A report on the receipt of a petition objecting to the Environment Agency’s Lower Caversham Flood Reduction Scheme.

Further to Minute 15 of the Council meeting held on 25 June 2019 and Minute 36 of this Committee held on 18 March 2019, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on a petition objecting to the Environment Agency’s (EA) Lower Caversham Flood Reduction Scheme.  The report explained that EA’s Lower Caversham Flood Alleviation Scheme was looking to reduce the impact of flooding to properties and infrastructure in Reading during a severe flooding event and stated that the Council was committed to reducing the risk from Flooding in Reading, in accordance with the requirements of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 responsibilities.

The report stated that Council was a consultee in the process but the final design proposals had not yet been submitted to it for a formal response.  In the meantime, the Council was working with the EA and would continue to raise concerns that needed to be addressed as part of the design process.  The proposed scheme would require Planning Consent and a full consultation process would be required when the scheme was ready for submission.  The report confirmed the Council had not committed any funding for this project in its capital programme and that it would be just one source from which the EA would discuss funding requirements.  All Planning Applications that were submitted to the Council were vigorously assessed in line with the Council’s policies, taking into account the statutory flood reduction obligations and the Climate Change Emergency announced by the Council.  The Council would invite the Environment Agency to commence a detailed pre-planning application process and to attend a future Strategic Environment Planning & Transport Committee to present their flood reduction proposals.

(Mr Goddard was present at the meeting and addressed the Committee in accordance with Standing Order 36).

Resolved -

(1)     That Mr Goddard be thanked for the submission of the petition on the Environment Agency’s lower Caversham flood reduction scheme;

(2)     That the petition and its contents be recorded as an objection to the Environment Agency Proposed Lower Caversham Flood Reduction Scheme;

(3)     That it be noted that the Council would continue to work with the Environment Agency in order to raise concerns that needed to be addressed as part of the design process while recognising the reduced flood risk benefits the scheme would create;

(4)     That it be noted that the scheme would require planning permission where the proposals would be assessed against the Council’s planning policies and other material considerations;

(5)     That the Environment Agency be invited back to a future Strategic Environment Planning & Transport Committee to present the progress on the Lower Caversham Flood Reduction Scheme.