BOROUGH OF POOLE
AGENDA ITEM NO 11
ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
9 JUNE 2011
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
PRELIMINARY FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT
1
Purpose and Policy Context
1.1
To inform members of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PRFA)
document (Appendix 1) and seek their approval.
2
Decision Required
2.1
Members are asked to recommend that Cabinet approve the Preliminary
Flood Risk Assessment (PRFA) document (Appendix 1).
3
Information
3.1
The attached Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PRFA) report has been
prepared to assist Borough of Poole in meeting their duties to manage local
flood risk and deliver the requirements of the Flood Risk Regulations
(2009). Prepared by Leisure Services in consultation with Transportation,
Planning and Regeneration, Asset Management and Property and Housing
and Community Services.
3.2
The PFRA process is aimed at providing a high level overview of potential
flood risk from local sources, primarily flooding from surface water,
groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The PFRA has been produced
based on the Environment Agency’s Final PFRA Guidance and Defra’s
Guidance on selecting Flood Risk Areas, both published in December 2010.
3.3
Where areas have been identified as being at possible risk of flooding
further studies of these areas will be required in the Surface Water
Management plan to understand the potential flooding in more detail.
3.4
Flooding associated with the sea, main rivers and reservoirs is the
responsibility of the Environment Agency and does not need to be
considered as part of this report.
3.5
The whole PRFA report and associated documents must be submitted by
Borough of Poole to the Environment Agency for review by 22 June 2011.
However because of the recent local elections the Environment Agency has
given local authorities until 19 August 2011 to approve these documents so
long as the unapproved document is submitted in June.
Version 2 19 May 2011
Page 1
4
What this Means for Poole
4.1
The PRFA is a very high level document that the Environment Agency
requires all Local Lead Flood Authorities in England and Wales to produce.
4.2
The definition of a Significant Flood Risk is set by the Environment Agency.
Using their parameters Poole has no Significant identified flood risk from
Surface Water flooding. (There are ten in total throughout England and
Wales).
4.3
There is also no Significant flood risk identified using the South West Flood
Group’s lower criteria.
4.4
Previous notable flood events in Poole have been recorded, but these are
not considered significant in the context of the PFRA document.
4.5
Computer modelling undertaken by the Environment Agency has identified
possible future flood risk areas during intense rainfall events (page 15).
These are initial assessments only and cannot be used to identify individual
properties, it will need further investigation to validate these results. These
investigations will form part of the Surface Water Management Plan to be
completed by June 2013.
5
Financial Implications
5.1
Defra has confirmed that the Borough of Poole as a Lead Local Authority
will receive a special and specific funding allocation of £116,000 within the
Formula Grant for 2011/2012 and a provisional sum of £138,000 in
2012/2013 for the Council to undertaking its responsibilities under the Flood
and Water Management Act.
5.2
Services to meet the Council’s new flood and water management duties will
be designed and contained within the resources being made directly
available for this purpose by Government.
The Council will account for the new expenditure as part of its pre-existing
“Flood defence and land drainage” cost centre.
6
Legal Implications
6.1
Under the Flood and Water Management Act the Council now has legal
obligations to improve the local flood risk and water management in Poole.
Appendix 2 summarises the Council’s new responsibilities and actions
being taken to meet them.
6
Staffing Implications
6.1
Leisure Services have produced the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment
Report and will continue with the development of a Strategic Surface Water
Management Plan.
Version 2 19 May 2011
Page 2
7
Promoting Equalities and Respecting Diversity
7.1
No issues have been identified at this stage as this is an overview of
flooding and does not consider individual groups of people.
8
Environmental Impact
8.1
The attached report addresses a significant environmental issue for the
Council and local community. By completing this work in line with
Government requirements and guidance the Council is actively managing
the potential environmental impact of flooding.
9
Risk Assessment
9.1
A major objective of the Plan is to reduce the risk to people and the
developed and natural environment from flooding by the provision of
technically, environmentally and economically sound and sustainable
defence measures. The Borough of Poole should not be exposed to an
increase in risk.
CLIVE SMITH
HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
Contact Officers:
David Robson – (01202) 261330
Background Papers:
The Flood and Water Management Act 2010
The Flood Risk Regulations 2009
Version 2 19 May 2011
Page 3