Issue - meetings

An update was provided by the Housing and Environmental Enforcement Officer regarding the Flood Working Group, which had been established following previous flooding incidents. It was reported that the group aimed to improve coordination and communication within the Council and with local communities. The Officer highlighted the group’s achievements, noting that this was the second update report that had been presented.

Gratitude was expressed to Committee Members for their contributions to the working group over the past 18 months. Their involvement was recognised as essential in managing flooding incidents and ensuring effective communication with affected communities. It was acknowledged that, while the Council prioritised emergency responses, there were ongoing water-related issues that could not always be addressed immediately.

The Council’s participation in major flood mitigation projects, including the Humber 2100 Strategy and Fen 2100 projects were outlined. Although the Council was not directly involved in these initiatives, it was reported that local Members participated in partnership meetings to represent the views of West Lindsey residents. The Officer also noted the group’s efforts on more localised issues, such as planning and enforcement matters.

Three major flooding incidents were reported: Storm Babet (October 2023), Storm Henk (January 2024), and the incident on 6 January 2025 (which did not have a named storm). The Officer commended the effectiveness of the response framework provided by the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) in managing these events.

It was noted that, while the working group did not review all minutes from flood drainage forums, verbal updates were received from meetings. Despite limited staffing, the Council was reported to prioritise attendance at key meetings to remain informed about flood management issues. Regular updates were also provided in collaboration with Lincolnshire County Council, with specific focus on Section 19 reports and localised flooding matters.

The importance of providing feedback to communities following flooding incidents was emphasised. An example from Stow was highlighted, where repeated road flooding had occurred without impacting properties. The Officer highlighted the need for improved coordination in updating residents, suggesting that platforms such as “Fix My Street” could be supplemented with more localised communication efforts.

It was noted by a Member that, while Fix My Street may provide a response, it was considered insufficient in delivering the type of feedback required by residents. The system was described as overly automated, and concerns were raised regarding the clarity and completeness of the information provided. Reference was made to two recent cases in Middle Rasen where works were marked as completed, although it was observed that they had not been fully carried out. It was emphasised that more detailed and accurate feedback was necessary, as the current system often led to confusion, particularly where works had commenced but not been finished, resulting in misleading communications.

It was acknowledged that West Lindsey District Council had limited direct responsibilities under Section 19 investigations, as most actions did not fall to West Lindsey District Council unless they related specifically to Council-owned land. It was suggested that greater consideration should be given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41