Issue - meetings

To ask questions of Portfolio Holders. Members are reminded that questions must be submitted to the Chief Executive or to the Executive Head of Governance and Regulation by not later than noon on Friday 9 September 2016.

Cllr Harrison asked the Environment Portfolio Holder whether she was satisfied that all the necessary plans and resources were in place, in the New Forest district, to prevent and mitigate the serious threat of flood. The Portfolio Holder replied that Hampshire County Council was the lead flood Authority, responsible for the County Wide Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.  The Environment Agency was the lead on flood prevention and is responsible for all main rivers.

The District Council was a category one responder to emergencies and therefore the Council had resources in place to assist residents in the event that these authorities requested assistance.  The Council had the necessary plans and procedures in place to work with partners in the event of an emergency.

Question 1: from Cllr Harrison to Cllr Mrs Beeton, Environment Portfolio Holder

“Is the Portfolio Holder completely satisfied that all the necessary plans and resources are in place, in the New Forest district, to prevent and mitigate the serious threat of flood damage?”

Answer:

The Portfolio Holder replied that Hampshire County Council was the lead flood Authority, responsible for the County Wide Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.  The Environment Agency was the lead on flood prevention and was responsible for all main rivers.

The District Council was a category one responder to emergencies and therefore the Council had resources in place to assist residents in the event that these authorities requested assistance.

There have been various flood mitigation schemes across the District and a good example of this was the work undertaken in Fordingbridge.  

Property owners had their own part to play in preventing flooding in their own and their neighbouring properties by maintaining watercourses and by purchasing readily available air-brick covers and door sealing barriers. In an emergency sandbags could be purchased from builders merchants but these were not as effective as other measures that could be installed in advance.

District Council officers worked as a closely co-ordinated team with other services including the emergency services, to provide a fast effective and efficient level of protection to life and property.  The Council had emergency plans in place and had regular co-ordinated emergency planning training with partners, so those involved were always ready to respond to emergencies at short notice. 

In response to a supplementary question, Cllr Mrs Beeton confirmed that the Milford on Sea beach hut replacement scheme included flood defences.