Agenda item

Flood Protection

13.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Bryan Lodge, and formally seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, that this Council:-

(a)       welcomes that the recent National Flood Resilience Review recognises the excellent work that the Council is progressing through the city’s £83m flood protection programme and its urban regeneration plans;

(b)       notes that the Review’s report highlights that Sheffield offers great potential for improving flood protection from its many rivers whilst enabling regeneration of the urban environment, and that this work is seen as vital in unlocking the economic, aesthetic and ecological value of the city’s waterways and making Sheffield a more beautiful and better place to live;

(c)        believes it is vital that communities and businesses are protected from flooding and welcomes that Sheffield has been selected as the first core city in England to be protected to London standards by 2021; and

(d)       notes that achieving these ambitious aims will require millions of pounds of Government investment and welcomes the commitment in the Review to invest the funding needed to do this for Sheffield.

13.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Martin Smith, and formally seconded by Councillor Vickie Priestley, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the addition of new paragraphs (c) to (e) as follows:-

(c)        believes that it is also vital to protect and enhance Sheffield’s waterways, public green spaces and ancient woodlands, which contribute to our city’s valuable reputation as an “Outdoor City”, as well as the health and happiness of residents from all over Sheffield and beyond;

(d)       believes that, on this occasion, the consultation has not been good enough and that better involvement of local stakeholders could have been sought in the form of letters to local residents, public notices at the affected areas and early engagement of local business owners;

(e)       calls for active engagement at future stages of consultation with local Elected Members, the users and friends groups of parks and other green spaces in the development of any plans for flood mitigation measures in those spaces, to ensure that any schemes that go ahead are acceptable to the local community;

2.         the relettering of original paragraphs (c) and (d) as new paragraphs (f) and (g) and the addition of new paragraphs (h) and (i) as follows:-

(h)       believes that there are other measures which could be taken to mitigate flooding in Sheffield, such as dredging rivers and using existing reservoirs to store water; and

(i)         calls on the Administration to follow the lead of the MP for Sheffield Hallam in writing to the Government raising these issues with respect to the ‘National Flood Resilience’ pilot scheme.

13.3

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

13.4

It was then formally moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, and formally seconded by Councillor Magid Magid, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (e) as follows:-

(e)       is grateful to the local people who have taken the trouble to respond to the Council's recent flood protection consultation; and requests the Administration to consider the many comments and suggestions received from respondents in relation to flood prevention and protection, and report its views to interested people in due course.

13.5

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

13.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       welcomes that the recent National Flood Resilience Review recognises the excellent work that the Council is progressing through the city’s £83m flood protection programme and its urban regeneration plans;

(b)       notes that the Review’s report highlights that Sheffield offers great potential for improving flood protection from its many rivers whilst enabling regeneration of the urban environment, and that this work is seen as vital in unlocking the economic, aesthetic and ecological value of the city’s waterways and making Sheffield a more beautiful and better place to live;

(c)        believes it is vital that communities and businesses are protected from flooding and welcomes that Sheffield has been selected as the first core city in England to be protected to London standards by 2021;

(d)       notes that achieving these ambitious aims will require millions of pounds of Government investment and welcomes the commitment in the Review to invest the funding needed to do this for Sheffield; and

(e)       is grateful to the local people who have taken the trouble to respond to the Council's recent flood protection consultation; and requests the Administration to consider the many comments and suggestions received from respondents in relation to flood prevention and protection, and report its views to interested people in due course.

13.6.1

The votes on the Substantive Motion were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

13.6.2

(NOTE: Councillor Bob Pullin, having earlier declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the above item of business, did not speak or vote on the item.)