This report sets out the response and actions taken by the Council following a flooding event in January 2024, the options to reduce flooding, and the ‘lessons learned’ following a review of the incident.

The Committee received a report setting out the response and actions taken by the Council following a flood event in January 2024.  The report explained that the Council was the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) as set out in the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA) and had a duty to investigate and report all flood event findings using a Section 19 report.

The report explained that the Reading area had been impacted by flooding in January 2024 arising from the River Thames, River Kennet and Holy Brook, and associated ditches and tributaries of these watercourses.  The main contributing factor to the flood event had been the above average rainfall levels in the three months prior to January 2024 (up to 150% above the long-term average), in combination with a period of intense rainfall in early January 2024 caused by Storm Henk. During 1 to 4 January 2024 65% of the total recorded rainfall for January 2024 fell in this period.

The high rainfall levels on a saturated catchment led to river levels at the River Thames at Reading gauge to rise to their highest recorded level since the major flood event of 1947.  During the period commencing 6 January 2024 for six days the main river and ordinary watercourses capacity had been exceeded from Natural Flood, saturated ground conditions and extreme prolonged rainfall.  This resulted in low-lying land and property being flooded within the RBC administrative boundary with 21 residential properties, three commercial properties, including one static caravan being flooded internally, due to rising water levels in the River Thames, River Kennet and tributaries. The Council commissioned Stantec to investigate and produce the Flood Option Report, which was attached at Appendix 1 (Reading Flood Investigation – January 2024).

The report provided information on the actions taken by the Council at the time of the flood event, these included:

·         Activation of the ‘Tactical Co-ordinating Group’ (TCG) on 4th January 2024 and a decision to declare a ‘Major Incident’.

·         Regular updated flood information provided by the Environment Agency

·         Public Health, Social Services and Education Departments activated their vulnerable person action plans to be on standby for evacuation if required.

·         Council staff deployed to Circuit Lane / Sylvan Walk in Southcote and to Queens Road in Caversham to deliver sandbags and visited reported flooding sites along the Thames River including Scours Lane.

·         Setting up of a ‘Storm Henk Recovery Group’ on the 11th January 2024 to establish the extent of flooding, facilitate recovery and engagement with other agencies, support residents affected by the flood event, review operational procedures and the Council’s response, provide information to the ‘Local Resilience Forum’ and key stakeholders, and to also carry out a ‘Lessons Learned’ investigation.

·         Meetings with affected residents of Queens Road and Mill Green, Caversham, and Circuit Lane / Sylvan Walk Southcote, took place on 2nd February 2024 and attended by residents, representatives of Reading Borough Council, Stantec and the Environments Agency. Residents were invited to share their local knowledge and experience with the Council to inform the Flooding Investigation Report process and their anonymised responses are included in Flood Report (Appendix 1).

·         Commissioned ditch clearance works to the Christchurch Ditch (Gos Brook/ Dannalls ditch) and on the ditch immediately South of Circuit Lane, as well as repairs to the Kennet bank that was damaged / eroded by floodwater. The Council also installed a temporary clay bund under Briscoe’s Bridge to hold back flood water from Circuit Lane area in the period after the flooding event.

·         Engagement with Heron Island Residents Group, Network Rail, the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency to share information and to address watercourse ditch maintenance.

The report also set out the recommended actions following the Flood Event for areas including Lower Caversham, Southcote/Kennet Meadows area, Scours Lane and administrative actions to be undertaken by the Council and the Environment Agency. 

The report also set out next steps for further actions and ‘Lessons Learned’ to deal with a re-occurrence of the flooding event, particularly with Climate Change having an increasing impact over time.

It was noted that an update report on actions taken would be brought back to Policy Committee or the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee in the future.

At the invitation of the Chair, Mr Wigley addressed the Committee on this item.

Resolved –

(1)       That the outcome of the ‘Section 19 Flood Report’ following the Flood event in January 2024 be noted;

(2)       That the ‘January 2024 Flood Event Options Report’ and Lessons Learned findings be noted;

(3)       That the recommended actions set out in the ‘January 2024 Flood Event Options Report’ be endorsed and that officers proceed to deliver these recommended flood reduction measures.