Issue - meetings

To consider the Saffron Walden town centre culvert partnership report.

Councillor Barker gave a summary of the report. A full repair scheme to be funded by the Environment Agency, Anglian Water and Essex County Council meant that the culvert should not require any further work for 25 years. However, the Environment Agency had approached the Council as a flood risk management authority to take on a continuing role after the full repair had been completed. The Council was being asked to seek to establish a partnership of all the riparian owners to build up a revenue fund with contributions from the owners to monitor the condition of the structure and to carry out any necessary future works to maintain the culvert in good condition. As a first step, the report recommended that the Council explored the willingness of all the riparian owners to cooperate to this end.

In response to a question from Councillor Light regarding the anticipated 25 year life of the repairs being funded by the Environment Agency, the Director – Public Services said it might be possible to implement a repairs scheme with a longer anticipated duration, but the proposed scheme was more affordable.

Councillor Howell said he supported the recommendation. He was pleased that the repair work was being done, and the Council was to be commended for taking a leadership role. He hoped very much that the riparian owners would participate in the scheme.

RESOLVED that the Council explores the willingness of all the riparian owners to cooperate over jointly building up a revenue fund using owners’ contributions to monitor the condition of the structure. Subject to the participation of the owners, the council would hold the revenue fund for periodic monitoring of the condition of the culvert, and any necessary maintenance works over the 25 year period that the full repair scheme is expected to remain effective, and any necessary repairs at the end of the 25 year period.