HUNTINGDONSHIRE FLOOD FORUM NOTES of the meeting of the HUNTINGDONSHIRE FLOOD FORUM held at PATHFINDER HOUSE, ST MARY’S STREET, HUNTINGDON on Thursday 9 th June 2005. PRESENT: FLOOD FORUM REPRESENTATIVES District Councillor I C Bates - Chairman Ms P Denham – Environment Agency Mr R Kingston – Cambridgeshire County Council, West Highways Mr D Coleman – Anglian Water Mr P Harris – Anglian Water Mr D Gillet – Environment Agency Dr M Bingham – Huntingdonshire District Council, Development Plans Division Mr C Allen – Huntingdonshire District Council, Projects and Assets Manager. Mr P Cowie – Environment Agency Representatives from the following parish/town councils were in attendance at the Forum: Abbots Ripton, Alconbury, Alconbury Weston, Bluntisham, Buckworth, Catworth, Fenstanton, Godmanchester, Hail Weston, Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey, Holywell-cum-Needingworth, Houghton and Wyton, Huntingdon, Little Paxton, Ramsey, St Ives, St Neots, Offord D’arcy, Somersham, Spaldwick, The Stukeleys, Upton and Coppingford. APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from the following Parish/Town Councils and associated bodies: Elton, Covington, Great Paxton, Kings Ripton, Ramsey, Yelling and Yaxley. 1. WELCOME (Pages 1 - 8) Councillor I C Bates welcomed representatives to the third meeting of the Huntingdonshire Flood Forum and remarked that the notes of the meeting would be circulated to all Town and Parish Councils. 2. NOTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The notes of the meeting held on 25 th March 2004 were received and noted. 3. PRESENTATIONS BY AGENCIES (Pages 9 - 18) (a) Environment Agency - Peta Denham - Flood Incident Management Team The Forum were acquainted with a presentation by the Environment Agency outlining significant flood events since March 2004. The Forum noted Environment Agency’s flood warning and flood monitoring processes and were reminded that the Alconbury Brook had briefly been placed under flood watch on the 21 st October 2004. The Forum were also advised that due to a tidal surge and meteorological conditions an evacuation notice had been issued for Hunstanton which had ultimately highlighted a need for additional repair work to flood defences before the winter high tides. Current flood warning information can be found via the following internet link – www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwarnings (b) Environment Agency – P Cowie – Project Manager Having received and noted a report on the progress of Capital Schemes relating to the flood alleviation schemes for Alconbury, St Ives and Hemingfords and Godmanchester, the Forum briefly discussed the Seven Holes sluice in respect of the Earth drawmark. A copy of the River Great Ouse Catchment Board Transfer order is attached to the Notes. (b) Huntingdonshire District Council – Michael Bingham – Development Plans Manager. The Forum were presented with three reports outlining the key principles of the Core Strategy Document. It was noted that national planning policy had been tightened considerably in recent years and the Forum were acquainted with the process of the new local plan for Huntingdonshire. Members were encouraged to take part in the Council’s Consultation exercise available via the following internet link:- http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk/Environment+and+Planning/Plan ning/Planning+Policy/Development+Plan+Documents.htm The Forum were advised that the District Council, in Partnership with the Environment Agency, had produced a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, which included a detailed mapping exercise of flood risk in Huntingdonshire. As a result of which, the Forum were advised that a 1 in 10 year plan of flood risk had been produced to supplement the existing 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 plans. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is available via the following internet link:- http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk/Environment+and+Planning/Plan ning/Planning+Policy/Monitoring+and+Research.htm (c) Cambridgeshire County Council – Highways Division – Richard Kingston The Forum received a verbal update on the activities of the Division since the last meeting of the Forum. (d) Anglian Water – Darren Coleman. The Forum were advised that the drainage systems continued to be maintained and that the capital programme was under way. 4. QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE PARISHES Parish Councillors were invited to ask questions of the representatives present, written responses had already been sent to the parishes by the relevant agencies. The questions raised and written responses are appended to the Minutes. 5. FUTURE FLOOD FORUMS It was agreed that the next meeting of the Huntingdonshire Flood Forum would be held in June 2006. It was noted that a date and time would be agreed nearer the time. Chairman .