PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE
Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Date: Friday, 9 October 2009 Street, Rotherham. Time: 9.30 a.m.
A G E N D A
1. Apologies for Absence.
2. To determine if the following matters are to be considered under the categories suggested in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972.
3. To determine any item which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.
4. Declarations of Interest.
5. Questions from Members of the Public and the Press.
For Discussion/Decision:-
6. Localised Flooding in June, 2009 (report herewith) (Pages 1 - 54)
7. Payment of Invoices within Thirty Days - Former BVPI8 - Children and Young People's Services (Karen Potts to report)
8. "11 Million Takeover Day" 2009 (report herewith) (Pages 55 - 57)
For Information/Monitoring:-
9. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 25th September, 2009 (herewith) (Pages 58 - 65)
10. Work in Progress (Chairs of Scrutiny Panels to report)
11. Call-in Issues - to consider any issues referred for call-in.
Page 1 Agenda Item 6
ROTHERHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL – REPORT TO PERFORMANCE A ND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE
1. Meeting: Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee
2. Date: 9 October 2009
3. Title: Progress Report – Localised Flooding in June 2009
Summary Report for the Council.
All Wards
4. Programme Area: Environment and Development Services
5. Summary
To provide a progress report on the flash flooding event of June 2009 together with actions taken by the Council to date and proposals to further improve resilience against future flooding.
6. Recommendations
6.1 that the contents of the report be noted.
Page 2
7. Proposals and Details
On 9 September 2009 a detailed report on the flash flooding event of June 2009 together with actions taken by the Council to date and proposals to further improve resilience against future flooding, was approved by Cabinet Members. A copy of the Post Incident Report and Initial Investigations Report is attached in Appendix A.
The Post Incident and Initial Investigations Report describe the incidents that affected the Borough of Rotherham. Section 3 provides detail of the initial investigation works that have been carried out by Streetpride Drainage Team into the cause of the flooding and any possible initial recommendations and schemes to improve the flooding problems. It does not describe in detail what the Council and other responding agencies did but it does include a description of events that led to the incidents together with a summary of the Council’s response and recovery actions.
Sections 3 and 6 of the attached report list observations and initial recommendations to improve the existing flood prevention and any future response to incidents of this nature in the Borough of Rotherham.
In September 2009, two additional temporary Agency Drainage Engineers have been employed by the Council to carry out the next stage of the feasibility study and to analyse and identify solutions to minimise the risk of future flooding in the areas detailed in the Post Incident and Initial Investigations Report.
The feasibility works commenced in September 2009 and are likely to extend until March 2010. It is the intention of the Council to update Ward Members, Members of Parliament, Parish Councillors and residents affected by the floods regarding the progress of the works on a regular basis. The Council’s Communications Unit, Media and Public Relations, will assist in forwarding all relevant updates and information, to Ward Members, Members of Parliament, Parish Councillors and residents.
To date feasibility works have commenced in Aston and Laughton Common, topographical surveys and Closed Circuit Television Surveys are being carried out throughout Rotherham in areas affected by the June 2009 floods. The topographical surveys have now been completed ahead of programme and all Closed Circuit Television Surveys and manhole surveys are programmed to be completed by mid October 2009.
The Council’s Drainage Section and Media and Public Relations have met with Ward Members, Kevin Barron Member of Parliament, Aston Parish Council Members and residents in Aston and Laughton Common to update them on the progress of the works and the aims of the feasibility studies. Over the coming weeks contact will be made with Ward Members, Members of Parliament, Parish Councillors and residents in all other areas affected by the floods, such as Swallownest, Aughton, Treeton, Herringthorpe, Todwick, Clifton, Thrybergh, and Thurcroft.
On completion of the feasibility works detailed information and solutions to minimise the flooding problems will be reported to the Council, Ward Members, Members of Parliament, Parish Councillors and residents so that funding maybe sought to enable all future flood alleviation works identified, to be carried out.
The properties flooded at Kensington Close, Laughton Common have been discussed in detail with Network Rail, Streetpride Drainage Team, Kevin Barron MP, Ward Members,
Page 3 and the residents. Network Rail are now proposing to construct a drainage ditch in Network Rail’s land, which should transfer the flood water away from the properties and discharge into the existing Eel Mire Dyke situated to the south of the development. The costs of carrying out the drainage ditch, is estimated at £48,000. Kevin Barron MP has confirmed that he has applied to DEFRA for 50% (£24,000) funding, towards the costs of the works. The remainder of the costs will be funded through the Council’s capital funding.
Shortly after the June 2009 floods Streetpride Drainage Team, on behalf of Green Spaces, carried out various maintenance works to ditches and an outfall, including diverting a ditch to transfer water away from properties in Windle Court and Shoreland Drive, Treeton. Major de-silting works have also been carried out to the highway drain in Worksop Road, Swallownest.
Ongoing discussions are taking place between the Environment Agency and Streetpride Drainage Team, into the possibility of providing a pluvial flood warning message to the residents in Aston, Swallownest and Aughton. Pluvial flooding is the result of rainfall generated overland flows before the run-off enters any watercourse or sewer. This new system is only in its trial period but the Government has stressed the need to issue pluvial flood warning messages, in areas where there is a high risk of pluvial flooding. Ward Members, Members of Parliament and residents will be consulted before the Environment Agency’s pluvial flood warning system is commissioned.
The Emergency and Safety Team are currently investigating a multi messaging system to keep elected Members and Parish Councillors informed about flood response arrangements during an incident.
The Multi Agency Flood Plan is currently being prepared in line with the guidance from DEFRA and Environment Agency, and will be disseminated to partners in early October 2009. The plan identifies all high risk flood areas within the Borough of Rotherham following the floods of June 2007 and June 2009. Aston Cum Aughton and Swallownest have now been included as one of the high risk flood areas. The Multi Agency Flood Plan will be tested as part of the Corporate Exercise due to take place on April 21 and 22, 2010.
One of the recommendations in the Post Incident Report is the setting up of a team of key personnel who will be available to assist the affected community immediately after a flooding incident and this is currently being progressed by the Emergency and Safety Team.
8. Finance
It has been agreed that Streetpride, Drainage Team undertake further, more detailed investigation and feasibility works. The cost for carrying out the drainage investigation and feasibility works is estimated at £70,000. This estimate comprises of two additional Agency Drainage Engineers for 6 months in addition to topographical and Closed Circuit Television surveys. This survey work will be closely supervised but not carried out by existing staff as it would jeopardise existing major projects. As the investigation progresses solutions to problems will be identified. If these are good value and high priority they will be reported early with a view to obtaining funding and achieving timely improvements if possible.
In September 2009, the Council on behalf of the property owners who were flooded internally after the June 2009 floods, submitted applications to the Environment Agency for
Page 4 funding through the Property Flood Level Grant. DEFRA have provided the Environment Agency with a £3 million Property Flood Level Grant, for the whole of Yorkshire. If the applications are successful, residents may be eligible for grants which will enable them to protect their homes against future flooding.
There are also costs associated with the production of further public information such as the Council’s website and leaflets for dissemination to the local communities before, during and after a flood.
Please note any requirements for additional revenue funding are not reflected in the current medium term financial strategy.
9. Risks and Uncertainties
Failure to progress the observations and recommendations and future improvement works outlined within the attached Post Incident and Initial Investigations Report will leave the Council vulnerable to future events of this nature and seriously affect the Council’s future reputation.
In order to carry out further investigation works, 2 additional temporary Agency Engineers have been employed over a 6 monthly period, otherwise the Streetpride Drainage Team would be unable to deliver previously committed schemes and works scheduled for this financial year.
The majority of the surface water overland flooding problems are from privately owned land and will require the full corporation of the landowner(s). The duty of all riparian owners (i.e. private landowners) is to ensure that all flows within a watercourse are not impeded. The Council has a duty to maintain the safety of the highway and has certain permissive powers to ensure that riparian owners carry out their maintenance duties.
Some residents affected by the floods are now demanding that the Council take action to resolve flooding problems. Residents have contacted elected members and Members of Parliament to stress the urgency in eliminating all risks from future flooding problems.
10. Policy and Performance Agenda Implications
(1) Sir Michael Pitt Review 2007 Floods, issued December 2008
(2) Proposed Floods and Water Management Bill, (2010).
11. Background Papers and Consultation
Appendix A - Post Incident Report and Initial Investigations Report
The issues contained within this report support the Council’s main themes of Rotherham Safe and Rotherham Achieving.
Ward Members, Kevin Barron Member of Parliament, Aston Parish Councillors, and some of the residents for Treeton, Aston, Swallownest, Aughton and Laughton Common have
Page 5 been consulted regarding the initial and proposed drainage investigation works. Further consultations are required.
Contact Name : Graham Kaye, Principal Engineer, ext 2983 [email protected]
Page 6
June 2009 Floods
Post Incident Report
and
Initial Investigations
Produced by: Emergency & Safety Team and Streetpride Drainage Team, Environment & Development Services
Date : July 2009
Page 7
SECTION CONTENTS / INDEX PAGE
1 Introduction 1 & 2
2 Time Line of Flash Flooding in the Borough
Wednesday 10 June 2009 1 Thursday 11 June 2009 2 Friday 10 June 2009 3 Monday 15 June 2009 3 Table of Statistical Information 3
3 Initial Investigations into the causes of the Flooding 1 - 26 (Streetpride)
Flood Map Appendix 1
4 Recovery 1 - 5
5 Financial Impact 1 & 2
6 Improvement Proposals for Future Response 1 - 6
7 Conclusion 1
Page 8
DISTRIBUTION LIST
INTERNAL
Senior Emergency and Safety Management Team
• Mike Cuff, Chief Executive
• Strategic Directors:
- Karl Battersby - Joyce Thacker - Andrew Bedford - Tom Cray
• Phil Howe, Assistant Chief Executive (Human Resources)
• Tim Mumford, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)
• Dave Richmond, Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services
• Matt Gladstone, Assistant Chief Executive
• Steve Turnbull, Head of Public Health
• Ian Smith, Director of Asset Management
Elected Members
• Councillor Gerald Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services
• Councillor Richard S Russell, Cabinet Member for Streetpride
• Members of Cabinet:
- Councillor Roger Stone - Councillor Jahangir Akhtar - Councillor Mahroof Hussain - Councillor Maurice Kirk - Councillor Amy Rushforth - Councillor Terry Sharman - Councillor Shaun Wright - Councillor Ken Wyatt
(iii) Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 9
• Members of Regeneration Scrutiny Panel:
- Councillor Georgina Boyes - Councillor John Doyle - Councillor John Gamble - Councillor John Gilding - Councillor Alan Gosling - Councillor Neil Hamilton - Councillor Benjamin Slade - Councillor John Swift - Councillor Peter Thirwall - Councillor John Turner - Councillor Jennifer Whysall
• Members of Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee:
- Councillor Jane Austen - Councillor Colin Barron - Councillor Georgina Boyes - Councillor Josephine Burton - Councillor John Gilding - Councillor Jane Hamilton - Councillor Hilda Jack - Councillor Rose McNeely - Councillor Gwendoline Russell - Councillor Patricia Anne Russell - Councillor John Swift - Councillor Glyn Whelbourn
Emergency Planning Office
• Emergency and Safety Manager
• Emergency Planning Officer
• Assistant Emergency Planning Officer
• Emergency Planning Library
Emergency Planning Representatives
• Graham Kaye, Environment and Development Services • Marie Swallow, Chief Executive’s Directorate • Colin Earl, Financial Services • Dean Fenton, Children and Young People’s Services • Dave Morgan, Neighbourhoods and Adult Services • Anne Hawke, RBT
(iv) Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 10 SECTION 1 Page 1
1. INTRODUCTION
1. A Flash Warning of Heavy Rain was issued for South Yorkshire by the Met Office at 16:04 on 10 June 2009 which was valid from 18:10 on Wednesday, 10 June 2009 until 04:00 on Thursday 11 June 2009. On Wednesday 10 June 2009, it was reported that in Sheffield 82mm of rain fell in 6 hours and 51mm in 1 hour. At its maximum the intensity of rain was recorded at 177mm per hour. The high intensity rainfall in a short period of time also affected areas in the Borough of Rotherham, particularly Aston, Swallownest, Aughton, Laughton Common, Whiston, Treeton and Thrybergh and resulted in major flooding, sometimes known as ‘flash flooding’ affecting properties and highways.
