in responding to the initial aftermath of storm damage and actions taken to date and also outlined the extent of remedial work still needing to be undertaken and the measures which would be required to support completion of these works within the Bellwin timeframe.  A technical opinion was given on the merits of localised river gravel removal and dredging as measures to alleviate flooding risks.  It was important to note that under the Bellwin Scheme the Local Authority (LA) had to meet the first portion of costs equivalent to 0.2% of the LA’s total net revenue budget.  In the case of Scottish Borders Council, this equated to £508k that would have to be met from reserves with the Bellwin Scheme picking up all eligible costs beyond this level.  The main points of the report were highlighted by means of a powerpoint presentation by the Infrastructure Manager and the Project Manager Team Leader.  They explained that the removal of gravel in localised areas could in some instances be used to manage flood risk but evidence indicated that localised gravel removal had very little impact on reducing flood levels.  Enquiries had been received from a number of areas on the dredging of watercourses.  The Council had computerised models for Hawick and previous experience to draw on in forming a view as to the likely effectiveness of water course dredging.  While dredging appeared a straight forward solution to flooding, evidence indicated that it did not work on large rivers moving at pace, such as many of the Borders’ rivers and would only help if carried out on a regular basis.  During a flood event when a river was fast flowing, the water would move material downstream and deposit it in any deeper dredged sections, filling the section back to its original level very quickly.  An example was given of dredging which had reduced a river bed by 1m and this had only lasted one month before returning to the original level.  Removal of gravel would not reduce the flood risk to Hawick.   A presentation on flooding in Hawick was due to be made at that evening’s Area Forum meeting.  The Chief Financial Officer highlighted the terms of the Bellwin Scheme and of the importance of making legitimate claims only for emergency works as a result of flooding/storm damage.  In discussing repairs to the wall at the Hawick Post Office depot, the Project Manager Team Leader referred to the recommendation to advance £150k of capital from the Hawick Flood Protection Project from 2018/19 into 2016/17 to deal promptly with these repairs.   Members were reassured by the Chief Executive that the ownership of the depot wall and any liability on adjoining owners would be checked by Legal Services.   Members were supportive of actions to be taken to find the remaining £77,535.98 for priority one schemes.  The Chief Financial Officer advised that officers could look at the 2018/19 flood allocation and advance funding from there if there was no consequential impact on other projects.  In response to a request by Members, Officers advised that unfortunately they did not have the same level of detail/flood modelling for other towns as they did for Hawick but could make available the information they did have for other towns at the other Area Fora.

DECISION

(a)        NOTED the

(i)         extent and costs of works undertaken to date in response to the three major flooding weather events;

(ii)        scale and extent of works that remained to be done to re-instate a wide range of damaged Borders infrastructure;

            (iii)       progress made to date on remedial works under the Bellwin  

                       Scheme;

(iv)       recommendations made with regard to river gravel removal and dredging; and

(v)        list of Short Term measures recommended for implementation in Hawick.

(b)       AGREED to advance £150k of capital from the Hawick Flood relief project into 2016/17 to deal with repairs to the Hawick Post Office boundary wall.

MEMBERS

Councillors Aitchison and Paterson joined the meeting during discussion of the above item.