Agenda item

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 to how the Council's local role could be utilised to ensure that affected residents were informed of any measures undertaken to address flooding concerns. This included not only Section 19 reports but also ongoing maintenance, highway, and drainage improvements, which were noted to contribute meaningfully to flood mitigation.

A variety of planning and enforcement matters were reported to have been raised through the group, often as a result of public referrals or issues identified by officers in planning and enforcement roles. These matters were discussed and followed up as appropriate.

An update was provided on the "Resilient Communities" initiative led by the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF), with specific reference to work undertaken by West Lindsey District Council’s Enterprising Communities Manager. The initiative aimed to enhance the capacity of local communities to act as first responders during emergency events. During major incidents, it was noted that priority was given to properties at risk of internal flooding, while less urgent cases, such as flooded cul-de-sacs, were deprioritised. An example was shared of two communities affected in January, where no properties were flooded but access was severely restricted, leading to several resident enquiries. It was explained that immediate emergency responses would be prioritised, and in such cases, residents might need to rely on neighbours, next of kin, or local parish groups for assistance.

Examples of effective local emergency responses led by parish council sub-groups were shared, highlighting their instrumental role in supporting communities during incidents. It was reported that the LRF had appointed a short-term Community Resilience Officer to engage directly with communities affected by flooding. This Officer was tasked with assisting in the development of local emergency plans, not only for flooding but for a range of potential incidents, including road traffic accidents affecting schools and industrial emergencies such as the Hemswell Cliff fire that occurred in January 2022.

It was observed that recent flooding incidents had been relatively limited in scale, with approximately 20 properties affected in West Lindsey in January 2025. However, it was noted that the resource demands of even small scale events remained significant. The importance of community preparedness and resilience was emphasised, particularly as stretched resources increasingly necessitated initial steps being taken by communities themselves.

Members were reminded that a full schedule of meetings for the Member Working Group had been established. Feedback was welcomed on additional areas for consideration. Appreciation was expressed to both Members and Officers for their ongoing involvement and contributions, with recognition given to the progress achieved and the strengthened organisational preparedness across the district.

A Visiting Member highlighted the need for Officer support in developing neighbourhood and emergency plans, noting past success with guidance from the Senior Neighbourhood Planning Policy Officer. Some parishes had made progress, while others had stalled. It was suggested that the District Council allocate resources, including a dedicated Officer, to support parish councils, especially those recently affected by flooding, with emergency planning. The Officer responded that the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) led emergency planning at the county level and had focused on communities impacted by recent events. While some engaged, others had not. Members were asked to refer communities that could benefit from LRF support. Discussions would be held with the LRF and relevant Council Officers to explore how the Council’s resources might complement the county programme.

The Officer explained that a two-year update interval was suggested due to quarterly working group meetings and only one major flood event having taken place in 2025. More frequent reports were unlikely to offer new insights, given limited changes in the Flood Working Group’s activities. Members would be updated separately if a significant incident occurred.

In response to a request for the Committee to review emergency planning processes and procedures as a separate matter to the flood updates, the Senior Democratic and Civic Officer clarified that while the Committee was being asked to consider the recommendation set out in the report regarding flooding, it remained open for Members to propose additional areas for scrutiny. It was noted that the Committee’s Forward Plan and Work Plan were scheduled for discussion later on the agenda. Members were therefore invited to raise any further topics during that debate. Should any proposals be formally moved, seconded, and agreed upon, they could be added to the Work Plan accordingly. The Officer emphasised the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between the proposed flooding update, scheduled for 24 months’ time, and any other topics under consideration.

With no further comments, and upon being proposed, seconded, and voted upon, it was

RESOLVED that

a)    the Flood Working Group Update was DULY NOTED; and

b)    a further update be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 24 months’ time, around April 2027.