2. None of the flooding in Rotherham was due to rivers overtopping but was caused primarily by overland flooding from surface water run off from agricultural land, school fields and overflowing watercourses. There were also reports of existing foul, combined and surface water sewers and drains overflowing and drainage systems being blocked. The drainage systems in the affected areas were overwhelmed by the high volume of rain that fell over a very short period of time resulting in large amounts of standing water and flooding of low lying areas and the gradual draining of this excess water.
3. On 10 June 2009, the council having received notification of the potential for severe weather was prepared to respond to calls from the public for assistance. Calls were received into the Contact Centre who notified the EDS Standby Co- ordinator of the need for resources to deal with flooding issues and to the duty Forward Liaison Officer and the Emergency and Safety Team.
4. The Council’s actions during the response to the incident included:
• Delivery of sandbags in response to requests from the public.
• Mobilisation of water pumps to disperse water.
• Road closures initiated.
• School closures initiated.
• Provision of public information.
• Provision of staff to assist in the clean up operation.
• Cleansing of road gullies and watercourses.
• Provision of accommodation for those made temporarily homeless.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 11 SECTION 1 Page 2
• Investigations into damage to the infrastructure, drainage systems and Council properties.
• Assistance to the affected community following the incident.
5. As the response continued during the evening it became evident that it would be necessary to open the Borough Emergency Operations Room in Bailey House to control and co-ordinate the council’s response and to alleviate the pressure on the council’s duty officers and cope with the deluge of information. The Borough Emergency Co-ordinator in conjunction with council officers made the decision to partially activate the Borough Emergency Plan and keep the Contact Centre open to deal with enquiries from the public.
6. On Monday 15 June 2009 a second weather front moved across the borough resulting in 20 to 40mm of rain falling on already saturated catchment mainly in Rotherham town centre and surrounding areas and once again causing localised flooding.
7. A more detailed sequence can be found in Section 2.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 12 SECTION 2 Page 1
2. TIME LINE FLOODING OF THE BOROUGH
1. Wednesday 10 June 2009
• From around 17:00 hours and into the late evening severe rainfall around the borough caused localised flooding.
• Assistance was requested from the Council through the Contact Centre and was managed initially by the EDS Standby Co-ordinator and the Forward Liaison Officer
• During the evening, the council received 112 requests for sand bags and over 2000 were delivered to site
• At 19:30 hours an Environment Agency automated notification of a Flood Watch for the River Don Middle Catchment from Kelham Island to Hexthorpe was received.
• The Council’s Borough Emergency Plan was partially activated at 19:50 hours and the Borough Emergency Operations Room and Environment and Development Services Control Room was staffed by officers from Environment and Development Services including the Borough Emergency Coordinator, staff from the Emergency and Safety Team, Streetpride Drainage Team and the Forward Liaison Officer. The electronic Incident Log was commenced.
• Streetpride Drainage Team officers were out on site cleansing gulleys and clearing watercourses.
• At 20.00 hours the pumps were turned on at Ulley reservoir to maintain the water at a safe level.
• The Contact Centre remained open to respond to calls from the public.
• At 22:00 hours a power outage was reported in the Treeton area.
• Road closures were put in place as requested by South Yorkshire Police.
• At 22:18 hours an Environment Agency automated notifications of Flood Warnings for the River Rother and the River Don were received.
• At 22:25 hours the council received notification of the potential closure of the penstock valve at Catcliffe and the pumps were put on standby to take to site.
• At 23:06 hours the Environment Agency automated message to activate the pumps at Catcliffe was received; the diesel pumps were deployed to keep the highway clear of water.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 13 SECTION 2 Page 2
• Reports were received of drains blocked and flooding and contamination from sewage in the Dinnington/Laughton Common Areas of the borough, officers were deployed to investigate.
• At 24:00 hours due to the high water levels in Ulley Reservoir all four pumps on site were activated.
• By 00:30 hours flood water was subsiding in the affected areas.
• At 00:50 hours the Contact Centre closed.
• At 1:50 hours the Borough Emergency Operations Room was closed.
2. Thursday 11 June 2009
• Four schools in the Aston/Aughton/Swallownest area were closed due to flood damage.
• During the following day the clean up operation commenced and continues. The activities include:
♦ Deploying drainage tankers to pump water from underneath floorboards at properties in Aston.
♦ Cleansing road gullies and grids to watercourses by Streetpride Drainage Team
♦ General clean up operations in areas affected by the floods including sweeping of highways, removal of debris and silt and removal of blockages to watercourses.
♦ Assistance and support to affected residents from Neighbourhood wardens and teams from 2010 Rotherham Ltd with clearing damaged furnishings from their homes.
♦ Investigation works by Streetpride Drainage Team into drainage systems in affected areas which involve discussion with residents and the parish councils.
♦ Providing properties for three families rendered homeless by the floods and includes two families who had been living in private rented accommodation.
♦ Providing public information through the Rotherham Council website and distributing leaflets to residents giving important health and safety advice when cleaning up after a flood.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 14 SECTION 2 Page 3
♦ Assessing repairs required to council properties by 2010 Rotherham Ltd; repairs will commence shortly.
♦ Working with residents who have insurance claims through the Council’s contents insurance scheme.
♦ Council staff meetings with Elected Members and residents in the affected areas.
♦ Streetpride Drainage Team putting together a preliminary report to provide information and recommendations to resolve or alleviate any future flooding problems (Report attached at Section 3).
3. Friday 10 June 2009
A meeting of key officers across the council took place on 12 June 2009 to discuss arrangements to be put in place to manage the potential severe weather.
3. Monday 15 June 2009
Following further severe weather warnings over the weekend, teams from Streetpride Drainage Team went out to known ‘hot spots’ to ensure that gulleys and watercourses were cleaned and clear prior to the storm that occurred on 15 June and mainly affected the Town Centre and surrounding area.
4. Media Attention
An article appeared in the Rotherham Advertiser detailing the council’s response to the flooding incident.
Some statistical information outlining the impact of the floods is contained on the table below:
5. Table of Statistical Information
Issue Numbers Comments • Agricultural Impact Nil
• Businesses Affected Being assessed by RiDO • Community Safety/ Community Nil All minor issues dealt with at the Cohesion time.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 15 SECTION 2 Page 4
Issue Numbers Comments • Council Premises Affected 6 schools Minor to major damage. Some damage to the library at Aston Comprehensive School • Emergency Reception Centres Nil Opened
• Fatalities Nil
• Infrastructure
Streets damaged 1 Broom Valley Road suffered some damage. Road closures 8
• Public Health and Healthcare Appropriate information has been provided to affected residents.
• Public Meetings 2 Dinnington/ Laughton Common and Aston
• Railway System Some damage to the network in the Maltby area.
• Residential Reported 175 • 75 Council and 100 private. Properties Flooded • A full investigation is ongoing.
Number of Council tenants 20 without home insurance
Households requiring 3 alternative accommodation
• Sandbags (112 request) 2,000 provided
• School Closures 5
Pupils affected 2136
Pupil days lost 4272
• Ulley Reservoir 4 pumps on site activated.
• Catcliffe Pumps activated as a precautionary measure.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 16 SECTION 3 Page 1
3. INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CAUSES
ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
STREETPRIDE
INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE JUNE 2009 FLOODING INCIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE BOROUGH OF ROTHERHAM
3.1 Introduction
On Wednesday June 10 June 2009 at 17:00 hours, it was reported that in the Sheffield centre area, 82mm of rain fell in 6 hours, and 51mm of rain fell in 1 hour. Maximum intensity recorded was 177 mm per hour. Many of the areas in Rotherham such as Aston, Swallownest and Aughton, which borders the boundary with Sheffield experienced similar amounts of intense rainfall.
On Monday 15 June 2009 at 12:00 hours it was reported that approximately 20 to 40mm of rain fell in 2 hours, on a previously saturated catchment.
The high intensity of rain falling in a short period of time (sometimes known as ‘flash floods’), caused major flooding problems to properties and highways. None of the flooding in Rotherham was caused by river flooding, the majority of the flooding problems were caused by overland flooding (i.e. surface water run off from field etc.). 175 properties were flooded internally and 8 roads were closed or flooded throughout the Borough of Rotherham.
Some of the areas in Rotherham which were affected by the floods were Aston, Swallownest, Aughton, Laughton Common, Whiston, Treeton and Thrybergh. Other areas in Rotherham were also affected but these were isolated incidents.
Shortly after the floods the Council carried out initial drainage investigation surveys to establish the cause of the flooding and to indicate possible solutions and/or improvements needed to existing drainage systems.
