THIS REPORT RELATES COUNCIL TO ITEM 9 ON THE AGENDA

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

17 JANUARY 2017 NOT EXEMPT

JOINT STIRLING COUNCIL / SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE (SFRS) COMMUNITY FLOOD MITIGATION PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

1 SUMMARY

1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide the Stirling Council Public Safety Committee with further details on the progress on the joint Stirling Council/SFRS proposal for community flood mitigation, presented to Committee on the 23 August 2016.

2 OFFICER RECOMMENDATION(S)

It is recommended that the Public Safety Committee note the content of this report.

3 CONSIDERATIONS

Update

3.1 The outcomes from the meeting held on the 20 November 2015 between SFRS and Stirling Council Environmental Services, Bridge and Flood maintenance department were:

• Proposal No1 - SFRS community Fire stations to become holding areas for flood mitigating resources, these resources were predominately deemed first strike property protection defences such as water absorbing gel sacks and flood bags. (complete)

• Proposal No2 - Stirling Council to purchase bulk quantities of flood products for SFRS to store and distribute . (purchase & storage complete, draft protocol for distribution being progressed)

3.2 Ref Proposal No 1 the Four Fire stations identified were , Aberfoyle, Stirling and Bridge of Allan. SFRS are pleased to report the above stations have now received the following stock of bulk storage flood sacs and these have been secured in place by the SFRS property manager with the associated cost below.

3.2.1 Callander 180 Hydro sacks (blue) & 180 Hydrosnakes (red)

3.2.2 Aberfoyle 180 Hydro sacks (blue) & 180 Hydrosnakes (red)

3.2.3 Stirling 120 Hydro sacks (blue) & 120 Hydrosnakes (red)

3.2.4 Bridge of Allan 120 Hydro sacks (blue) & 120 Hydrosnakes (red)

The cost per station is £150.00 + vat + £180.00 = Total £720.00

This includes • Eyelet fixings were required • Key padlocks 1 per bin • Combination padlocks 1 per bin • Chain • Labour

Stirling Fire Station Callander Fire Station

Bridge of Allan Fire Station Aberfoyle Fire Station Protocol

3.3 Reference proposal No 2 a draft joint protocol is being compiled which will be agreed by the SFRS and Stirling Council to determine the triggers to activate a response to issue the flood sacs as and when required. 3.4 The following issue was raised at the meeting at Endrick House on the 24 November 2016 with Claire Elliot (flood coordinator Stirling Council), Ross garland (assistant flood coordinator), Kimberly Campbell (Resilience & Risk officer Stirling Council).

3.5 Pre issue of flood sacs to Aberfoyle residents was discussed to enable the community to have immediate access to a predetermined number of flood sacs. The limited warning of flooding to Aberfoyle area was a driver for requesting pre issue of flood sacs. The pre issue may however raise a number of concerns reference Stirling Council sand bag policy, which directs communities to pick up sand bags at locations during adverse weather. It was therefore agreed for Claire Elliot to ascertain if Stirling Council would sanction pre issue of flood sacs to residents in the Aberfoyle area, the partnership awaits a decision from Stirling Council, as per paragraph 3.6

3.6 Following discussions on the 24 November 2016, proposals were put forward to the Land and Roads manager setting out how pre-issue of Property Level Protection (PLP) products could be achieved. The concerns and potential legal implications of undertaking this were outlined and advice sought for next steps, officers await further direction from senior management.

3.7 Following the discussions on the 24 November 2016, all local residents/business owners who received the Scottish Government Flood Grant were contacted via email and asked to provide information on how the funds have been used to make properties more flood resilient. Only 6 of 21 individuals responded*.

*Note some of the 21 received grants for more than one property.

3.8 Extract from Stirling Council website:-

Stirling Council can offer assistance during flooding and may be able to make sandbags available at Springkerse (Stirling) and Lagrannoch (Callander) depots, dependent on resources and the priorities set out in the Winter Maintenance Policy. No guarantee can be made that sandbags will be deployed and property owners should take steps to protect their properties. For assistance dial the contact Centre on 01786 404040.

3.9 In addition to the agree bulk stock of hydrosacks & hydro snakes, the potential for locating two pallets of sand bags at the agreed four fire stations during adverse weather was agreed. Claire to discuss with Stirling Council.

