Doncaster Council
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DONCASTER COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SUMMER 2007 FLOOD REVIEW CONSULTATION KEY FINDINGS MARCH 2008 - 1 - CONTENTS Pages Executive Summary 3 - 5 Summer 2007 Flood Review – Key Findings from Overview And Scrutiny’s Public Consultation 6 - 10 Key Findings from the Consultation 11 - 16 Appendix A – Questionnaire and Meeting Analysis 17 - 28 Appendix B – Overview and Scrutiny Flood Response Consultation Terms of Reference 29 Appendix C – Issues raised at Public Meetings 30 - 39 - 2 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background This report contains an analysis of the results of a consultation exercise on the June 2007 flooding emergency in Doncaster. The aim of the consultation was to make an assessment of how individuals and communities within the Borough were affected by the floods and establish how effectively they were supported by the Council during the period 24th June to 9th July 2007. This report: i. contains the key findings from a questionnaire which was available on line and at 5 public meetings ii. takes account of the views and opinions expressed at the five public meeting that were relevant to the scope of the review iii. Identifies the issues raised by members of the public in relation to flood issues that were outside the scope of the review. These findings will assist OSMC in building up an overall picture of the Council’s response to the June 2007 floods and to develop some specific recommendations based on the evidence it has received. The Consultation Process Overview and Scrutiny’s consultation took place over a 4 week period at the end of November and through to mid December 2007 in the form of 5 public meetings and a paper and on line questionnaire. The real value in this exercise was that it provided a platform for members of the public to give their own personal accounts of how they were affected by the floods. The review focussed on the support the Council had given to residents during the first two weeks of the flood. The Findings Taken in isolation the results of the questionnaire and feedback from the meetings appear negative in respect of the performance of the Council. However, it is important to recognise that the views of the public are only one (though a very important) in building a full picture and other measures should be considered e.g. the Councils own internal review, feedback from other agencies and partners etc. Detailed below are the key findings arising from the consultation: 1. Recognising the complexities of responding to a major emergencies to meet the needs of the residents of the Borough. The consultation highlighted the problems experienced by the many communities and residents across the Borough and the difficulties faced by the Council in responding to a major emergency particularly in prioritising resources and support on such a major scale. Whilst there were clearly areas for improvement there was a recognition that there was also a lot of good work undertaken by Council officers and services under difficult circumstances 2. Residents did not always understand the role of the Council or other agencies during the floods this often led to frustration and misunderstanding among those residents trying to seek help and advice. - 3 - 3. Receiving regular up to date information and effective communication during the floods was a key issue for many residents. The feedback suggests that often residents were unaware of what measures they should be taking to protect against the floods, what help and support was available to them and how could they be kept up to date with ongoing developments? Respondents also identified the need to have someone available in the area during the emergency to speak to residents face to face and address their queries and concerns. 4. There were mixed reports on the effectiveness of the Public Information Helpline A number of respondents claimed they were unable to contact the Council on the emergency number as the lines were engaged. It was also claimed that on occasions Council employees responding to residents on the emergency helpline did not always provide a sympathetic and helpful approach or clear guidance on key issues e.g. policy for distribution of sand bags 5. Residents were not always able to identify Council staff from other agencies One of the key messages that came through from the consultation was that Council staff were not always easily identifiable. Residents were not always aware when they were receiving help from the Council. – 6. Residents requiring assistance in evacuating their properties were not always identified. Although it is not the role of the Council to evacuate residents from their properties many vulnerable residents relied on the help of neighbours and family to assist them when being evacuated. Concern was raised that some residents could have been overlooked and the Council may be able to support the Police in this role by identifying where vulnerable residents who may need help or support live. 7. Availability and access to sandbags was a key concern for many residents. A common issue raised was that there seemed to be no clear policy on sandbags, i.e. who was entitled to them, why were they not available when required or how they were distributed. 8. Ensure Council employees, including wardens working in emergency situations are adequately trained and equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment – concerns were raised about the health and safety of Council staff who were supporting the flood relief effort without the necessary protective equipment. 9. Some residents experienced difficulty in disposing of damaged belongings Some residents claimed they did not have access to skips or did not receive help with disposing of damaged belongings until some time after the floods. Residents expressed concerns over the health and environmental issues of not being able to dispose of damaged belongings . 10. Concern was raised in some areas over the lack of appropriate cleaning of roads, paths and gardens where these had been affected by water containing raw sewerage raising specific worries over health and safety. 11 Rest centres were valued and appreciated by residents who used them – the feedback from residents who had used Council rest centres was very positive. - 4 - Wider Outcomes The consultation was a successful exercise in enabling Scrutiny Members to: Build a picture of the sequence of events around the Borough and hear some very moving stories about how individuals and their families were affected by the floods. Gain an understanding of the different requirements and of how the floods affected different communities throughout the borough. Provided an opportunity for members of the public to have their say on an issue they felt strongly about. To engage local residents within the Council’s democratic process To provide an opportunity for local councillors to attend and hear first hand the views and concerns of their constituents. To provide the Council with an opportunity to gain the public’s perception on its performance. Issues Raised outside the Scope of the Review The report also contains a number of issues raised that were outside the scope of the original review e.g. in relation to the causes of the floods, what could be done to prevent them happening again and the role of the various agencies during the emergency. It was agreed that all these additional issues would be considered at a future public meeting where relevant agencies would be invited to respond to these issues. Next Steps The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee will need to take account of these findings before agreeing a set of recommendations which will seek to ensure improvements can be made should any similar emergencies occur. Conclusion This report identifies the findings from the flood consultation event undertaken by Overview and Scrutiny during November and December 2007. - 5 - SUMMER 2007 FLOOD REVIEW- KEY FINDINGS FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY’S PUBLIC CONSULTATION Introduction 1. This report contains an analysis of the results of a consultation exercise on the June 2007 flooding emergency in Doncaster. The aim of the consultation was to make an assessment of how individuals and communities within the Borough were affected by the floods and establish how effectively they were supported by the Council during the period 24th June to 9th July 2007 and for OSMC to make recommendations for appropriate action to be taken by the Council in responding to future emergencies. This report: i. contains the key findings from a questionnaire which was available on line and at 5 public meetings ii. takes account of the views and opinions expressed at the five public meetings that were relevant to the scope of the review iii. Identifies the issues raised by members of the public in relation to flood issues that were outside the scope of the review. 2. OSMC is presented with these findings to assist it in building up an overall picture of the Council’s response to the June 2007 floods and to develop some specific recommendations based on the evidence it has received. Background 3. June 2007 will be remembered as the wettest June suffered by the Yorkshire area since 1882. There were two spells of exceptionally heavy rainfall on 13/14th and 24/25th June. The heavy rainfall in mid June led to localised flooding and saturation of the ground and high river levels, however it was the rainfall on 24/25th June that exacerbated this problem and caused the devastation to many homes and properties. In particular flooding occurred as river’s overtopped e.g. the river Don particularly in Sprotbrough and Bentley where the Ea Beck and River Went join the Don. In addition to the high river levels, the sheer volume of rain meant that flooding of properties also occurred as drainage systems were unable to cope with surface run off.