Agenda item

New Feniton Flood Alleviation Scheme

To agree postponing the completion of the Feniton Flood Alleviation Scheme in 2020/21 to allow a review of grant funding to bridge the current budget shortfall. It is intended that Phase 3 would be delivered in early summer 2020 and Phase 4 be postponed until 2021.

Minutes:

The completion of the Feniton Flood Alleviation Scheme in 2020/21 to allow a review of grant funding to bridge the current budget shortfall needed to be agreed; it was intended that Phase 3 would be delivered in early summer 2020 and Phase 4 would follow in 2021.

 

Martyn Smith, Chairman of Feniton Parish Council spoke of the anguish and impact flooding in the village had on its residents, with some being flooded more than once and then having to live in temporary accommodation miles away while their houses were being repaired. He described the mental anguish residents had when it rains and how essential the work of the flood wardens was when they step in to put in place measures to prevent flooding. Mr Smith emphasised the need for Phase 3 to go ahead.

 

The Deputy Leader spoke of her and all the residents of Feniton gratitude to Tom Buxton-Smith for the incredible work he has done to get to this stage in the scheme.

 

RESOLVED:

1.     to proceed with the delivery of Phase 3 of the flood alleviation scheme (being the proposed May 2020 undertrack crossing) on the basis of an emerging cost basis contract subject to the Environment Agency confirming the availability of the additional funding as detailed in the report,

 

2.     that delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Lead Housing, Health and Environment in consultation with the Strategic Lead Governance and Licensing to negotiate and enter into the emerging costs basis contract with Network Rail and its contractor to deliver Phase 3, and

 

3.     that Phase 4 of the flood alleviation scheme (being the linking up and completing the project) be scheduled for delivery in 2021/22, to allow sufficient time to apply for further Government grants and plan and procure the project for a summer construction, with a further report detailing the precise delivery date.

 

REASON:

As it stands, the project budget was insufficient to complete both Phase 3 (UTX) and Phase 4, without further applications for Central Government grant money. It was not known if these applications would be successful prior to the last mobilisation date (end February) for Network Rail to deliver the Phase 3 UTX this year. Indications from the Environment Agency had been positive that more funding should be available. A change to the partnership funding percentage would allow enough budget to complete Phase 3 and this approval by the Environment Agency should be known prior to the Cabinet meeting.

 

Much time and effort had gone into securing the May 2020 UTX, and delaying this would add additional cost to the project. There were no other possession dates available in 2020, and dates for 2021 had not yet been planned. The project would benefit more than 70 properties in Feniton as well as providing relief from the anxiety of the ever present flood risk. It was understood that the project was eligible for further Central Government Grant money, however this was not yet formally signed off. Risk to EDDC was that if Phase 3 was built and if Phase 4 was not funded, the project had wasted £770k for an unconnected culvert under the railway and offering no flood risk reduction to Feniton.

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