Agenda item

To receive a report of the of the Executive Director Core Services and the Executive Director Place on Flood Recovery in Barnsley (Item 4a attached) and Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Section 19 Statutory Report (Item 4b attached).

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director Core Services and the Executive Director Place on Flood Recovery in Barnsley (Item 4a) and Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Section 19 Statutory Report (Item 4b).  The report provided an update regarding activity across the borough following the November 2019 floods which directly affected 100 properties and 11 businesses.

The report covered progress on the following key areas:-

·         remedial works undertaken by the Council and partner organisations to date to reduce the likelihood and impact of further flooding

·         measures being undertaken by the Council to bolster the response to any future flooding incidents · the “Section 19” report which identifies whether the relevant flood risk management authorities discharged their statutory duties or not

·         the proactive steps being taken in conjunction with Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (SCR) to raise the profile of the lack of investment into flood mitigation in South Yorkshire

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:

Paul Castle, Service Director Environment and Transport, Place Directorate, BMBC

Matt Bell, Head of Highways and Engineering, Place Directorate, BMBC

Ian Wilson, Service Manager, Highway Delivery, Place Directorate, BMBC

Daniel Crossley, Head of Repairs, Maintenance & Building, Berneslai Homes

Nicola Staniforth, Project Manager, Place Directorate, BMBC

Councillor Pauline McCarthy, Cabinet Support Member (Environment and Transportation), BMBC

In the ensuing discussion, and in response to detailed questioning and challenge the following matters were highlighted:

Flood monitoring relies on systems installed across the Borough which give an indication of river levels together with Met Office advance warnings which indicate when task and finish groups and Blue Light services should be mobilising.  The current level of monitoring is satisfactory.  If more is needed, this will be flagged up and increased when made aware of a possible incident.

In terms of risk assessments for possible areas of flooding, good data has been provided over the last 15 years.  Work is ongoing with Sheffield City Region (SCR), the Environment Agency (EA) and Yorkshire Water Authority (YWA) to try to determine any likely future risk areas and prioritise investment.  Awareness of ‘low spots’ and ‘high spots’ drives investment.

Recent problems at Darton were discussed.  It is difficult to determine the future and implement new flood measures as some events may occur once in every 100 years.  Councillors expressed concern that lots of money had been spent in Darton as part of the Principal Towns Project, the benefits of which would be negated should the area be subject to widespread flooding.  It is hoped that a culvert programme will be undertaken this year in Darton, and local Councillors will be informed once the scheme has been fully formulated.

Work on the spillways at Worsbrough has commenced.  The Inspector’s 10-year draft report has been received for review and comment and the recommendations therein are currently under consideration.  It is expected that further work to bolster spillways and flood defences will be required and funding needs to be set aside for this purpose.  Advice has been sought from the EA’s Fisheries Team in respect of timings to conduct the repairs so as to minimise the impact on fish stocks and spawning activity, although no complaints or reports of fish deaths have been received.

Lundwood was one of the areas identified as a high risk location following the November 2019 floods.  The Mill of the Black Monks business was once again flooded and the business ruined.  Monk Bretton Priory is unable to access grant funding because of the risk of flooding as it sits on a flood plain, despite the fact that is has never flooded.  Enquiries will be made as to why this is.  It was reported that residents of the Ings Road gypsy camp had moved  to a site at Brierley due to fears of effluent.  This was permitted under the condition that the Ings Road site can only be used by mobile travellers rather than as a permanent site.  Concerns were raised about the need to have sufficient resources and a maintenance programme to carry out preventative work at the site as it doesn't seem to be an area of focus at the present time.    

Thanks were expressed to all who helped to fill sand bags at Lundwood which helped to avoid the 'near miss' in January 2020.  It was reported that sand bags are located at the front of the Ings Road Depot and are accessible 24hrs a day. 

Bulling Dike (Low Valley) is categorised as a Flood Zone 2 location and forms part of the River Dearne catchment. In November 2019 the dike overtopped and flooded properties on Station Road, Cotterdale Gardens and surrounding streets.  The Dike is the responsibility of the Danvm Drainage Commissioners Internal Drainage Board (IDB), who have carried out remedial works in consultation with BMBC.  Similarly, the River Dove is the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA)  It was reported that the dike had only been partially dredged as IDB workers couldn’t get equipment round to complete the dredging.  Flytipping has also caused blocking under the culvert, which is difficult to remove because it is in standing water.  Residents are frustrated as they cannot see the results of work which has been done and Darfield and Low Valley do not seem to be identified as a priority. 