CONTAINER STORAGE

3.10 The potential use of the garage in Aberfoyle which is community owned land, to locate a storage container during the winter period was deemed to be a potential site for further discussion. The range of flood support materials will be subject to agreement and the following list is not exhaustive: 3.10.1 Door guards, flood barriers, flood hydrosnakes, sacs, PPE, duct tape, lighting, sand bags etc.

3.10.2 It is important to highlight the limitations and issues surrounding appliance pumps and portable pumping equipment. The use of sump pumps require portable generators to operate and competent personnel to deploy and use. The storage of portable pumps and generators would require robust maintenance regimes to ensure standard testing is performed. It is unclear at this stage if the partnership could provide a robust safe system of work to enable small portable pumps to be stored and deployed from a storage container. SFRS Pumps

3.11 The formation of the SFRS provided the people of with equitable access to specialist resources. As such the SFRS have four High Volume Pumps (HVP) capable of moving high volumes of water considerable distances. The partnership highlights these resources are available across Scotland, however significant operational issues arise from deploying HVP. Practically the HVP pumps require to move flood water significant distances to areas that can accommodate the volume of flood water. The large volume hose can create transport restrictions in the area of operations due to the large diameter hose deployed. The deployed HVP hose requires ramps to enable vehicles to cross over the hose, these are extremely limited in number, and therefore significant road closures are required.

3.12 The SFRS shall review the Aberfoyle, Callander, Bridge of Allan and Stirling area to determine if any strategic sites could provide pre planned locations for the use of these specialist resources as part of its operational intelligence duties.

3.13 SFRS Portable pumps are limited to approximately 800-1000L per min, these are carried on standard fire appliances and require to be used by competent SFRS personnel only.

STRATEGY

3.14 Following a very positive meeting with Paul Hendy (Recovery Operations Manager Flood Forum) and Claire Elliot (Flood Coordinator Stirling Council) an outline strategy followed the following brief overview.

3.14.1 Identify SFRS personnel in flood areas who can undertake the necessary training to perform a property flood survey.

3.14.2 Arrange dates for the training to be delivered at fire stations

3.14.3 Contact Flood Forums and Community Councils and agree to hold Flood Seminars at Community Halls.

3.14.4 Provide demonstration of flood mitigation equipment available at seminar

3.14.5 Identify residents in community wishing flood surveys

3.14.6 Perform flood surveys to community

3.14.7 Utilise Flood Forums and Community Councils to assist in activation protocols and maintenance of flood procedures to aid community resilience.

3.15 Station Managers for Aberfoyle, Callander, Stirling and Bridge of Allan fire station have requested volunteers to undertake the necessary flood survey training, we await numbers to be confirmed.

3.16 The group is awaiting progress on training dates, Seminar and Flood Forum meetings to date

Potential Stirling Flood Mitigation Resources

4 POLICY/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

Policy Implications

Equality Impact Assessment No Strategic Environmental Assessment No Serving Stirling No Single Outcome Agreement Yes Diversity (age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation) No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) No Effect on Council’s green house gas emissions No Effect Strategic/Service Plan No Existing Policy or Strategy No Risk No Resource Implications Financial Yes People Yes Land and Property or IT Systems Yes Consultations Internal or External Consultations No

Equality Impact Assessment

4.1 This report provides an update on a joint initiative between Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and Stirling Council and does not propose a change in policy.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

4.2 This report was considered under the Environment Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and a Strategic Environmental Assessment is not required.

Serving Stirling

4.3 Not applicable.

Single Outcome Agreement

4.4 This report supports the following outcomes, that: - communities are well served, better connected and safe - reduced risk factors that lead to health and other inequalities.

Other Policy Implications

4.5 None.

Resource Implications

4.6 Potential transportation of flood barriers to identified areas of Stirling Council pre severe weather.

Consultations

4.7 Proposed Community forums/resilience groups as part of second stage.

5 BACKGROUND PAPERS

5.1 SFRS Report to Public Safety Committee, 23 August 2016, “Joint Stirling Council / SFRS Proposals for Community Flood Mitigation”.

6 APPENDICES

6.1 None.

Author(s) Name Designation Telephone Number/E-mail

Joe Andrews Group Manager SFRS 01259 724112

Approved by Name Designation Signature Iain Vincent Local Senior Officer Iain Vincent

Date 03/01/2017 Service Reference