Content

RESOLVED:

1.      That this Council
notes:
a)           
That unprecedented
rainfall totals were achieved on the weekend of the 22 & 23
September this year, being the highest daily total in living
memory.
b)           
That these events will
become more common in future due to the impact climate change is
already having on our environment.
c)            
That this led to flash
flooding in a number of areas from run off including at least 48
homes or gardens in Lavendon, 6 in Emberton, 3 in North Crawley, 1
in Clifton Reynes as well as one home and a number of business
properties in Warrington.
d)           
That while the
intensity of the rainfall was unprecedented the flooding was not a
surprise as this is the 3rd time in 12 years that Lavendon has
suffered significant flooding.
e)           
That no sandbags or
other flooding prevention measures were provided to Lavendon during
this incident primarily due to the speed that the flooding
occurred.
f)             
That twice the Olney
ward councillors have asked at budget time for a small amount of
funding so assets such as Gel sand bags can be held in the village
to help prevent damage to property in times of urgent flooding and
twice this council has not supported for the reasons given at the
time and which are still the case.
g)           
That Stoke Goldington,
having had a flood prevention scheme completed in between 2008
& 2010 did not flood this time.
h)           
That in these villages
and other places some drivers ignored the road closed signs and
tried driving through the water.
i)             
Following flooding in
2012 across the area including Lavendon, Milton Keynes Council
procured plans for flood mitigation measures for areas including
Lavendon.
j)             
Flood prevention
schemes were planned and started in 2013 & 2014, with two
Lavendon schemes completed.
k)           
That after the 2020
floods in Lavendon Government awarded Milton Keynes Council
£150,000 to help prevent flooding in the village.

2.      That this Council
therefore requests:
a)           
Asks the Cabinet
member with responsibility for highways along with officers to look
into what can be done to enforce road closures when they are closed
for flooding incidences.
b)           
That the Environment
and Place Scrutiny Committee be provided with a written update on
flood mitigation, prevention and defence works, so that the
committee can decide on how best to scrutinise matter and make any
recommendations it feels are required.