Councillor Phil Bateman Chair of the City of Wolverhampton Councils Scrutiny Board, produced the report of the Task & Finish Group Flood Risk and Preparation .This was the final report from the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group. .I am pleased to report that the City Councils Cabinet team accepted all 22 of the recommendations made. After being debated by the Cabinet and chaired by the Leader of the Council
Decision:
That the following 22 recommendations set out in the report from the Flood Risk Preparation and Response Scrutiny Task and Finish Group be approved:
1. Publish Section 19 Flood Investigation Reports on the Council website, including findings and recommendations of previous investigations, such as the report on the Birmingham New Road flood on 21 September 2024.
2. The Council to regularly review what further work can be done to encourage residents living in high-risk flood areas to participate in surveys linked to S19 Flood Investigation and encourage feedback to help further improve the timeliness of response before, during and after a flooding incident.
3. Update and review the Black Country Authorities Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to ensure accurate mapping of housing developments in flood-prone areas, factoring in local intelligence and climate change impacts. Implement a robust framework for tracking progress on flood risk recommendations, including a desktop review at six months and a follow-up at 12 months, with clear categories for progress assessment (e.g., achieved, on track, slipped, not achieved). Flooding can occur on a local scale when surface water volumes exceed the capacity of the sewer system during an extreme rainfall event. The review should include the identification of key flood pathways and where possible the properties that could be affected and how best they can be protected against such flooding – designing for exceedance.
4. The Head of Highway Network Management to deliver timely progress reports on local flood risk hotspot schemes for 2024-2026, including Compton Road, Tettenhall Ridges, and Park Ward, as well as updates on the 12 Wolverhampton catchment areas funded by Severn Trent Water for reducing surface water runoff.
5. The Director of Resident Services to work with Housing Managing Agents – Bushbury Hill EMB, Dovecotes TMO, New Park Village TMC and Wolverhampton Homes to further identify tenants, particularly vulnerable tenants, living in medium and high-risk flood zones and review upfront communication plan to remind residents about sources of help and advice and action they can do in preparation for a severe storm event. The TFG welcome proposals to possibly extend the use of Wolverhampton Homes My Account App to issue push notifications to alert residents in response to a severe weather warning.
6. The Director of Resident Services to regularly review the effectiveness of arrangements with key partners for sharing important update messages with all residents or in specific areas at risk of localised flooding. There should be a regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the communication methods used and recommendations made to assess the reach and improve the impact where appropriate and provide a process for residents to report flooding, for example which affects a garden to the property, but does not enter the property. As a result, it may not be reported to the local authority or Wolverhampton Homes. Important to consider how such information can be collated and used to fill gaps in knowledge about the area and improve the response to flooding.
7. The Director of Resident Services to conduct a review to address discrepancies between official data and residents’ views on properties affected by flooding. Continue to develop ward-level data, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, to track changes in properties at risk over time and identify trends requiring action. Include classifications of risk levels (e.g., very significant, significant, moderate, and low risk) for both residential and commercial properties. The data should be used to guide targeted flood risk mitigation efforts and identify the condition of assets, flooding incidents and responsible parties to further enhance preparedness and future resource allocation.
8. The Director of Resident Services to lead the collaboration with colleagues in Staffordshire County Council, Severn Trent Water and neighbouring authorities to strengthen response to cross border flooding issues and promote either the development of a new website or update an existing website as appropriate. The site should provide personalised flood risk information, including maps and community-specific pages with sources of practical advice and help presented in an accessible way. The link to this resource should be prominently featured on the Council’s website and neighbouring authorities to enhance public awareness about the importance of preparedness. The site should aim to be a key source for disseminating warnings, coordinating responses, and keeping residents informed before, during and after a flooding incident
9. The Director of Resident Services to give consideration about the measurement of flood risk and what constitutes success – for example, changes in the net number of properties at risk or should it be better protected. Also important not to give false assurance to residents about the preventative measures being planned – the terms ‘flood resilience’ and ‘flood protection’ need to be clearly defined in documents and agreed among key partners and shared with public in a consistent way.
10. The Director of Resident Services to outline plans to improve partnership working arrangements when different agencies are involved and responsibility is shared to work together to resolve the causes of complex flooding issues, for example, fallen trees blocking the flow of watercourse resulting in flooding elsewhere. Important to consider that changes to flood protection measures or resilience work made in one area to protect properties may cause flooding elsewhere.
