This council notes
· Since 2015 the Environment Agency has served notice of its intention to cease operation of five satellite pumping stations in the Alt Crossens Catchment area, which serve West Lancashire.
· The successful campaign to save our flood pumps in 2016 which led to their continuation beyond their previous notice periods.
· The EA’s recent intent to cease operating the pumping stations on 31 March 2021, with no alternative proposed for their future operation, and their subsequent u-turn and further two year extension.
· The quarter of a billion pound agricultural industry in West Lancashire which supports jobs across the whole borough including farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail.
· The commitment by partners including this council, parish council, the National Farmers Union and the Environment Agency to develop a long-term, sustainable solution to operation of the pumping stations.
· The delay to the Environment Bill 2020 which is required in order to allow for the formation of new Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) or Water Level Management Boards (WLMB) in England.
This council believes
· Farming of Grade 1 agricultural land in West Lancashire is essential to continued food supply locally and nationally.
· Discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operations will lead to increased flooding across West Lancashire particularly affecting rural homes, farms, businesses and infrastructure including roads and transport.
This council resolves
· That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/Portfolio Holder for Planning write to Lancashire County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority, to ask
o what considerations and modelling they have undertaken to identify the risks posed by the discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operation, and what impact assessment has been drawn up
o what action they have taken or to intend to take, in their role as the LLFA as per their requirement under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, in developing the local flood risk management strategy, with particular respect to the pumping stations’ discontinuation
· That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Environment Agency, to ask what considerations and modelling they have undertaken to identify the risks posed by the discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operation, and what impact assessment has been drawn up
· That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask
o that additional funding be provided to continue the operation of the pumping stations until such point as a long-term, sustainable solution for the future operation of the pumping stations is agreed and implemented, which could be some years away
o that DEFRA assign a dedicated civil servant to facilitate the creation of an IDB/WLMB as appropriate, and begin work with partners immediately, in advance of the pumping stations’ operation ceasing, with knowledge of the expected financial commitment from each partner critical to ensuring progress can be made
· That relevant officers and the Portfolio Holder for Planning undertake work to assess West Lancashire’s position in relation to the pumping station and consider work through the Flooding and Drainage Cabinet Working Group and/or the Alt Crossens Advisory Group to meet and communicate with relevant partners in order to progress the project.
Minutes:
The following Motion was moved and seconded, with the agreement of the meeting:
"This Council notes
· Since 2015 the Environment Agency has served notice of its intention to cease operation of five satellite pumping stations in the Alt Crossens Catchment area, which serve West Lancashire.
· The successful campaign to save our flood pumps in 2016 which led to their continuation beyond their previous notice periods.
· The EA’s recent intent to cease operating the pumping stations on 31 March 2021, with no alternative proposed for their future operation, and their subsequent u-turn and further two year extension.
· The quarter of a billion pound agricultural industry in West Lancashire which supports jobs across the whole borough including farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail.
· The commitment by partners including this council, parish council, the National Farmers Union and the Environment Agency to develop a long-term, sustainable solution to operation of the pumping stations.
· The delay to the Environment Bill 2020 which is required in order to allow for the formation of new Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) or Water Level Management Boards (WLMB) in England.
This Council believes:
· Farming of Grade 1 agricultural land in West Lancashire is essential to continued food supply locally and nationally.
· Discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operations will lead to increased flooding across West Lancashire particularly affecting rural homes, farms, businesses and infrastructure including roads and transport".
This Council resolves
· That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/Portfolio Holder for Planning write to Lancashire County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority, to ask
o what considerations and modelling they have undertaken to identify the risks posed by the discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operation, and what impact assessment has been drawn up
o what action they have taken or to intend to take, in their role as the LLFA as per their requirement under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, in developing the local flood risk management strategy, with particular respect to the pumping stations’ discontinuation
· That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Environment Agency, to ask what considerations and modelling they have undertaken to identify the risks posed by the discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operation, and what impact assessment has been drawn up
· That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask
o that additional funding be provided to continue the operation of the pumping stations until such point as a long-term, sustainable solution for the future operation of the pumping stations is agreed and implemented, which could be some years away
o that DEFRA assign a dedicated civil servant to facilitate the creation of an IDB/WLMB as appropriate, and begin work with partners immediately, in advance of the pumping stations’ operation ceasing, with knowledge of the expected financial commitment from each partner critical to ensuring progress can be made
· That relevant officers and the Portfolio Holder for Planning undertake work to assess West Lancashire’s position in relation to the pumping station and consider work through the Flooding and Drainage Cabinet Working Group and/or the Alt Crossens Advisory Group to meet and communicate with relevant partners in order to progress the project."
RESOLVED: A. That this Council notes:
· Since 2015 the Environment Agency has served notice of its intention to cease operation of five satellite pumping stations in the Alt Crossens Catchment area, which serve West Lancashire.
· The successful campaign to save our flood pumps in 2016 which led to their continuation beyond their previous notice periods.
· The EA’s recent intent to cease operating the pumping stations on 31 March 2021, with no alternative proposed for their future operation, and their subsequent u-turn and further two year extension.
· The quarter of a billion pound agricultural industry in West Lancashire which supports jobs across the whole borough including farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail.
· The commitment by partners including this council, parish council, the National Farmers Union and the Environment Agency to develop a long-term, sustainable solution to operation of the pumping stations.
· The delay to the Environment Bill 2020 which is required in order to allow for the formation of new Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) or Water Level Management Boards (WLMB) in England.
B. That this Council believes:
· Farming of Grade 1 agricultural land in West Lancashire is essential to continued food supply locally and nationally.
· Discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operations will lead to increased flooding across West Lancashire particularly affecting rural homes, farms, businesses and infrastructure including roads and transport.
C. That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/Portfolio Holder for Planning write to Lancashire County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority, to ask
o what considerations and modelling they have undertaken to identify the risks posed by the discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operation, and what impact assessment has been drawn up
o what action they have taken or to intend to take, in their role as the LLFA as per their requirement under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, in developing the local flood risk management strategy, with particular respect to the pumping stations’ discontinuation
D. That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Environment Agency, to ask what considerations and modelling they have undertaken to identify the risks posed by the discontinuation of the pumping stations’ operation, and what impact assessment has been drawn up
E. That the Chief Operating Officer/Leader/ Portfolio Holder for Planning write to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask
o that additional funding be provided to continue the operation of the pumping stations until such point as a long-term, sustainable solution for the future operation of the pumping stations is agreed and implemented, which could be some years away
o that DEFRA assign a dedicated civil servant to facilitate the creation of an IDB/WLMB as appropriate, and begin work with partners immediately, in advance of the pumping stations’ operation ceasing, with knowledge of the expected financial commitment from each partner critical to ensuring progress can be made
F. That relevant officers and the Portfolio Holder for Planning undertake work to assess West Lancashire’s position in relation to the pumping station and consider work through the Flooding and Drainage Cabinet Working Group and/or the Alt Crossens Advisory Group to meet and communicate with relevant partners in order to progress the project.