Residents on Station Road reported the events of 2019 as being chaotic, with no coordination between Emergency Services.  Residents reported having to try to stop traffic themselves.  t was also felt that the culvert on Station Road, which had been filled in, should in fact be enlarged.

Lots of work has been done on Lang Avenue since the 2012 floods and various 'near misses'.  Residents are always anxious when there is severe weather. Members were reassured that a key element of work is ongoing resident engagement, actively listening to residents and involving them fully.  In June 2020 70 properties on Lang Avenue (previously affected by flooding) were visited to check that property flood defences installed continue to be fully functonal.  A Berneslai Homes led taks and finish group has also been established to determine the long-term options for this area.  A letter was sent in July to update residents in the area and a newsletter is planned, complete with photographs, so that residents are kept fully informed of progress. 

In October 2020, Yorkshire Water complete a number of maintenance activities to a stretch of a local drainage ditch, removing 50 tons of debris and improving watercourse flow.   £1m has been identified in the budget and modelling work for different scenarios has taken place to give an indication as to whether what has been done is enough to protect the area.  Possible works include deepening the woodland area, placing a 'bund' around properties, improving surface water drainage assets and raising kerb lines.  This will be assessed throughout the winter period and plans drawn up based on what the model tells us.  This could take a further 9-12 months based on what model shows.

A member was aware of an issue with run-off water in Lundwood.  It seems that there is a pump at the rear of Lang avenue, with the combined sewers draining from Monk Bretton to a sump, with water then pumped under the railway into the sewage works. The valve does not always work which leads to water straddling the bund and flooding homes further along.  Photographic evidence of the problem can be provided.  The pump is the responsibility of Yorkshire Water and Members were assured that this issue will be taken up with them.  All combined sewage and surface water drainage systems have been mapped and work done to clear them where a problem has been identified.   Lang Avenue is regularly checked and silt removed.   

A small dedicated team is responsible for looking after over 50,000 gullies. Following the 2019 situation, work was done at various locations to clear gulleys and keep them in working order. As part of their mapping work, the team also identified 500 locations of faults caused by others such as cutting through pipework etc.  A programme of more than 200 schemes has been developed, including installing kerbs with holes in them to take away excess water.    A Member reported that the majority of gullies in Darfield are full of vegetation and have not been cleared, raising concerns that they had not been properly inspected.

Members were reassured that following the 2019 floods, every affected property was visited by the engagement team and all residents and tenants in Wombwell provided with front and rear guards and waste pipe blocks, which they are shown how to use - this is a continuous programme.  When tenancies change and new people move in this information is also provided to new tenants.  Unfortunately, nothing can be done when water comes through the sub floor.  Member can be confident that for Winter 2021/22, all properties have flood defences and know how to use them. 

A Member was aware of recent flooding causing significant damage to football and cricket pitches at Worsbrough, where the River Dove crosses Worsbrough Bridge.  It seems the riverbank has eroded which causes the pitches to flood.  This is the responsibility of the relevant landowner, who will be approached to offer a solution to the problem, although sometimes it can be difficult to identify land ownership.

RESOLVED that

(i)            Witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution, and flood wardens be thanked for their practical help during the 2019 floods;

(ii)          The service continues to use local member intelligence and inform local councillors of work in their area;

(iii)         The service investigates and informs members why flooding impacts upon Monk Bretton Priory's ability to apply for grant funding and what can be done to improve the situation;

(iv)         Enquiries be made as to why Bulling Dyke was only partially dredged and whether it would be possible to enlarge the culvert on Station Road;

(v)          Investigations be carried out to establish what can be done for Darfield and Low Valley for future protection (including gulley inspection and clearing) and feed back to the Committee;

(vi)         Relationships and ongoing communication methods with all partners be strengthened, to include the IDB,  Yorkshire Water, Emergency Services and the Environment Agency to ensure seamless multi-agency working;

(vii)        Officers to liaise with the Internal Drainage Board to understand how the investment has been spent and to outline their future plans;

(viii)       Officers to contact Yorkshire Water about water which runs off from the fields near Lang Avenue and the effectiveness of the pump to remove excess water;

(ix)         The maintenance programme for gully cleaning should be interrogated to make sure it is effective and is reflective of the plan;

(x)          The online reporting system should be investigated to make sure it is always available and in working order, and

(xi)         Officers identify and approach the owner of the land at Worsbrough with regard to flooding of cricket and football pitches.