Agenda item

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

Report of Corporate Director (Regeneration).

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report to update Members on the current coastal and flood defence issues and arrangements for grant funding by central government; to endorse that the city council continues to work with all agencies to sustain and improve our coastal and flood defences; to consider the offer of funding for the investigation of flooding at Hest Bank Lane, Slyne and to update Members on the revision of the Shoreline Management Plan and the important opportunity to influence the plan during its public consultation.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred options, were set out in the report as follows:

Revised arrangements for coastal and flood defence grants

Option 1: The Council note the Environment Agency’s revised arrangements for the application for coastal and flood defence grant funding and endorse that the Council continues to work with all relevant agencies to sustain and improve our current defences in line with the councils existing budgetary framework and approvals processes. the grant available is for 100% of approved costs and requires no match funding, although there may be costs to the council relating to staff time, as advised previously in the report.

Option 2: Not to continue with grant applications for flood and coastal defences. This will diminish the ability for the council to meet the predicted increasing risk from these events.

Grant offer of £45,000 from the EA for the investigation of flooding at Hest Bank Lane, Slyne.

Option 1: That the grant offer be accepted to investigate a possible solution to the flooding risk.

Option 2: That the grant offer be rejected which would mean no immediate progress, at minimal cost to the council, will be made on this matter and there could be a loss of confidence in the councils ability to address these issues. In addition, the flooding problems at Hest Bank Lane would still need to be resolved and it is likely that the council would have to provide some financial input.

Shoreline Management Plan

Option 1: That Members note the opportunity to participate in the consultation on the revised shoreline management plan and officers of the council continue to work with the North West coastal groups to finalise the proposals for SMP2 and report back on the outcomes of the public consultation relative to the Lancaster coastline.

Option 2: That the opportunity for Members to participate is not taken up and the chance to comment on or influence the final plan would be missed.

Officer Preferred Option (and comments)

Revised arrangements for coastal and flood defence grants

The officers preferred option is Option 1, to continue working with all agencies to enhance our coastal and flood defences to the benefits our residents.

Grant of £45,000 from the EA for the investigation of flooding at Hest Bank Lane

The officer’s recommendation is Option 1, to take this opportunity to investigate a possible solution to the flooding risk for residents in the vicinity of Hest Bank Lane.

Shoreline Management Plan

The officer’s recommendation is Option 1, as this is an important step in the future management of our coastline and will be an important factor in the determination of support that the council will receive from central government on coastal defence issues.

It was moved by Councillor Barry and seconded by Councillor Langhorn:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Resolved unanimously:

(1)               That the revised funding arrangements for coastal and flood defences be noted and that officers continue to work with all agencies to sustain and improve our current defences in line with the councils existing budgetary framework and approvals processes be endorsed.

(2)               That the funding of £45,000 from the Environment Agency (EA) for the investigation of flooding at Hest Bank Lane, Slyne be acepted,and that the General Fund Capital Programme be updated accordingly, subject to there being a nil impact on the Council’s resources.

(3)               That the public consultation phase of the revision of the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP2) be noted, giving Members the opportunity to participate in the consultation and the chance to influence the outcome of this important plan which will shape the future management of Lancaster’s coastline.

Note: Councillor Ashworth was not present for the vote.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Head of Planning Services

Head of Financial Services

Reasons for making the decision:

The decisions taken will allow positive management of the risks from coastal erosion and flooding to continue.