A report updating on progress towards the delivery of recommended actions and flood reduction measures as set out in the ‘January 2024 Flood Event Options Report’ endorsed by Policy Committee on 8 July 2024. The report also seeks approval of the Council’s revised Sandbag Policy.

The Committee received an update report on the progress that had been made towards implementing actions contained within the ‘January 2024 Flood Event Options Report’ as agreed by Policy Committee on 8 July 2024 (Minute 15 refers). The following documents were appended to the report:

·                Appendix 1 - January 2024 Section 19 Flood Investigation Report

·                Appendix 2 - January 2024 Options Report

·                Appendix 3 - Updated Sandbag Policy

·                Appendix 4 - Flood Risk Roles & Responsibilities

The report provided the Committee with an update on the progress that had been made towards implementing the agreed actions and summarised the further actions that needed to be taken to reduce the impact and risk of flooding along with the ‘lessons learned’ following a review of the January 2024 flood incident. The report also sought approval to update the Council’s Sandbag Policy which had been amended following the January 2024 flood event.

The report provided the Committee with the background to the January 2024 flood event during which the Reading area had been affected by flooding from the River Thames, River Kennet and Holy Brook, and their associated ditches and tributaries. During the event 21 residential properties, three commercial properties and one static residential caravan had been flooded. Following this the Council, acting in its capacity as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), had commissioned Stantec to investigate and produce a ‘Flood Options Report’. The ‘Flood Options Report’ had included a list of recommended actions for the Lower Caversham, Southcote/Kennet Meadows and Scours Lane areas, as well as a number of recommended administrative actions for the Council and Environment Agency. The report provided updates on each of the recommended actions, including on those actions, that had been carried out or were currently in progress, and gave detail of the actions where there were ongoing requirements.

The report also asked the Committee to approve an amended version of the Council’s Sandbag Policy. The amended Policy stated that the Council would continue to provide sandbags to Council-owned properties and that private property owners would remain responsible for resourcing/storing their own sandbags. However, the policy had been amended to recognise the fact that during extreme events there were a limited number of vulnerable properties that could flood and that the Council might therefore decide to deploy sandbags to residential locations that were are at risk of imminent flooding.

At the meeting the Highways and Traffic Services Manager advised the Committee that Council would be writing to residents affected by the January 2024 flood event to provide them with information on a proposed open day at which residents would be able to obtain useful information relating to flooding. He further advised the Committee that the Council was seeking to establish a flood warden system that would enable residents to proactively monitor flood events, provide assistance during flood events and act as a link between residents and the Council. Following discussions at the meeting the Highways and Traffic Services Manager advised that officers would explore adding further useful information for residents about h flooding, including on how to obtain sandbags, and where to get help during a flood event on the Council’s website.

Resolved –

(1)           That the progress made towards implementing the recommended actions set out in the ‘January 2024 Flood Event Options Report’ approved by Policy Committee on 8 July 2024 be noted.

(2)           That the Council’s updated Sandbag Policy, as summarised in section 3.15 of the report, and attached at Appendix 3, be approved.