11. The Head of Highway Network Management to present a review of the performance of the Map16 Asset Management Gully Sensor program to Scrutiny Board against established criteria and evaluate the feasibility of extending the trial citywide or to outline alternatives if the trial is not to be extended. Request an annual update from Severn Trent Water on progress of plans previously announced to increase the number of 400 smart sewer monitoring units currently installed in Wolverhampton and plans to install 40,000 units over the next five years.
12. The Director of Resident Services to update as appropriate on plans to enhance local flood warning systems, leveraging Environment Agency data to target alerts for specific river catchments and overlaying this with vulnerable community datasets for precise notifications. The Director of Resident Services to review and integrate flood mitigation elements into all highway improvement projects, ensuring proper management and monitoring of surface water impacts on risk of flooding or water quality to nearby streams. The Council to continue to proactively explore and evaluate a range of innovative flood mitigation technologies, such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), permeable pavements, and natural flood management techniques, in recognition of the need to be resilient and responsive to future climate changes.
13. The Director of Resident Services to request an annual update from Severn Trent Water on key discussions with OFWAT about reducing sewage flooding risk, and progress of implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, and improving cross-boundary surface water management with local authorities.
14. The Highways Operation Manager to collaborate with the Head of Planning to consult on planning policy to review effectiveness of the current guidance for integrating Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) into planned housing developments and potential funding opportunities.
15. The Director of Resident Services to undertake a future proofing review of the current SLA and contractual agreement with Staffordshire County Council who deliver services on behalf of Wolverhampton Council in preparation for the end of the current agreement.
16. The Council to continue raising awareness among residents and partners about flood risk, and possible sources of financial support, for example, applying to the Household Support Grant and consider alternatives methods of engaging with people living in medium or high-risk flood areas. Publicise national flood resilience grants using diverse platforms, including social media and radio and promote government’s ‘Build Back Better’ (BBB) program on the Council’s website and encourage residents to consider BBB aligned insurance options during renewals. The aim should be where possible to support and empower residents to be financially resilient and to take proactive steps to reduce risk of property flooding, for example, removing leaves from blocked gutters close to their homes.
17. The Director of Resident Services to consider the possibility of facilitating community workshops, to provide resources for local flood preparedness, and encourage community-led initiatives to foster a shared sense of responsibility. The Council to work directly with residents in high-risk flood areas or who have been repeatedly flooded to better understand their needs and provide tailored support. The information should be shared with partner agencies to support improved responses.
18. Head of Service Health & Safety and Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Manager to share lessons learned from desktop and live severe weather exercises as appropriate with Councillors as part of a weekly Councillor briefing update with a focus on Councillors in those wards with a high risk of severe flooding. Distribute the Preparing the West Midlands for Emergencies – Community Risk Register to all Councillors and encourage them to promote the information on their respective social media pages or community leaflets and included as part of the Councillor Induction training.
19. The Director of Resident Services to lead discussions about the feasibility of creating a shared or pooled budget to manage complex cross-border flooding issues or urgent flood risk projects. The Director of Resident Services to lead the co-ordination of work to pursue funding and grant opportunities to undertake property resilience, environmentally friendly flood mitigation, and sewage overflow reduction schemes in Wolverhampton.
20. The Director of Resident Services to publish an annual online schedule of gulley cleansing and maintenance work on the Council website, similar to bin collection information, to reassure the public about ongoing efforts. Provide clear guidance on the prioritisation of gulley maintenance work in high-risk flood areas and outline the impacts of and proposed funding changes on the frequency of such work
21. The Director of Resident Services to lead the co-ordination of work to collate detailed updates from Severn Trent Water on plans and funding commitments aligned with OFWAT targets to improve storm overflow infrastructure by 2035 and 2050 respectively. The Head of Highway Network Management to monitor and report progress and ensure alignment of local plans with regional flood risk management strategies, focusing on protecting high-priority sites and mitigating ecological harm.
22. The Director of Resident Services contact colleagues in WMCA Environment team to provide updates on climate adaptation research funding opportunities, such as the potential partnership with the University of Birmingham. The WMCA to be invited to report on regional flood risk mitigation plans, including compliance checks for large-scale developments on flood plains and the implications of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The Director of Resident Services to share progress on the rollout of green infrastructure projects for example, permeable surfaces, rain gardens, swales, green roofs, and other natural flood management techniques aimed at addressing both storm flood risk and drought challenges.
Report author: Martin Stevens
Publication date: 10/04/2025
Date of decision: 09/04/2025
Decided at meeting: 09/04/2025 – Cabinet
Accompanying Documents:
