Recommendation Number

Recommendation

Response

13

Local Authorities, in discharging their responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to promote business continuity, should encourage the take-up of property flood resistance and resilience by businesses.

Following floods of 2007, all properties affected were offered free supply of Aquasacs as additional preparation for future flood prevention

14

Local authorities should lead on the management of local flood risk, with the support of the relevant organisations.

Worcester City Council is part of the Worcestershire Land Drainage Partnership. Encouragement has been given to both Parish Councils within the City to utilise the offer of the Lengthsman Scheme.

15

Local authorities should positively tackle local problems of flooding by working with all relevant parties, establishing ownership and legal responsibility.

Worcester City is in the process of confirming maintenance regimes and policies as a part of accepting the Worcestershire Land Drainage Protocol.

16

Local authorities should collate and map the main flood risk management and drainage assets (over and underground), including a record of their ownership and condition.

A series of map information has been created to cover the Worcester City area. These maps outline all the water courses that run through the City and which particular authority is responsible for their maintenance.

Initial discussions have taken place with the County Council Highways Section to establish a joint and co-ordinated GIS record of all such relevant information.

17

All relevant organisations should have a duty to share information and cooperate with local authorities and the Environment Agency to facilitate the management of flood risk

Representatives from Worcester City attend all current Working Parties in relation to Flood Plans preparation. An Internal Flood Action Group has been established to which the Environment Agency and all other partners will be invited to attend as appropriate.

18

Local Surface Water Management Plans, as set out under PPS25 and coordinated by local authorities, should provide the basis for managing all local flood risk

The need for a LSWMP has been identified and it is anticipated that it is to be undertaken as a joint South Worcestershire document in conjunction with the work being undertaken on the Water Cycle Study and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.

19

Local authorities should assess and, if appropriate, enhance their technical capabilities to deliver a wide range of responsibilities in relation to local flood risk management.

Following recent vacancies this particular issue is currently being addressed as part of a reorganisation within the relevant Service Area. This may involve joint-working as part of the way forward.

38

Local authorities should establish mutual aid agreements in accordance with the guidance currently being prepared by the Local Government Association and the Cabinet Office.

No formal agreement in place, although examples of mutual aid did take place with assistance provided to Mavern Hills, Wychavon and Gloucestershire during the floods of 2007.

41

Upper tier local authorities should be the lead responders in relation to multi-agency planning for severe weather emergencies at the local level and for triggering multi-agency arrangements in response to severe weather warnings and local impact assessments.

Worcestershire CC through the WDLP and Local Resilience Forum (LRF) does have a leading role through Gold and Silver Command. Worcester City through Business Continuity has arrangements for key services in place to respond to such emergencies.

66

Local authority contact centres should take the lead in dealing with general enquiries from the public during and after major flooding, redirecting calls to other organisations when appropriate.

Worcester City is a member of the Worcestershire Hub - and as such has agreements in place that all responses to major incidents will be channelled through the Hub contact centres.

68

Council leaders and chief executives should play a prominent role in public reassurance and advice through the local media during a flooding emergency, as part of a coordinated effort overseen by Gold Commanders

The City Councils flood plans are owned, and have been authorised and agreed by the Council's Corporate Management Team (CMT). The Head of Financial Services has co-ordinated the production of the Plans working with the County Council's Emergency Planning Unit.

The Plan contains 2 aspects in relation to communicating with the public:

1. That the public be made aware of the risks from the emergency and how the Authority is prepared to deal with them if they occur.

2. That the public be warned and provided with information and advice as necessary at the time of the emergency.

81

There should be an agreed framework, including definitions and timescales, for local central recovery reporting.

WLDP and LRF have yet to provide a new procedure for planned reporting. Worcester City records details and provides information as and when requested.

82

Following major flooding events, the Government should publish monthly summaries of the progress of the recovery phase, including the numbers of households still displaced from all or part of their homes.

Worcester City actively monitor the impact and effects arising from all emergency events, and responds to all requests for such information as requested. No households have been displaced as a result of recent flooding incidents.

90

All upper tier local authorities should establish Oversight and Scrutiny Committees to review work by public sector bodies and essential service providers in order to manage flood risk, underpinned by a legal requirement to cooperate

Worcester City took part in the Joint Countywide Scrutiny Review on the 2007 floods, and subsequently followed this up with an internal review of the Joint Review Report. The subsequent report from the Scrutiny Committee was reported to Cabinet, with appropriate responses and proposed actions to the issues that were raised. This was due for further review in 12 months.

91

Each Oversight and Scrutiny Committee should prepare an annual summary of actions taken locally to manage flood risk and implement this Review, and these reports should be public and reviewed by Government Offices and the Environment Agency

See 90 above. Briefing sessions on all flood legislation and plans has been held with relevant Cabinet Members and the Chairman of Scrutiny Committee to try and assist this process.