3.2 Extent of the Flooding Problems and Areas Affected by the Floods
3.3 Aston/Aughton/Swallownest Area
Plan no 187/43/DR01 attached at Appendix 1 displays the locations affected.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 17 SECTION 3 Page 2
Area 1 Main Street, Aughton
A natural valley runs along the rear boundary of properties on Main Street, Aughton, including Aughton Nursery School. It is not known whether there is any base flow within the natural watercourse. It appears that there are some open and some culverted sections. Water flowed overland along the natural valley, flooding several properties on Main Street. Water flowed onto the highway, overwhelming an already overloaded system and water then flooded from the highway back towards the property.
There were also other localised flooding problems further south on Main Street, affecting the post office and the cellars of the houses opposite. These incidents were independent of each other and the problems on the watercourse.
Additional road gullies cleansing works were carried out by the Council along Main Street, shortly after the storm.
Recommendations
Further detailed drainage investigation works are required such as topographic survey, cleansing, probing and CCTV survey of the existing drainage systems. . These works would allow detailed design works to be carried out to improve the flooding problems on site.
A survey and assessment of this watercourse is required.
Several areas of land are required to be investigated to assess the possibility of providing flood storage areas which would hold or store the excess surface water within the land and improve flooding problems to the properties. This could be achieved by creating bunds and a flood plain or similar, and would prevent the flows from discharging unrestricted. These works would require the corporation of the private landowners.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 2 Aughton Road/Aughton Avenue, Aughton
The properties on the south side of Aughton Avenue, some on Aughton Road and the northern boundary of Aston Comprehensive School. Several properties in Aughton Avenue and Aughton Road were flooded internally.
There is a 225mm diameter public surface water sewer running to the rear of Aughton Avenue and this then discharges into a 225mm diameter combined sewer in Aughton Road. These public sewers are owned and maintained by Yorkshire Water. These drainage systems are not designed to drain all the land in the area, including the surface water run off. It is not known whether there are any additional drainage systems beneath Aughton Road.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 18 SECTION 3 Page 3
It was reported that surface water run off discharged off the Aston Comprehensive School playing field and towards the houses in Aughton Lane.
The area is very flat and there is a natural valley along the boundary between the houses and the school, and runs towards the east from Aughton Road, before turning towards the south. There is an outfall into the open watercourse south of Alexandra Road. It is likely that the system upstream of this outfall extends towards Aughton Road, but its extent is unknown. There is a manhole north of Alexandra Road, which is thought to be upstream of the outfall. The manhole is approximately 9m deep.
A report was received regarding works to a footpath in Aughton Road which appeared to be contributing to the flooding problems to the properties in Aughton Road. The investigation works have found that the depth of water that was on the carriageway (i.e. Aughton Road), was above the kerb level and across the full width of the carriageway. It is unlikely that the recent footpath works would have had a major affect on the flooded properties. The main problem appears to be the lack of capacity within the existing public sewerage systems which prevents the road gullies, house drainage etc from draining into the systems freely.
Additional cleansing of these road gullies were carried out in Aughton Road shortly after the storm.
Recommendations
Further detailed drainage investigation works are required such as topographic survey, cleansing, probing and CCTV survey to establish the sewers condition and route. These works would allow detailed design works to be carried out to improve the flooding problems on site.
The drainage between Aughton Road and the outfall requires further detailed investigation works.
The feasibility of creating a flood storage area within the school grounds should be investigated. This could be achieved by creating bunds and a flood plain and prevent the flows from discharging unrestricted.
Further consultation with Yorkshire Water is necessary to investigation the hydraulic capacity of their public sewage systems in the area.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc)
Area 3 Alexandra Road No’s 44, 46, 48 & 50 some internal flooding.
Water ran from the adjacent allotments into gardens to the rear of the properties which slope down towards the buildings. The drains in this area usually cope, but were overwhelmed, causing water to pond around the back of the buildings because ground levels there are lower than the surrounding land. The level rises until it escapes around the side of the property.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 19 SECTION 3 Page 4
Nos. 48 & 50 flooded internally, but this could probably be solved by relaying the concrete area to the rear of No. 48 and altering ground levels so that water would flow around the side of the building to the carriageway at the front. This work would be the responsibility of the property owners.
No. 46 (private property) flooded in the garden and garage but because of a higher threshold and existing drainage channel (installed by the owner) they escaped internal flooding.
No. 44 may have also suffered internal flooding but there was nobody at the property to confirm this when visited.
Recommendations
Improved drainage of the allotments to prevent runoff onto the adjacent properties should be investigated. Investigate the possibility of providing some flood storage areas to hold or store the excess water and restrict forward flows.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 4 Ivanhoe Mews No’s 30 & 32 Garage and garden flooding.
Houses situated at the bottom of a sloping carriageway and the natural flow path is down to waste land at the end of the rear gardens. This means that water has to travel through the garages and builds up in the gardens before over topping the wall and flowing into the waste land.
Recommendations
Weep holes in the garden walls or similar improve drainage system would alleviate some of the water build up in the gardens. This work would be the responsibility of the property owners.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 5 Queens Road No. 11 External flooding
Property has walled front garden that traps water with no escape route, creating weep holes in the walls would alleviate some of these problems. Footways on this road are lower than carriageway level so any excess runoff immediately ponds on footways. A drainage system at the bottom of the grass verge running alongside the footway would prevent some of this area flooding as much in the future. The gully outside no. 11 was blocked but has since been cleansed.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 20 SECTION 3 Page 5
Recommendations
Weep holes in the garden walls or similar improve drainage system would alleviate some of the water build up in the gardens. This work would be the responsibility of the property owners.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 6 Mason Avenue Area
Wharton Avenue
No’s 72 & 74 Internal flooding due to water flowing down the grass slope at the front of the properties. A land drain at the bottom of this slope would remove/divert some of this water.
No’s 44, 46, 50 & 62 Internal flooding due to water falling into the gardens and having no escape route. Gardens are walled and slope towards the properties and have no drainage to remove the ponding water. Installation of gullies connected to main system or flood routing investigations would be beneficial.
Recommendations
Proposed land drain, installation of gullies and flood routing, or similar improve drainage system would alleviate some of the water build up in the gardens. This work would be the responsibility of the property owners.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Walpole Grove, Mason Avenue
Several properties on Walpole Grove and Mason Avenue had porches or outbuildings flooded.
Gray Avenue Internal and External flooding
No’s 44, 46 & 50, Water flowing downhill from Wharton Avenue is flooding the front gardens of these properties. Drainage in this area is limited to natural soak away through a small grassed area in front of the houses but this does not take the amount of rainfall found in an extreme event. This requires further investigations to see if flood waters can be diverted around the houses. Possibly a land drain installed at the bottom of the grass slope at the end Wharton avenue. No’s 28, 32 & 40 internal flooding due to blocked guttering and poor construction/maintenance of the structure of the properties, this has caused water to flow in through the roofs and window frames. Gardens are walled with no/insufficient drainage systems in place meaning that water builds up and has no escape route. Yard gullies/linear drainage channels connected to the main surface water system or a clear
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 21 SECTION 3 Page 6 flood water path through the gardens by means of channels and openings in walls would help to alleviate some of the problems. Water tightness of the buildings also needs to be looked at.
Flooding of the properties in this area is predominantly due to overland flows.
Recommendations
An assessment of the existing drainage and the overland flow routes is required.
Proposed land drain, installation of gullies and flood routing, or similar improve drainage system would alleviate some of the water build up in the gardens. This work would be the responsibility of the property owners.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
In the Mason Avenue area the possibility of providing some flood storage areas to hold or store the excess water and restrict forward flows must be explored.
Area 7 Wesley Avenue
No. 119 appears to flood with water flowing from the carriageway onto driveway and front garden that slope towards the property. At the time of the visit, there was nobody at the property so the exact mechanism and extent of the flooding here is not yet known.
Recommendations
Further investigation works required and discussion with property owner/tenant.
Area 8 Cantilupe Crescent No’s 54, 58 & 60. Conyers Drive No’s 2, 4, 6 & Holderness Drive No’s 45 & 47. Internal Flooding.
Properties owned by Counties Housing Association, private owners and the Council, were flooded. The existing drainage system was overwhelmed by the rainfall intensity. It appears that the properties are situated in a shallow bowl so any water in excess of the drainage systems capacity is retained in the low lying area.
Recommendations
A survey of the existing drainage systems and a topographical survey should be carried out to determine whether creating a flood route is feasible.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 22 SECTION 3 Page 7
Area 9 Rosedale Close No. 10 & 12 flooding in gardens.
The houses are in natural low point with water flowing down carriageway and slightly sloping rear garden towards properties water building up around houses.
Recommendations
Further investigation into the existing drainage or provision of new drainage system is required.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 10 Fane Crescent No. 6 Internal flooding
Small amount of internal flooding. The property is at a low point in the road with water running down carriageway and into driveway via a dropped kerb. Water then flows down the garden and ponds around the front of the property, held by the outbuildings and ground levels.
Recommendations
Creation of flood path around property.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 11 Luterel Drive No’s 3 & 5 flooding in porch/gardens. No. 18 Internal flooding
Water flows down steeply sloping rear gardens towards the properties. Natural flood route (entries between properties) has been blocked by ‘lean-to’ style extensions that connect main house to out houses causing a terraced effect.
No. 18 is affected by water flowing down hill along carriageway and into driveway that slopes towards the property. At the time of the visit, there was nobody at the property so the exact mechanism and extent of the flooding here is unknown.
Recommendations
Further investigation works required and discussion with property owner/tenant.
Area 12 Pagenall Drive No’s 1, 3, 5 & 7 Internal Flooding
Houses in natural valley are affected by water flowing down hill along carriageways to junction of Wesley Ave and Pagenall Drive, water then ponds in low point. Natural path to watercourse blocked raised driveway to rear of by new housing development on
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Alexandra Road. Further development is planned that would further block path to watercourse.
Recommendations
Creating a channel to divert flood water to the watercourse would help to alleviate these problems.
Further discussion with Rotherham MBC Planners regarding future development.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 13 Hepworth Drive Area
Hepworth Drive, Catherine Avenue, Alison Drive, Alison Close, Florence Avenue, Beverley Close, Hilary Way, Stone Hill Drive
Approximately 70 properties were flooded internally on the estate around Hepworth Drive. The estate consists of predominantly council owned housing. The estate is served by private sewers. It is thought that some of the surface water drains to soakaways. There is a surface water culvert which serves the estate which drains towards the west, south of Stone Hill Drive, then beneath Mansfield Road to its outfall into an open watercourse which converges with the watercourse passing beneath Great Bridge, High Street, Swallownest. This watercourse runs to the east of Skipton Road / Wetherby Drive and beneath the A57 Aston Relief Road.
