Agenda and minutes

Flood Risk Management Liaison Group - Thursday, 15th October, 2015 6.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Ryedale House, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 7HH. View directions

Contact: Nicki Lishman  476

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cussons and Wainwright, B Hocking (EA) and P Fisher.

2.

Minutes

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2015 were approved as a correct record.

3.

Urgent business

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

4.

Rye Mouth dredging - Environment Agency

Minutes:

Ian Cooke (EA) advised that the dredging scheduled for spring 2015 had been delayed due to a lack of availability of specialist equipment.

 

Permissions were to be renewed, with a view to commencing the work as soon as new Environment Agency Health and Safety processes had been finalised. It was hoped that the work would start over the next few months.

 

Action

Invite David Reece's replacement from Natural England to a future meeting of the Group (expert on catchment sensitive farming methods).

 

5.

General report from Environment Agency on maintenance activities

Minutes:

The EA rolling programme of works had been delayed due to the introduction of new Health and Safety processes following serious incidents with EA staff.

 

The main effect had been on weed cutting which had caused high water courses in some areas.

 

The programme of work due to start as soon as possible is as follows;

 

Weed cutting

Costa, Bielby Beck and the Derwent at Ganton

Winter tree works

Walk through of water courses to remove debris etc

Tree works

Malton and Norton part the railway bridge, Butterwick bridge and the sea cut

Bank repairs

Upstream of Howe Brisge, Marton, Normanby, Low Marishes

 

6.

Pickering flood defences - Environment Agency

Minutes:

Dean Hamblin (EA) reported that the works were bedding in well and greening over successfully.

 

Telemetry had been installed which would provide more accurate and time specific forecasting of water levels to inform the flood warning system.

 

The scheme was a valued and successful partnership, gaining interest from many other agencies and was to be officially opened by the Secretary of State on a date to be confirmed.

 

Action

Site visit to see the completed site in Spring 2016

Action

Partners to consider amendments to the Flood Plan to take account of the improved warning system

 

7.

Fracking

Minutes:

M Potter gave a presentation to the Group on a number of points regarding fracking. This included a variety of statistics and technical information.

 

I Cooke (EA) gave a short presentation on the EA's responsibilities where fracking is concerned.

 

8.

Any other business that the Chairman decides is urgent

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

9.

Date of next meeting

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was provisionally arranged for 11 February 2016.