Issue - meetings

For the past 10 years there have been several flooding related issues at Scotsbridge. This is in part due to the alignment of the channel of the River Chess as it approaches Scotsbridge playing fields.

As a result, in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA), Hertfordshire County Council, who are the Lead Flood Authority, is leading on a project to enhance the River Chess channel. The project aims to reduce the impact of flooding in the Scotsbridge area. Three Rivers District Council are acting as a stakeholder in the project as one of the main landowners affected by the recurring flooding incidents.

For the project to succeed Three Rivers District Council is being asked to consider the acquisition of land from the Royal Masonic Trust to facilitate the construction of a new bypass channel.

Recommendation

That Policy and Resources:

Supports progression of the project and agrees to accept the land transfer as outlined within Appendix B. Members are also asked to note the implications of doing so as outlined at point 2.11. Further, detailed heads of terms will be developed as the project progresses.

Agrees for a letter to be written to support the project and that the transfer of land ownership takes place only once the project is due to commence on the ground and not before and that the commuted sum is calculated once detailed designs have been agreed in order to calculate the required additional, ongoing, maintenance.

The Associate Director of Environment introduced the report. The recommendation(s) were moved by Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst and seconded by Councillor Chris Lloyd.

The committee noted that the request for support for the transfer was requested as the timeline for the proposed works required an agreement in principle, and that Hertfordshire County Council had commissioned the feasibility study which could be provided to members following the meeting, but which may not be in the public domain. The committee noted that the risks associated with agreeing a letter of support were low-to-none, and that broader questions about land ownership should be directed to the lead authority.

RESOLVED:

1.               To support progression of the project and agrees to accept the land transfer as outlined within Appendix B.

2.               To note the implications of doing so as outlined at point 2.11 and that further detailed heads of terms will be developed as the project progresses.

3.               To agree for a letter to be written to support the project and that the transfer of land ownership takes place only once the project is due to commence on the ground and not before and that the commuted sum is calculated once detailed designs have been agreed in order to calculate the required additional, ongoing maintenance.