The drainage system was overwhelmed, causing very large overland flows. Due to the design of many of the properties when overland flows occur, the water flows towards the properties causing flooding.
Ashley Grove No’s 58 & 60 Internal flooding.
Properties situated at end of the cul-de-sac with carriageway significantly higher than the row of bungalows. Front gardens slope towards houses. Existing yard gullies overwhelmed by rainfall intensity. Natural flood route around properties is blocked by disabled access ramp to no. 58 which was needed by disabled occupant now deceased. Ramp could be removed opening up the flood route. Further minor alterations to the drainage or ground levels around the properties may be required.
Florence Avenue No’s 4, 6 & 12 Interior flooding, No’s 8 & 14 Exterior flooding only.
Rear gardens slope towards houses and there is insufficient/no drainage in the gardens. No.12 has very poorly constructed linear drainage channel that is badly connected to main drainage system. A rain water pipe serving four house discharges into this garden through a damaged inlet gully. Further investigation is required to see whether a flood diversion route is possible. Also better maintenance of existing drainage would improve the situation.
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Olive Close
No. 23 has water coming up through the downstairs toilet floor during heavy rain. Also has water built up in back garden coming in through rear door threshold. No’s 33, 35, 39, 41, 43 & 45 Internal flooding due to water flowing down the steeply sloping rear gardens towards the properties, this water originally comes from Elizabeth Road and spills onto the footpath that runs along the top of the gardens. The provision of a drainage path through gardens and/or gullies being installed in gardens needs to be investigated.
Recommendations
The whole of the drainage system on this estate should be surveyed and an assessment made of its adequacy as a whole. In addition, the properties should be assessed individually, particularly the local ground profiles, to ensure that where possible, in extreme rainfall events, water can flow around the properties, without causing flooding. The routing of water away from properties need to be investigated.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
In Area 13 the possibility of providing some flood storage areas to hold or store the excess water and restrict forward flows must be explored.
Area 14 Osbourne Avenue No’s 2, 3, 4 & 6, 1 Rosslyn Avenue, Internal flooding
Driveways slope down towards properties so any runoff from the adjacent land falls to the houses and builds up against them before breaching the thresholds.
The existing drainage system was overwhelmed by the rainfall intensity. It appears that the properties are situated in a shallow bowl so any water in excess of the drainage systems capacity is retained in the low lying area.
Recommendations
A survey of the existing drainage systems and a topographical survey should be carried out to determine whether creating a flood route is feasible.
Occupier of no. 4 claims that there used to be a stream that ran past the end of the gardens that originated at nearby Springwood school. Further investigations of this would be beneficial.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
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Area 15 Rose Garth Avenue No. 15 Internal flooding, 17 & 19 external flooding and garage flooding at Richmond, Aughton Lane
Driveways slope down towards properties so any runoff from the carriageway falls to the houses and builds up against them before breaching the thresholds. Water flows around side of no.17. No drainage to front of no. 19.
Highway Drain and public sewer were overloaded at the time.
Recommendations
A survey of the existing drainage systems and a topographical survey should be carried out to determine whether creating a flood route is feasible.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
An extensive drainage survey of the existing drainage systems is required to determine whether a relief drainage scheme is feasible.
Area 16 Millstone Drive, St. Stephen’s Drive, Bramley Avenue
Water flooded from the private sewer at the rear of 41 St Stephen’s Drive and flooded the garage causing approx. £8,000 of damage. At the same time the road outside 52-58 Millstone Drive flooded. The water ran off the highway into the garages and gardens.
The road gullies outside 52-58 Millstone Drive should be investigated to establish where they drain to. If they drain to the nearby public sewer then we know that this system was overloaded at the time.
Downstream, Bramley Avenue was flooded with sewage, but it is not thought that any properties were flooded internally. Residents report that flooding of the combined sewers is a regular occurrence.
One of the residents has stated that there is a culverted watercourse which follows the line of flooding described above, but this is not recorded.
Recommendations
An extensive drainage survey of the existing drainage systems is required.
Further discussion with Yorkshire Water is required.
Investigate the possibility of an existing watercourse.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
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Area 17 Malton Drive, The Chase and Priory Way
Road gullies discharge to public surface water sewers which were overloaded at time of storm causing approx. 7 properties to be internally flooded.
Recommendations
An extensive drainage survey of the existing drainage systems is required.
Further discussion with Yorkshire Water is required.
Investigate the possibility of an existing watercourse.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 18 Church View No’s 17 & 19 Internal flooding
Water flows down hill along carriageway and into the driveways of the two properties. Driveways slope down towards the houses and then water builds up against them before breaching the thresholds. There is a public surface water sewer which starts south of Worksop Road, then follows the natural valley before outfalling into the open watercourse in lineal park.
The open watercourse also has an outfall that seems to come from the direction of Burford Crescent which would also benefit from further investigation.
Recommendations
An extensive drainage survey of the existing drainage systems is required.
Further discussion with Yorkshire Water is required.
Investigate the existing watercourse.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 19 Lodge Lane, Aston
Surface water ran off Parish Council land/field to the rear of 4-28 (evens) Lodge Lane. The surface water run off flooded 7 properties internally and several gardens were flooded.
The residents reported that the Section 24 public combined sewer (i.e. contains both foul and surface water from the properties), at the rear of the houses overflowed contributed to the flooding problems to the 7 properties in Lodge Lane. The Section 24 public sewers are owned and maintained by Yorkshire Water.
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Residents also reported that surface water was running off the public highway and appeared to contribute to the flooding of the properties in Lodge Lane.
Shortly after the storm an unchartered pipe was discovered which appeared to run under Lodge Lane. The pipe also appeared to run from the Parish Council field at the rear of 4 to 28 lodge lane. This pipe was buried but the end is now uncovered as the pressure of water coming down the pipe forced debris over the outlet downstream.
Additional cleansing of these road gullies were carried out shortly after the storm.
Recommendations
Further detailed drainage investigation works are required such as topographic survey, cleansing, probing and CCTV survey of the unchartered pipe, to establish its condition and route. These works would allow detailed design works to be carried out to improve the flooding problems on site.
The majority of the surface water run off came from the direction of the Parish Council land/field at the rear of 4 to 28 Lodge Lane. It is suggested that this land is used to hold or store the excess surface water within the land which would prevent the properties from flooding in Lodge Lane. This could be achieved by creating bunds and a flood plain and would prevent the flows from discharging unrestricted. These works would require the corporation of the Parish Council.
The uncharted pipe under Lodge Lane may require replacing. At present the status of the pipe or its function is unknown.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 20 Heron Hill, Aston – Internal Flooding 22, 24, and 26
A culverted watercourse runs alongside no 26, with an outfall just past the rear boundary. There are at least 2 separate watercourses which flow into separate inlets before combining together somewhere near the low spot in The Chase. One of the watercourses starts near Lodge Lane, then runs along the boundary of the parish council recreation ground, to the inlet behind 28 The Chase. The other starts on the north side of Worksop road, runs along the rear boundaries of Hardwick Close and Priory Way, then between the rear boundaries of Church View and All Saints Way, before emerging in open channel again through the lineal park then into an inlet near the rear of 98 All Saints Way. The culverts join together and end at an outlet rear of 26 Heron Hill.
There are grills on the inlets and the outlet. It is known that the outlet grill was partially blinded and council staff broke off the padlock to allow the grill to open increasing the flow. The condition of the inlet grill at the time of the flooding is not known, but shortly afterwards there was a large amount of debris around both inlets, which may have been moved since the incidents. There is open land upstream of both inlets, owned by Aston Parish Council. Responsibility for maintenance of the watercourses in these area lies
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 28 SECTION 3 Page 13 with the riparian landowners, i.e. the Parish Council and property owners. The watercourse in the recreation ground area contained a large amount of branches and logs. Many of these had been saw cut, indicating that they had been either dumped or left there intentionally.
Recommendations
Further investigation works required
Survey the culverts and calculate the capacities.
Investigate providing flood storage areas in the upstream open land and provision of an emergency overland flood route.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Area 21 Church Lane, Aston No. 149 external flooding
During heavy rain foul manhole on drive way over flows. The house is situated adjacent to the downstream part of the watercourse mentioned above.
There is a private sewer system which serves this development. There is a manhole on this system situated close to the front door of no. 149. It is not known whether water from the flooding above entered this system, exacerbating the flooding.
The gullies at the end low end of Church Lane were blocked and have now been cleansed.
Recommendations
Further Investigation required. Property owner needs to be contacted to discuss the problem further.
Area 22 Mansfield Road No’s 121-139 all affected by external flooding with most being internally flooded. Nickerwood Drive
Houses situated in dip with both rear gardens and front gardens/driveways sloping towards properties. Surface water overflow from adjacent Nickerwood drive flows from the carriageway bypassing the houses on Nickerwood and into the rear gardens of the properties on Mansfield Road. No. 125 had issues with ponding to the front of the property and had a new road gully installed, ponding has now ceased.
Recommendations
Further Investigation required. Property owner needs to be contacted to discuss the problem further.
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Area 23 Osprey Road – No. 1 Garage Flooding
Water runs down the drive and into the garage of no 1. The resident reports that large amounts of water run down Duckham Drive, then across Osprey Road towards the drop kerb, across the footway the down the drives. There is a small drainage channel to prevent water flowing into the garage. This is effective during light rainfall, but cannot cope with large amounts of water flowing from the highway. The gullies on Osprey Road and Duckworth Drive are not blocked, but there is a considerable area of highway above the property with no gullies.
There is a surface water gully at the front of the property which drains the shared downpipe serving the front half of the roofs. The gully is blocked but it is not known whether this contributed to the flooding or a consequence of it. Yorkshire Water has checked the public sewers in the area and has found no problems.
Recommendations
The drainage of the highway should be investigated to determine whether water can be prevented from going down the drive and the private drainage problem should be addressed by the residents.
Area 24 Wetherby Drive
4 properties flooded internally, with water depths in the properties of up to 1.5m. Electrical control gear serving Yorkshire Water sewage pumping station flooded resulting in sewage contamination of flood water.
A watercourse runs in a deep cut to the east of Wetherby Drive. It flows into a culvert under the A57 Aston Relief Road, then in open channel to the south until it enters another culvert beneath the railway line. This culvert is some 165m in length with no obvious access points. There is evidence of landslip damage downstream of the railway caused by the surcharged culvert. Contributory flows originate from several other known flooded areas in the Aston/Swallownest area. Flooding occurred upstream of the A57 culvert and also between the A57 and the railway. Either or both of these culverts could be the cause of the flooding.
