Wednesday 8th March, 2023
Colchester City Council Cabinet debated how to tackle the flooding problems at the Hythe as part of the Have Your Say agenda item on Wednesday evening.
Labour Councillor Mike Lilley highlighted that despite temporary measures, flooding still occurred every month. Long-term solutions would cost millions and take years to achieve.
He called on the council leader to take charge of the Task and Finish Group, and for everyone involved to contribute towards the extra £50k needed for a pump. £50k is already on the table as part of the developer contribution for the Beyond the Box student accommodation.
Council Leader, LibDem Councillor Dave King responded that the responsibility for the Task Force did not rest with them. He was happy to refresh it if MP Will Quince wanted to play a role.
Chief Executive, Pam Donnelly, claimed that they would take a different approach to tackling the issue by working with internal and external partners.
Labour Councillor Adam Fox argued that the problem did not lie with the City Council and that the Task Force meetings should have been more regular.
ECC had prepared a business case to the Environment Agency and had received £100k in grants to address the issue. However, the Task Force did not have statutory powers to make the agencies carry out the work.
Labour Councillor Julie Young suggested that non-adoption by Anglia Water was causing the issue. She argued that the money set aside from the Beyond the Box application needed to navigate a solution.
The meeting showed that politicians were playing the blame game when it came to finding a solution to the flooding problem at the Hythe.
While some called for action from the City Council, others argued that the issue lay with external agencies such as Anglia Water.
It remains to be seen whether the Task Force will be refreshed and whether long-term solutions will be implemented.
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