Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee

24 November 2010





WEST KILBRIDE, 24 November 2010 - At a Meeting of the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m.

Present
Robert Barr, John Bell, Anthea Dickson and Elizabeth McLardy.


In Attendance
A. Bodie, Head of Infrastructure and Design (Finance and Infrastructure); A. Hillis, Community Education Worker and B. Anderson, Performance/Grants Information Officer, Community Development (Community and Culture) (Education and Skills); P. Shiach, Committee Services Officer; K. Dyson, Communications Officer and C. Graham, Committee Services Support Officer (Chief Executive's Service).

Also In Attendance
Sergeants M. Boyle and L. Cowan (Strathclyde Police) and Station Commander M. Gallacher (Strathclyde Fire and Rescue).

Chair
Councillor Barr in the Chair.

Apologies for Absence
Jean Highgate and John Reid; and L. Brady, Community Safety Co-ordinator (Strathclyde Fire and Rescue).



1. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest by Members in terms of Standing Order 16.

2. Minutes

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee held on 6 October 2010 were signed in accordance with paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

3. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue

Submitted report by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue on activity within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area during the period 4 October to 15 November 2010.

The report provided information on the number and type of incidents attended by the Fire and Rescue Service, including a chimney fire in Dalry and a number of road traffic incidents in Dalry, Beith, Kilbirnie and West Kilbride.


The Firereach and Work Experience Courses continue with pupils from St Matthew's Academy attending from 23 to 26 November. Five Home Fire Safety visits were carried out in West Kilbride during the reporting period.

The Fire and Rescue Service had been encouraged by the overall level of activity in the period leading up to and the days following Guy Fawkes, and confirmed that no acts of violence had been carried out against fire crews across the division. The importance of partnership working in raising awareness was highlighted.

Station Commander Gallacher advised the Committee that, in relation to the recent flooding incidents, the Service had received 19 calls requesting assistance on 22 September 2010. An action plan is in place to deal with flooding. The primary role of the Service in such situations is to ensure the safety of persons and to effect rescue where required. The Service has attended flooding in the Garnock Valley on previous occasions, however, the flash flooding on this occasion rendered the infrastructure of the waterways unable to cope with the volume of water. Pumps had been brought in from across Ayrshire but could not be operated until the water levels had receded.

The Committee sought, and received, clarification on various aspects of the report.

Noted.

4. Strathclyde Police

Sergeant Boyle advised that the police office in Kilbirnie is now fully operational.

The new staffing structure came into operation on 25 October and the Community police shift pattern is now aligned with that of the response teams. Five Community Sergeants are responsible for community policing within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride, 3 of whom are based in Kilbirnie and 2 in Largs. Two additional officers have been allocated to West Kilbride, bringing the total to 4.

In relation to flooding, Sergeant Boyle advised the Committee that in excess of 70 calls had been received in the Garnock Valley and Largs areas on 22 September 2010. Strathclyde Police work closely with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the Council's Roads department during such incidents. Police involvement was primarily to assist these services in terms of road closures and related activities.

Sergeant Cowan provided the Committee with an overview on criminal activity within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride to the end of October 2010, including:-

  • the detection rates on crimes together with comparators on the same period in 2009, and
  • statistics on detection rates for individual areas within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride.

Noted.

5. Flood Alleviation Measures in the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area

Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Finance and Infrastructure) on the Council’s responsibilities and activities in relation to flood alleviation and mitigation measures in the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area.

Since 1997, when the amendment to the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act was introduced, the Council has carried out its duties in respect of the assessment and maintenance of watercourses. The Council has published a report every two years detailing the measures which it considers are required to be taken to prevent or mitigate the flooding of non-agricultural land in North Ayrshire, and the measures taken since the date of publication of the previous report to prevent or mitigate such flooding. One of the purposes in publishing these reports is to inform members of the public and other interested parties on flooding issues within North Ayrshire.

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 was passed by the Scottish Government on 13 May 2009 and gained Royal Assent on 17 November 2009. The new Act clarifies the respective roles and responsibilities of the Council, Scottish Water and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and requires all three parties to work more closely together in flood mitigation work, with the lead being taken by SEPA.