Recommendations
Evaluation of the two culverts and assessment of the impact of any proposed works in the upstream catchment area is essential.
Further discussion with riparian owners i.e. private landowners, network rail, Rother Valley Country Park to address the maintenance of the watercourse which crosses their land.
Investigate providing flood storage areas in the upstream open land and provision of an emergency overland flood route.
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3.4 Other Areas within the Borough of Rotherham
3.4.1 Kensington Close, Laughton Common
In June 2007, water flowed from the railway onto Kensington Close. There were problems with the railway drainage which has since been cleared out. Water still ponds on the railway, even during relatively dry conditions. In January 2008 after the flood study had been completed, during heavy rainfall, water from the railway again flowed onto Kensington Close causing flooding to the garden of number 22. No properties were damaged during that event. Several properties flooded again in June 2009.
Ensuring the railway drainage is kept clear is a priority for alleviating future flooding, but will not eliminate flooding. The railway drainage is designed to drain the railway, but is unlikely to cope if large amounts of water flow onto the railway from adjacent land. Due to the restrictions on entering railway land, it has not been possible to determine exactly where the water is draining on to the railway land but the flood levels at Glaisdale Close were significantly higher than the railway level which is in a shallow cutting in that area.
The railway drain on the east of the track, crosses under the railway to discharge to the west. There is no known positive drainage from the railway into the new estate, but it is likely that before the area was developed, excess water from the railway would run naturally onto this land.
During the heavy rainfall in January 2008, it was observed that there was a large quantity of water flowing above ground down the railway land. The land on the housing estate is generally just higher than the railway land, but adjacent to Kensington Close, there is a dip in the ground profile, allowing the water to flow onto the estate.
Recommendations
Investigate the possibility of a new drainage system, running between the new development and the railway would take the water away from the houses into Eel Mires Dike.
A meeting with Network Rail to discuss the problem and a way forward is to be held at the end of July 2009.
Investigate providing flood storage areas in the upstream open land and provision of an emergency overland flood route.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
3.4.2 Gough Close, Herringthorpe
Gough Close is a cul-de-sac which slopes steeply down towards the hammerhead end. There is a dropped kerb along the full width of the hammerhead and the gullies do not adequately intercept the water, allowing it to run across to footway towards no 11. The
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 31 SECTION 3 Page 16 residents report that this is a longstanding problem. Recently no 11 has been extended on both sides and a new wall has been constructed along the front boundary. Some of the water still flows into no 11 affecting the garage, but the wall has diverted much of the water towards no 18. The drive of no 18 slopes towards the integral garage and there is a small drainage channel to prevent water flowing into the garage. This is effective during light rainfall, but cannot cope with large amounts of water flowing from the highway.
Recommendations
The road levels at the end of the hammerhead should be checked to determine whether the road could be reshaped to drain more effectively.
The owner of no 18 should investigate forming some sort of flood route or additional drainage along the side of the property to prevent the garage flooding during exceptional rainfall.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
3.4.3 Goose Carr Lane and The Pastures, Todwick
Road and 2no Gardens affected. Further damage avoided by resident forming a flood route through garden.
On open ditch on the west side of Goose Carr Lane enters a culvert 30m north of the corner where the road changes to The Pastures. The culvert, which is approximately 100m long, passes between Meadow House, Goose Carr Lane and 36 The Pastures.
The grill on the culvert inlet was 80% blinded. The excess water, which could not get into the culvert, flooded the road and the recreation ground, before flowing overland along Storth Lane and across the gardens to flow back into the open watercourse downstream.
The culvert inlet and first 40m are within adopted highway. There are other culverts upstream, whose purpose is unknown and require further investigation. These are also within adopted highway. The grill and culverts are not on a maintenance schedule.
Recommendations
Further investigation of both the watercourse and the culvert are required to determine the extent of the work required to clear them and to determine their adequacy.
Future routine maintenance will be required to prevent a recurrence of the problem.
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3.4.4 Herringthorpe Valley Road (North), Mowbray Street
Herringthorpe Valley road near Mowbray Gardens library flooded in June 2009 and the water was very close to flooding the library. In June 2007, the road flooded on 2 occasions, and 2 properties on Mowbray Street were flooded internally. In 2009, neither the library nor any of the residential properties flooded internally.
The 2009 incident has not been investigated separately, but evidence from 2007 suggests that the public sewer system is inadequate to cope with intense rainfall events. There is a watercourse which enters a culvert in Valley Park which discharges into the public surface water sewer near the allotments.
Recommendations
Further investigation of the drainage system required to determine the extent of the work required and to determine their adequacy.
Investigate providing flood storage areas in the upstream open land and provision of an emergency overland flood route.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
3.4.5 Herringthorpe Valley Road (South) and Broom Lane
Herringthorpe Valley Road, Broom Lane and Worrygoose roundabout were flooding, causing traffic problems and flooding 5 gardens. The extent of the flooding is such that an elderly disabled resident is unable to access or leave his property and his carer was only able to enter his property by climbing over a garden wall.
Flooding of the area has long been a problem and approximately 15 years ago, a new sewer was laid in Worrygoose Lane by Yorkshire Water, which was intended to alleviate the problem. The surface water sewer overflowed at the junction of Worrygoose Lane and Moorhouse Road, causing extensive damage to the highway surface. There is also a partially culverted watercourse east of Worrygoose Lane. The extent of the interaction between the surface water sewer and the watercourse is not known.
The footways in front of the affected gardens are not high enough to contain the standing water on the roundabout, so water runs across the footways flooding the gardens. The gardens are lower than the surrounding land so once flooded, the gardens stay underwater for several days.
Recommendations
The drainage system around the roundabout and on Worrygoose Lane should be investigated and a survey of the footways should be done to see whether they could be re-shaped to better contain the water.
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3.4.6 Josephine Road, Holmes
Cellar flooded due to blocked gully. Cars are often parked over the gully preventing it being cleansed. There is a build out in the carriageway which prevents the water continuing down the carriageway when the gully is blocked.
Recommendation
Additional gully cleansing required with the corporation of the residents.
3.4.7 Meadow Street, Laughton Common
High water levels in Eel Mires Dike caused some flooding of gardens around Meadow Street. This problem is already being addressed following the 2007 floods and schemes to replace the downstream culverts are expected to be approved shortly.
Recommendation
A Capital Bid has been submitted to the Council for approval to replace a defective culvert under Monksbridge Road.
Addition works required for the removal and general maintenance of Eel Mires upstream of Monksbridge Road and towards the Kensington Close estate at Laughton Common.
3.4.8 Middle Lane, Clifton
Two separate flooding incidents were recorded on Middle Lane. Water from the highway ran over the footway and into the cellar of no 110 and into the gardens of nos. 10 and 12. At the time of the visit, there was nobody at the properties so the exact mechanism and extent of the flooding here is unknown.
The road gullies were clear so it is thought that there is a capacity problem with the sewers to which the gullies drain.
Recommendations
Further discussion with Yorkshire Water needed.
3.4.9 Staple Green, Thrybergh 22, 24
2 Properties affected, no internal flooding
Water runs from the adjacent land down the slope towards the properties. The tenants claim that this has been a problem for a few years. In the past, water has caused problems with the gardens, but the water could run around the houses preventing a build up.
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A concrete access ramp has been constructed to no. 22, which prevents the overland flow of water. As levels build up, the water will eventually flow the other way round the two properties along the path at the side of no. 24. Part of this path has been recently repaired and there is a gully in the path, which the tenant has confirmed is effective. However the surface profile of the path is such that water is held back by a high spot before the gully. It is therefore impossible to access to no 24 during heavy rainfall without paddling through water or using a neighbour’s garden.
This property did not flood internally, and, because there is a route for the water to drain once it reaches a certain level, future internal flooding is unlikely. If the path is re-laid, it is important that the finished levels are not raised to an extent that would prevent flow of water from front to rear.
2010 are responsible for any works required.
Recommendations
To resolve the problems at this location would require the following.
1 Install a land drain across the front of the properties.
2 Form an opening through the concrete ramp to permit water to flow through. 3 Re-lay the path at the front and side of no.24 to shed water towards the existing drainage. 4 A land drainage scheme addressing all the drainage problems on the land upstream.
Without item 4, water from the surrounding land would still drain towards the property during heavy rain, but would then drain away without causing a problem.
3.4.10 Sycamore Drive, Thurcroft
An un-named watercourse runs from the north, through a culvert under New Orchard Lane, then between the houses on Sycamore Drive and the cricket field to Brookhouse Dike.
During heavy rainfall, the culvert is unable to cope and water runs overland. Due to the topography of the junction, water runs from New Orchard Lane onto Sycamore Drive. There is a low spot on the road near the drives on nos. 2 and 4, where water builds up until it runs down the drives towards the houses. The residents have carried out works within their gardens to direct the flood water back into the watercourse, and combined with sandbagging across the ends of the drives, internal flooding of the properties was avoided, but the garages were flooded.
When flooding occurred in 2007, there may have been a partial blockage of the culvert outfall, but it is thought that this was clear in 2009.
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Recommendations
Maintenance of the culvert is required by the riparian owners, in this case the adjacent factory and the Council.
The culvert should be surveyed by CCTV to ensure that is not blocked. The design flow and the capacity of the culvert should be calculated.
A topographical survey of the area around the culvert should be carried of to determine whether changes could be made to form a more effective flood route.
3.4.11 105 The Meadows Todwick
Water from the fields behind the property and the adjacent properties ran across the gardens and flooded the lower ground floor of no. 105. There is a longstanding problem with the private drainage and the resident said there may be a problem with tree roots in the private drainage system. The main drain in the road, which is also private, may not have sufficient capacity.
Recommendations
Alterations to the property externally around the affected area, may also be required to prevent water entering the property if the drains overflow.
Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
Investigate providing flood storage areas in the upstream open land and provision of an emergency overland flood route.
3.4.12 Windle Court and Shoreland Drive, Treeton
Surface water ran off land adjacent to 7A Windle Court. 5 properties were flooded internally and 15 gardens flooded. Residents reported water overflowing from 2 ditches and a ditch at the rear of 9 Windle Court. The adjacent land slopes steeply towards the houses and it was reported that there was a blockage at the inlet to the culvert.
Recommendations
Council is proposing to carry out maintenance works to inlet of culvert and a connecting pipe between the ditch at the rear of 9 Windle Court and nearby drainage system.
Further investigation works required to prevent surface water run off from adjacent hillside. Some of the land is owned by the Council.
