Issue - meetings

That the presentations be noted.

The Project Engineer from the Council’s Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management team gave a detailed presentation on the management of surface water for new developments and assessment of flood risk mitigation measures.  The presentation comprised the following information:

·         Risks to and from new developments

·         The roles of Risk Management Authorities: the Council, Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

·         The planning process

·         Supplementary Planning Guidance Note 29

·         Challenges

·         The future of surface water management

The Project Engineer spoke about the responsibility of private landowners and management companies outside that of the Risk Management Authorities.  He went on to refer to the potential cost implications if early consideration was not given to drainage schemes as part of planning new developments and to the Supplementary Planning Guidance which had been produced with colleagues from Welsh Water and NRW.  In terms of future challenges, there was ongoing uncertainty due to a delay in the enforcement of Schedule 3 of the Flood Water Management Act 2010 relating to Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).  As part of this, the additional powers to be granted to local authorities as SuDS approval bodies could create opportunities for efficiencies.

The Chair then invited Miriam Wasik-Evans and Henry Jones-Hughes of D?r Cymru Welsh Water to give their presentation which covered the following points:

·         Welsh Water - who are we

·         Developer Services

·         Planning function

·         Types of sewer network

·         Key considerations through the planning process

·         Design and build

·         Approach to surface water

·         Relationship with Flintshire County Council

Members were advised that Welsh Water was now a statutory consultee on major planning application: previously this was at the discretion of the planning authority.  The importance of consultation on surface water drainage for certain types of applications at the planning stage was highlighted, along with the availability of a pre-application advice service to customers.  Whilst explaining the approach to surface water, it was clarified that Welsh Water did not have powers to stop developers connecting surface water into the system and therefore there was a reliance on the planning process to impose conditions to allow some controls.  It was also stated that Welsh Water was unable to instruct developers to fix problems on its network and could only request them to fund reinforcement to ensure no detriment occurred to current service levels experienced by their customers.

Councillor Hilary Isherwood called for the Council to lobby the government for a change in policy and legislation on drainage schemes and planning enforcement to avoid the need for residents to pursue civil action.  She spoke about the need for accountability to improve road surfaces damaged by underlying water and the expectation for developers to comply with their responsibilities.

Mr. Jones-Hughes said that run-off rates on the highway would be the responsibility of the Highway Agency whereas the requirement for management of surface water on planning development sites involved developers submitting details to the local authority.  Ms. Wasik-Evans spoke about the role of the local authority in undertaking monitoring site visits.  Mr. Julian Hill referred to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68