Technical staff within the Council's Infrastructure and Design regularly inspect high risk watercourses, trash screens and known problem locations for any build up of debris, fallen or dead trees etc., which could affect water flow. Council operatives or local contractors attempt to remove such debris before they cause flooding. Notwithstanding this reactive work, it is the landowner’s responsibility to maintain watercourses.

Flash flooding, as experienced during the evening of 22 September into 23 September 2010 can occur within a few hours of screens being cleaned and often brings down debris from higher up the watercourse, blocking culverts and bridges. While watercourse maintenance can play some part in reducing the risk of flooding, the sheer volume of water coming off higher ground very quickly is often the cause of the problem as was demonstrated during this recent event. During such events the Council supports the emergency services by providing road closures and diversions, and assisting local residents with sandbags as resources permit.


Since 1997, the Council has also been carrying out capital works including the upgrading and replacement of culverts and the provision of headwalls and trash screens to culverts throughout North Ayrshire. Other measures include coastal flood studies and flood risk assessments of the Kilbride Burn and River Garnock catchment.

Following the recent flooding, Infrastructure and Design Services reviewed its key watercourse inspection regime to ensure that inspections are being carried out more frequently and that debris is more timeously removed. There will also be a more pro-active assessment of trees and heavy vegetation in areas where access can be gained. It has also been suggested that some form of community involvement and engagement could be established, however, care will require to be given to potential health and safety risks and to ensuring that, ultimately, responsibility remains with individual landowners.

With regard to possible major flood alleviation measures, the Council's studies, SEPA’s Floodmap for Scotland and Scottish Water’s records have identified a number of areas where flood risk is such that flood protection schemes may be viable. These are generally costly and take considerable time to develop. The Scottish Government has advised that there is no current ring-fenced funding for major flood risk management projects of this type.

The Council’s priority major flood alleviation project is for the upper Garnock catchment, and work is ongoing to consider options for a single major scheme, which may give the opportunity for a phased implementation. Discussion has taken place with SEPA with regard to flood warnings, particularly for the River Garnock, however, as yet there is no progress to report.

The Council’s flood extent maps for the River Garnock catchment have recently been refined by its flooding consultants, using additional ground level surveys and taking account of previous floods. The recent flood events will also be mapped to ensure that predicted flood extent maps are as accurate as possible.

A Flood Response Plan for North Ayrshire is currently being developed by the Ayrshire Civil Contingencies team on behalf of the Council.

Following the many ad hoc visits and discussions since the flooding, it is intended that more formal community consultations will be held with all interests affected by flooding in the area covered by the Committee to allow the Council and the affected communities to work together, looking at a mix of short and longer term options, with a view to finding a solution.

The Committee sought, and received, clarification on various aspects of the report.


The Committee (a) agreed that the Corporate Director (Finance and Infrastructure) arranges for a public meeting to be held in the Garnock Valley in early 2011 in relation to flood prevention; and (b) noted the measures taken to date, and the proposals being taken forward in terms of flood prevention and alleviation.

6. Community Development Grants Scheme/Local Youth Action Fund - Applications for Grant Aid

Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Fund awards paid to date in 2010/11 and on applications received.

The Committee agreed to make the following awards:-

Community Development Grants Scheme

Organisation Award

Garnock Valley Community Safety Forum £1,000

Local Youth Action Fund

Organisation Award

102nd Ayrshire (Beith) Scout Group £1,995

7. Margaret Archibald Bequest

Submitted report by the Chief Executive on an application for financial assistance received in respect of The Margaret Archibald Bequest.

The Committee agreed to make the following awards:-

Organisation Award

Rosearden OAP Club £250
Trinity Church Guild £700

8. Future Agenda Items

8.1 The Committee had previously agreed that the Corporate Director (Finance and Infrastructure) be requested to report to a future meeting on the Council's service provision for the removal of graffiti.


8.2 The Committee agreed that the Corporate Director (Finance and Infrastructure) be requested to report to the next meeting on the condition of the sports facilities in West Kilbride Glen.

9. Date of Next Meeting

The proposed date for the next meeting is Thursday 27 January 2011, subject to the Council's agreement to the Committee Timetable for 2011. The venue will be confirmed in due course.

The meeting ended at 3.45 p.m.