Investigate providing flood storage areas in the upstream open land and provision of an emergency overland flood route.
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Investigate the possibility of carrying out flood resilience works to protect the properties (e.g. flood gates etc).
3.4.13 Worksop Road, Aston
2 no. properties and 1 no. garage were flooded internally due to surface water running off the public highway. It would appear that the public sewer in Worksop Road was overloaded and water was issuing out of the road gullies, indicating that the public sewer was surcharged and backing up the drainage systems before overflowing from the gullies.
Recommendations
Further discussions with Yorkshire Water needed to investigate any possible capacity problems within the public sewer.
Further investigation works and hydraulic analysis required to the existing highway drainage system to check the capacity of the drain and identify and remedy any defects.
3.4.14 Worksop Road, Swallownest
Several gardens were flooded due to surface water running off the public highway.
Recommendations
Further investigation works and hydraulic analysis required to the existing highway drainage system to check the capacity of the drain and identify and remedy any defects.
3.5 Summary
The storms that occurred in June 2009 were exceptional with several areas throughout the Borough of Rotherham affected by localised flooding. Rainfall figures for the Sheffield area indicate that a large amount of rain fell in a short period of time, which overwhelmed most of the existing drainage systems and created extensive surface water run off problems from large areas of land.
Streetpride has completed its initial drainage investigation works and this report outlines the main source of the flooding and recommends areas for improvement and flood resilience. In most cases it is evident that there is the need to provide some attenuation and/or flood storage areas within land, which will hold or store the water and restrict forward flows.
The initial drainage investigation works has identified the need to continue with further investigation works, feasibility studies and design works to take into consideration the large drainage catchment areas and to fully understand the problems within the areas
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 37 SECTION 3 Page 22 affected by the floods. Additional works are required in some of the areas, such as hydraulic analysis, flood study reports, CCTV surveys, topographical surveys, which will enable various flood defence schemes to be designed and implemented to reduce the risk of flooding.
It is evident that the majority of the flooding in June 2009 was caused by overland flooding with surface water running off land. The majority of the land is private land and is not owned by the Council. Further discussions with third party, or private, or riparian owners is necessary to fully address the flooding problems in areas affected by the floods.
It is proposed that the Council’s Drainage Section will carry out further comprehensive drainage investigation surveys, feasibility studies, and reports in all of the areas identified in this report. These works will commence in September 2009 and should be completed by March 2010. The cost of carrying out these drainage investigation surveys, feasibility studies, and reports is estimated at £70,000.
The reports will identify all necessary flood defence works or flood resilience works required in areas at risk from floods. All necessary proposed works identified in these reports will have future financial and resource implication.
Table 1 below provides details of properties affected by flooding.
This initial report provides an indication as to the cause of the flooding problems in June 2009 and recommends areas for improvements. The report does not provide any detailed analysis, design information or accurate budget estimates.
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TABLE 1
Details of Properties affected by the Floods of June 2009
Area Numbers. or Street No. of Properties No. of Properties Names Affected by Internal suffering Other Flood Flooding Damage Area 1 5 4 Area 2 3 10 Area 3 3 1 Area 4 0 2 Area 5 0 1 Area 6 18 10 Area 7 1 0 Area 8 11 4 Area 9 0 2 Area10 0 1 Area 11 1 2 Area 12 4 0 Area 13 80 4 Area 14 6 3 Area 15 2 1 Area 16 0 6 Area 17 1 0 Area 18 2 8 Area 19 7 0 Area 20 3 0 Area 21 1 0 Area 22 8 1 Area 23 0 1 Area 24 4 1 Kensington Close, 6 0 Laughton Common Gough Close, 0 2 Herringthorpe Goose Carr Lane Area, 0 2 Todwick
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Area Numbers. or Street No. of Properties No. of Properties Names Affected by Internal suffering Other Flood Flooding Damage Herringthorpe Valley 0 1 Road (North) Herringthorpe Valley 1 5 Road (South) Josephine Road, Holmes 0 2 Meadow Street, Laughton 0 1 Common Middle Lane, Clifton 0 3 Staple Green, Thrybergh 0 2 Sycamore Drive, 0 2 Thurcroft The Meadows, Todwick 1 0 Windle Court & 5 24 Shoreland Drive, Treeton Worksop Road Aston 2 2 Worksop Road 0 10 Swallownest
Totals 175 118
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MAP SHOWING AFFECTED Page 40
PROPERTIES
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4. RECOVERY
1. The emergency response to the flooding incidents of Wednesday 10 June 2009 stood down in the early hours of Thursday 11 June 2009.
2. Council staff from Streetpride Drainage Team continued to work during the early hours of Thursday 11 June 2009 cleansing roads and their gullies and unblocking watercourses.
3. Staff from Neighbourhoods and Adult Services, particularly from Neighbourhood Teams were deployed to the flood affected areas to offer support, reassurance, information and practical help to local residents, particularly the vulnerable.
4. 2010 Rotherham Ltd sent out teams to offer support, information, assistance and practical help to their clients as a large number of the properties affected by the floods were managed by 2010. Preliminary assessments were also made of the damage to the properties to determine the extent and costs of repairs.
5. Staff from Streetpride Drainage Team have been meeting with riparian owners (local landowners) of some of the watercourses that caused problems during the flash flooding to discuss maintenance of their infrastructure.
6. Investigations into the causes and remedial measures that can be put in place to alleviate any further flooding in the affected areas were immediately commenced by Streetpride Drainage Team which included talking to affected residents.
Issues being addressed by the Council following the flash floods :
Bellwin Financial Assistance Scheme
7. The Bellwin scheme provides support for authorities in the case of an emergency or disaster involving destruction of, or danger to, life or property when, as a result, local authorities incur expenditure on, or in connection with, the taking of immediate action to safeguard life or property, or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience. The terms of the scheme mean that not all expenditure is eligible (for example insurable losses and capital costs are generally excluded as are normal staff) and the scheme only applies to costs over a threshold which for this authority is £761,000. Normally local authorities are only eligible for 85% recompense on spending above the threshold.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 42 SECTION 4 Page 2
8. As detailed in Section 5 of this report expenditure on this occasion in responding to the flash flooding did not exceed the council’s Bellwin Threshold for 2009/10 but Financial Services have requested that costs incurred in dealing with this emergency are noted in the event that later in the year it becomes necessary to activate the scheme in responding to any further emergencies.
Community Engagement
9 The Area Partnerships are currently working with Elected Members from the affected Parish Councils such as Aston-cum-Aughton Parish Council and affected residents to establish what support and assistance is required and this includes:
• Preparing a form for residents to fill in to determine how much damage individual properties suffered.
• Working with local charities such as Aston Charities and Rotherham Lions to identify what financial support is available for affected residents and what is required.
• Discussions are taking place to establish how much Leadership Money will be available and how it should be spent.
• Working with the Parish Council to identify funding and how it should be allocated, both now and in the future.
• An information roadshow is being planned for the area.
Children and Young People
10. In total 5 schools were affected by the flash flooding and closed for a short period. They are as follows:
• Aston Hall which reopened on Friday 12 June 2009
• Aston Lodge which reopened on Tuesday 16 June 2009
• Aughton Primary which reopened on Monday 15 June 2009
• Aston Comprehensive which reopened on Monday 15 June 2009 but had remained open for pupils taking exams during the period of 11-12 June2009.
• Swallownest Primary Foundation which reopened on Friday 12 June 2009
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 43 SECTION 4 Page 3
Economic Impacts
11. Business Recovery. RiDO have confirmed that no businesses have been affected through flooding.
Environmental Impacts
12. Increased street cleaning. This remained ongoing in affected areas until demand diminished.
13. Provision of sandbags. A large number of sandbags had been issued throughout the duration of the incident. Residents were advised to either use them for their own purpose i.e. spread in the garden etc or ring and arrange collection.
14. There have been no reports of any impact or effects on the bio-diversity of the area or eco systems.
Financial Impact
15. The full financial impact of the floods is currently being determined, this includes impact on The Capital Programme, Insurance, Bellwin Claims and Revenue budgets. The current estimated financial impact can be seen at Section 5.
Financial Support
16. It is unlikely that financial support will be offered to the community.
• Waiver of charges . Households that were flooded may qualify for exemption from Council tax dependant on a suitable application being made and the correct criteria being met.
Health Impacts
17. Concerns were raised by the council’s Environmental Health Team with regard to the provision of information for residents about health and safety advice for residents cleaning up after a flood such as dealing with contaminated water and electrical appliances affected by water. Appropriate information was placed on the Rotherham Council website by the Communications and Marketing Team
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 44 SECTION 4 Page 4
and leaflets that had been developed following the floods of June 2007 were revamped and distributed to affected residents.
18. Neighbourhood and Adult Services have compiled data of those individuals who were considered to be vulnerable prior to the flooding but now have an increased vulnerability, as well as those that were adversely affected and require additional support in the interim period. It should be noted that this vulnerability is due to physical problems such as heart problems, arthritis, diabetes and asthma rather than social ones.
Infrastructure
19. There was some damage to the highways, specifically Broom Valley Road which will need to be repaired, the road network is fully operational.
20. There was some flood and lightening damage to Network Rail’s infrastructure in the Maltby area, specifically 7 location cabinets, 7 sets of points (both aerials and cables) and 3 sets of signals need to be replaced.
Meetings
21. Officers from the Council have met with the Parish Councils at Aston-cum- Aughton and at Dinnington St Johns and some of the affected residents in Aston and in Treeton to discuss the response to the flash floods, obtain local knowledge about drainage systems and problems in the area and how to prevent damage to properties in the future.
Other Issues
22. In addition to the points raised within this document, the Parish Councils have been engaged in recovery issues within their respective parishes and letters have been sent out to all Parish Councils asking if they would like to store sandbags in order to be proactive for other potential flooding situations should they occur. Previously this had been restricted to the known high risk areas such as Dinnington, Whiston, Treeton and Catcliffe.
Social Impacts
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 45 SECTION 4 Page 5
23. A number of the residents in the Aughton area have raised concerns about the inadequacy of the drainage systems in the flood affected areas and the council’s response arrangements and assistance provided to residents during the floods in the form of verbal comments and letters. All letters have been sent to the appropriate council department for comment and a holding reply has been sent by the Emergency and Safety Team.
24. Residents in flood affected areas will be advised by the council of the availability of Flood Grants for their properties which will be provided by the Environment Agency on application subject to satisfying their criterion. These grants are to be used for making property more resilient to flooding through the addition of flood defence apparatus such as flood gates, air brick covers and damp proofing of walls etc which will assist residents in making their property more resilient to flooding and reduce insurance premiums.
Voluntary Agency Involvement
25. Neighbourhood and Adult Services together with 2010 Rotherham Ltd are liaising together in dealing with the medium to long term recovery issues surrounding residents affected by the floods. Rotherham Lions have been offering support to the affected community.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 46 SECTION 5 Page 1
5. FINANCIAL IMPACT
Overall Cost of the Emergency
1. In order to identify the full financial impact of the storm and flooding, Directorates were asked to identify the events and actions that gave rise to costs (both revenue and capital items). The outcomes of this process are summarised below which shows expenditure incurred during the emergency and immediate recovery period.
Damage to Schools £275,000 Costs associated with the response from Environment and £50,000 Development Services Costs associated with damage to council Housing (provided £129,000 by 2010 Rotherham Ltd) TOTAL £454,000
2. The damage to schools will be covered by insurance apart from an excess of £50,000.
3. Environment and Development Services have identified costs associated with the response and recovery to the ‘flash’ flooding which are as follows:
Delivery and filling of sandbags and delivery of pumps and £30,965 tankers to site for clean up operations (Estimated) On going clean up operations £5,000 (Estimated) Repair of damage to highways £15,000 (Estimated)
Funding Sources
4. The Government grant, the Bellwin Emergency Grant Scheme can be made available to support authorities in an emergency and is paid in respect of spending above a threshold – in Rotherham’s case £0.76m for 2009/10. Bellwin grant will not meet all the Council’s expenditure in respect of the emergency; the scheme will not fund the following:
• insurable costs, • normal staff costs, • loss of income, and • in most cases, capital expenditure.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 47 SECTION 5 Page 2
5. However in this case only the following costs can be claimed against the scheme:
Materials and contractors costs £38,000 Insurance excess for damaged property £50,000 TOTAL £88,000
This expenditure does not exceed the Council’s Bellwin Threshold for 2009/10 but the council has requested that this sum is noted so that should any further severe weather or other incidents occur during this financial year, the costs it has already incurred in dealing with emergencies can be taken into account in considering whether to activate the Bellwin Scheme.
Note: The costs for 2010 Rotherham Ltd are not included as they were received too late to be included in the submission which needs to be made within a very tight timescale.
6. No council premises, apart from the schools and council housing stock discussed at paragraph 1, were damaged during the ‘flash flooding’ incident.
Ongoing Costs
7. Some provisional investigation work into the reasons for properties flooding during 10 June has been carried out by the Streetpride Drainage Team at a cost of approximately £6,000; the initial report and recommendations can be found at Section 3. Further detailed investigation work will be carried out by the Council’s Drainage Team and will include detailed flood surveys and hydraulic modelling to more accurately identify works that will need to be undertaken to improve flood resilience in the affected areas and will cost an estimated £70,000. This estimate comprises two additional staff for 6 months in addition to topographical and CCTV surveys. These additional staff will be required over a temporary period otherwise the Streetpride Drainage Team won’t be able to deliver previously committed schemes and works scheduled for this financial year.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods SECTION 6 Page 1
IMPROVEMENT PROPOSALS FOR FUTURE RESPONSE
Serial Observation Recommendation Directorate Actions
Training Issues
1 Neighbourhoods and Adult • All new managers in Neighbourhoods Services have a number of and Adult Services to attend new Senior Managers in post Emergency Planning training delivered who have not currently by the Emergency and Safety Team. attended any Emergency Planning training. • The Emergency Planning
Representative is to ensure that the Page 48 induction of all new managers includes emergency planning.
Staffing Issues
2 Members of the public had RBT Connect Ltd to ensure that they problems getting through to have sufficient staff in the Contact Centre the Streetpride contact following an emergency to cope with the telephone number on 11 June additional calls from members of the 2009 in office hours. public.
3 Calls regarding sandbags RBT Connect Ltd to organise refresher were transferred to the training on Rotherham Borough Council’s Streetpride Drainage Team Sandbag Policy. which could have been answered by staff in the Contact Centre.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods SECTION 6 Page 2
Serial Observation Recommendation Directorate Actions
Resources Issues
4 Control and Coordination of A small Corporate recovery team be the recovery phase was not identified for future deployment after an effectively managed in the incident such as that on 10 June 2009. affected areas. The role of this group would be to visit flooded properties and identify the needs of affected residents. Page 49
5 Some of the sandbags that • Sandbag stores held by Streetpride were delivered to site were and 2010 Rotherham Ltd to be damaged. regularly inspected and replenished as required.
• In order to ensure serviceability sandbags issued to Parish Councils be inspected by Streetpride on an annual basis and appropriate action be taken to replace perished ones.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods SECTION 6 Page 3
Serial Observation Recommendation Directorate Actions
Resources Issues continued
6 Residents did not appreciate Streetpride provide residents with the purpose of sandbags and information about how to use sandbags, how to use them; they were what purpose they serve and other regarded as a universal measures that can be put in place to panacea. make their homes resilient to flooding. (See serial 12)
7 Information was not • Communications and Marketing be Page 50 immediately available to proactive in putting appropriate public advise residents of health and information on the council website safety implications of cleaning after an emergency. up after a flood and important telephone numbers. • Stocks of leaflets advising residents of health and safety implications of cleaning up after a flood are readily available for immediate distribution to affected residents.
• The flooding Z cards which provide general advice and guidance on flooding such as actions to take before, during and after a flood be distributed to all areas of the borough. This could be completed through all the Parish Councils.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods SECTION 6 Page 4
Serial Observation Recommendation Directorate Actions
Resources Issues continued
8 There was an expectation The Emergency and Safety Team during from residents that the council their presentations to the community fully would have resources explain the role of the council in an instantaneously available to emergency, the resources available and deal with flash floods. the need for the community to take some responsibility (Sir Michael Pitt Review refers). Page 51
Procedural Issues
9 Passage of communication Scrutiny and the Emergency and Safety needs to be improved to Team investigate a multi messaging Elected Members and Parish system that could provide quick Councils information to all Ward Members and Parish Councils through mobile telephones.
10 There was confusion over It should be agreed that the service that who is responsible for the tasks 2010 Rotherham Ltd be direct tasking of 2010 responsible for payment and that all Rotherham Ltd and the Control Room operatives are made billing/invoicing aware of this policy. arrangements.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods SECTION 6 Page 5
Serial Observation Recommendation Directorate Actions
Resident Issues
11 Residents assume that the • Streetpride Drainage Team to ensure maintenance of all that residents are aware of which watercourses is the watercourses are maintained by the responsibility of the council. council.
• Streetpride Drainage Team advise riparian owners of their responsibility to
maintain watercourses. Page 52
• It is envisaged that both of these recommendations could be achieved through the council’s magazine ‘Rotherham News’ and also leaflets to all households.
12 Residents should be aware Streetpride Drainage Team in conjunction that they have some with the Emergency and Safety Team to responsibility for building in raise awareness to the community of the flood resilience if they are at Flood Grants that are available from the risk from flooding rather than Environment Agency to purchase flood depending on the council’s defences for their home. response procedures which will be prioritised depending on the circumstances of the event.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods SECTION 6 Page 6
Serial Observation Recommendation Directorate Actions
Resident Issues continued
13 Streetpride Drainage Team Streetpride Drainage Team in conjunction during their response to the with Communications and Marketing flash floods identified debris Team to produce a leaflet to make from gardens and other residents aware of problems that arise rubbish in watercourses when watercourses are used as a causing blockages. dumping ground by the general public
and publicise as appropriate through the Page 53 recommendation identified at Serial 11.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 54 SECTION 7 Page 1
7. CONCLUSION
1. Although some information about severe weather events is received from the Met Office, the intense rainfall and subsequent flash floods, such as those experienced on 10 June 2009 and the exact locality that they will affect cannot be accurately predicted.
2. It was judged that a full activation of the Borough Emergency Plan was not required but the Borough Emergency Operations Room was opened and the council’s response to the flash floods was managed from this location. The council’s involvement was principally officers from Environment and Development Services and 2010 Rotherham Ltd. The arrangements that were put in place to manage the event on 10 June 2009 were considered appropriate, however, the best plans cannot anticipate every eventuality, and this report details how, through further improvements, the Council’s response will grow in strength.
3. The Council has approved £70,000 for the completion of a further comprehensive report, including an accurate budget estimate, which will be carried out this financial year. The report will identify improvement works to reduce the risk of flooding to properties and highways in the affected area.
4. Important recommendations that need to be actioned include:
• Further enhance the public with advice and information before, during and after an incident.
• Raising awareness to Directorates about the response and recovery arrangements for emergencies where the Borough Emergency Plan is not activated.
• Recognising the importance of the recovery phase of an emergency.
• The strategic placement of sandbags right across the borough.
• Reviewing the cleaning and inspection of drains, watercourses and culverts across the borough.
Post Incident Report - June 2009 Floods Page 55 Agenda Item 8
ROTHERHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL – REPORT TO MEMBERS
PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW 1. Meeting: COMMITTEE
2. Date: 9 October 2009
3. Title: “11 Million Take-Over Day” 2009
Chief Executive’s 4. Directorates: Children and Young People's Services All Wards
5. Summary
Members are asked if they wish to participate in the “11 Million Takeover Day 2009” to be held on Friday 6 November, 2009
6. Recommendations
That PSOC:
a. Gives its support to the “11 Million Takeover Day”;
b. Invites a members of the Youth Cabinet to ‘takeover’ the PSOC meeting scheduled for November 6th 2009;
c. Invites Members of the Cabinet to attend this meeting;
d. Receives further updates on this issue.
Page 56
7. Proposals and Detail
7.1 The first “11 Million Takeover Day” took place in November 2007 with more than 400 organisations and individuals from all over the country, including, politicians, newspapers, local authorities, police forces and fire brigades participating. Last year saw over 17,000 children and young people ‘takeover’ jobs at nearly 700 organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors. PSOC has supported this initiative from the outset.
7.2 In 2007, PSOC agreed that “arrangements be made to schedule a joint meeting with the Youth Cabinet on an annual basis at which members of the Cabinet could also be invited”. As part of last year’s activities in Rotherham, PSOC hosted a joint meeting with members of the Youth Cabinet. The Youth Cabinet identified items for the agenda and a member of the Youth Cabinet acted as joint chair for the duration of the meeting. The agenda included:
• an update on reduction/removal of single use plastic bags and • recycling and waste in schools
The third “11 Million Takeover Day” is to take place on 6 November 2009, which coincides with a scheduled PSOC.
7.3 Feedback from last year’s meeting indicated that the young people valued working informally with members and greatly enjoyed the “political speed dating”. It is suggested that a similar format is adopted to open the session. As with last year, it is suggested that the whole or a proportion of the agenda is allocated to issues identified by young people themselves. The Youth Cabinet are currently undertaking work to promote school councils and would welcome the opportunity to share this with Members. Youth Workers have also suggested that the Young People would be interested in the ‘Town Hall’ tour and introduction to civic traditions of the Borough.
7.4 Following the structure of previous years’ meetings, it is suggested that the young people take a lead in the meeting. Workers would be also present to support the children and young people but in the spirit of ‘takeover day’ would take a ‘back-seat’ in the proceedings. To further extend voice and influence, Members may also wish to endorse appropriate recommendations made by the children and young people in the meeting, directing them to the relevant body for consideration.
8. Finance
Voice and Influence activities have been factored into existing Children and Young People's Directorate budgets.
9. Risks and Uncertainties
In order for the event to be successful, if it is important that children and young people can exercise their ‘voice and influence’ and run the meeting themselves, with appropriate support. If adults are seen to ‘takeover’, the young people may lose confidence and be unable to participate fully.
Page 57
10. Policy and Performance Agenda Implications
• The Children and Young People’s Single Plan gives a commitment to extending the voice and influence of children and young people. • This initiative also links to the theme of ‘Rotherham Proud’ widening opportunities for engagement and celebrating the achievements of children and young people.
11. Background Papers and Consultation
• Minute 113 (7), PSOC 7 December, 2007 • Minute 116, PSOC 7 November, 2008 • http://www.11million.org.uk/
Contact: Caroline Webb, Senior Scrutiny Adviser, direct line: (01709) 822765 e-mail: [email protected] Clare Cope, Senior Youth Officer (Voice and Influence), direct line: (01709) 335997 email: [email protected]
Page 58 Agenda Item 9 PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09 1D
PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE 25th September, 2009
Present:- Councillor Whelbourn (in the Chair); Councillors Boyes, Gilding, J. Hamilton, Jack, McNeely, G. A. Russell and Swift.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Austen, Barron, License and P. A. Russell.
55. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.
56. QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS
There were no questions from members of the public or the press.
57. SCRUTINISING THE BUDGET
Andrew Bedford, Strategic Director of Finance, presented the submitted report indicating that the Council’s financial position, alongside all local authorities, would come under increasingly intensive pressure over the next few years. A combination of increasing demand for services, resulting from for example demographic changes and a tightening of public spending would mean Councils would have to look closely at how robust control was maintained over the budget, how spending was aligned to priorities and how value for money was achieved. These should all be priority areas for scrutiny focus. It was also important that Members had their information relating to the Council’s finances refreshed on a regular basis.
The report referred to joint working between Scrutiny Support and Financial Services to highlight the 2010/11 budget process and scrutiny arrangements and to provide refresher sessions for Members on how budget setting and budget management works in the Authority.
The report covered:-
- Budget content. - Budget scrutiny. - Refresher sessions for Members.
Andrew gave a general update on the budget highlighting the significant challenges, key points and budget gap.
Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-
- Children and Young People’s Services budget. - Areas of finance to cover in the refresher sessions. Page 59 2D PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09
- Need for a structured approach to meet the challenges. - Importance of information sharing and communication. - Attendance at the refresher sessions. - VAT implications on budget. - Timetable for refresher sessions.
Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.
(2) That the proposals for offering financial management refresher sessions for Members be supported.
(3) That the timescale for the preparation of the 2010/11 budget and key issues relating to the budget be noted.
58. PROCUREMENT STRATEGY 2009 - 2012
Mark Gannon, Transformation and Strategic Partnerships Manager, presented the submitted report which set out the details of the refreshed Procurement Strategy that had been updated to cover the period 2009- 2012.
The Council’s previous Procurement Strategy 2006-2009 successfully delivered improvements across a number of are as of procurement activity. The refreshed Procurement Strategy built upon these improvements to cover the period 2009-2012.
Delivering the overall vision of the Procurement Strategy had been built around nine themes. These were:
• Theme 1 : Supporting the Local Economy • Theme 2 : Voluntary and Community Sector • Theme 3 : Equality and Diversity • Theme 4 : Fairtrade and Trade Justice • Theme 5 : Environmentally Friendly Procurement • Theme 6 : Legal Procurement • Theme 7 : e-Procurement • Theme 8 : Achieving Value For Money • Theme 9 : Building Capacity
The Strategy was supported by an Implementation Plan (attached for reference) with actions mapped against each of the Strategy themes. A number of the actions had already been implemented and work was ongoing on the majority of the other actions. The Implementation Plan was tracked through the Procurement Panel which had representation from across the Council and key partners.
The Strategy was approved by the Cabinet on 29th July, 2009.
The strategy was a critical element in ensuring the Council continued to develop its procurement activity so that it was as efficient and effective as Page 60 PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09 3D
possible and could continue to generate procurement savings to contribute to the Council’s Gershon targets.
Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-
- supporting the local economy and any barriers identified regarding small and medium sized enterprises
- need to be more supportive of local procurement whilst appreciating the need to make savings
- ‘Meet the Buyer’ events
- tracking of spend levels regarding organisations engaging with the Authority
- need to be more proactive and not just direct organisations to the website
- ‘Meet the Seller’ events
- RBT Connect Ltd. savings levels through procurement
- ‘maverick’ procurement
- environmentally friendly procurement : contact with local farmers
- shared services
- balance of activity regarding voluntary sector and small/medium enterprises
Resolved:- (1) That the draft Procurement Strategy 2009-2012 be supported.
(2) That the Implementation Plan which supports delivery of the Strategy be noted.
(3) That the Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) Website Summary, as now submitted at Appendix 1 to the report, that was undertaken in support of this Strategy, be noted.
59. PROCUREMENT LOCAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Page 61 4D PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09
Sarah McCall, Performance Officer, presented the submitted report setting out details of the indicators, targets and performance for quarter one of the current financial year.
Of the eighteen indicators (details of which were appended to the report)
- three were status green
- six were status amber with performance on target
- two were for information/monitoring only without targets
- two had reporting yet to commence
- five would report later in the year
Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-
- timeframe of the supplied data
- LPI2 : To increase the Council’s percentage of core trade spend with SMEs by 5% to match the sub- regions average of 56% by April, 2008
Resolved:- That the current performance against the indicators be noted.
60. PAYMENT OF INVOICES WITHIN THIRTY DAYS - FORMER BVPI8
Further to Minute No. 7 of the meeting of this Committee held 12th June, 2009, Sarah McCall, Performance Officer, presented the submitted report which detailed BVPI8 and how it measured the payment of undisputed invoices within thirty days.
The Council had agreed the following average annual target for performance of BVPI8 with RBT:
2009/10 97.5%
Outturn performance for recent years had achieved:
2006/07 91% 2007/08 94% 2008/09 92%
Recent performances for the new financial year had achieved:-
April 96.65% May 96.44% June 93.47% Page 62 PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09 5D
July 94.37% August 93.78%
Year to date performance currently stood at 94.74%.
Resolved:- (1) That the information be noted.
(2) That Children and Young People’s Services be the next directorate to attend this Committee to explain issues within their respective programme area.
61. RBT QUARTER 1 - PERFORMANCE
Mark Gannon, Transformation and Strategic Partnerships Manager, presented the submitted report summarising the performance of RBT against contractual measures and key service delivery issues for the first quarter of the current financial year across the areas of Customer Access, Human Resources and Payroll, ICT and Procurement.
A Performance Management Framework refresh had been undertaken which involved assessing all operational measures for the RBT service areas to ensure that they remained relevant and that targets were appropriate, specifically relevant for the Customer Access workstream. This resulted in further negotiations with RBT to enhance the suite of measures. Revised measures were approved and implemented in July.
Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-
- VOIP telephony issues
- need for a spreadsheet of internal telephone numbers to be supplied to elected Members
- Business Continuity Planning : need for scrutiny panels to received information in relation to their respective areas
- performance clinics
- Macmillan Cancer Welfare Benefits Service
Resolved:- (1) That the report be received.
(2) That progress reports regarding performance clinics be submitted at six monthly intervals
Page 63 6D PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09
(3) That the issues relating to (a) spreadsheet of internal telephone numbers and (b) Business Continuity Planning information to scrutiny panels be pursued.
(4) That, with regard to the Macmillan Cancer Welfare Benefits Service, details of the service and information regarding the launch date be provided to elected Members.
62. MINUTES
Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 11th September, 2009 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.
63. WORK IN PROGRESS
Members of the Committee reported as follows:-
(a) Councillor J. Hamilton reported that the latest meeting of the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel had considered:-
- a presentation on the Safer Rotherham Partnership performance update
- scrutiny of crime and disorder partnerships, Police and Justice Act 2006
- change to executive arrangements
- future review of devolved budgets
(b) Councillor McNeely reported on a meeting regarding 2010 Rotherham Ltd.
(c) Councillor Swift reported the need to arrange the requested meeting regarding the flood situation and invite the appropriate utilities.
(d) Councillor Jack reported that parish council progress reports on the flooding situation should be made available to Councillor Swift as chair of the Rother Valley West Area Assembly and she would request the clerk to provide reports accordingly.
(e) Councillor Whelbourn reported:
- on a useful second meeting of the Yorkshire South Tourism Page 64 PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09 7D
Board which he chaired in Barnsley on 23rd September, 2009
- on the need today to cancel the Health Welfare and Safety visits due to poor attendance. It was agreed that Scrutiny Panels should be reminded and encouraged to ensure their respective representatives attended future meetings and visits.
64. CALL-IN ISSUES
There were no formal call in requests.
65. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (business affairs)
66. RBT QUARTER 1 - APRIL TO JUNE, 2009 - PERFORMANCE UPDATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mark Gannon, Transformation and Strategic Partnerships Manager, presented the submitted report summarising RBT’s performance in respect of procurement savings achieved and the Revenues and Benefits Service in the first quarter of the current financial year.
The report covered:-
- savings performance
- addressable spend tracking
- Council Tax
- NNDR
- other service measures
- national collection statistics for 2008/09
Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-
- savings performance against targets
Page 65 8D PERFORMANCE AND SCRUTINY OVERVIEW COMMITTEE - 25/09/09
- economic downturn effect on Council Tax base
- recovery procedures and balance between obtaining money and helping businesses face current challenges
- safeguards to prevent overcharging
Resolved:- That RBT’s performance against contractual measures and key service delivery areas for April, May and June, 2009 be noted.