To undertake an annual review on water and flooding.

(Note: A representative from South West Water will be in attendance for this item.)

The Board considered the annual review of Water and Flooding and received presentations from the Director of Environmental Regulation, South West Water, Alan Burrows and the Head of Engineering, Torbay Council, Tim Jones.

Members were advised that all bathing waters in Torbay were currently classified as either excellent or good.  Particular focus continued to be given to Goodrington Beach, with work ongoing to identify measures to secure an excellent classification.  Members heard that investigations were being undertaken into the impact of the Goodrington Stream and wider catchment influences on bathing water quality.  Work was also underway in relation to shellfish water designation, with a report expected in April 2027.

The Board heard that partnership working between South West Water and Torbay Council had improved significantly over the previous year, with regular strategic and operational meetings being held to address drainage, flooding and water quality issues.  Members were advised that the Council's historic knowledge of drainage infrastructure had supported collaborative working and informed ongoing investigations.

Members received an update on flooding activity, including the Paignton and Preston Coastal Flooding Project and joint work with the Environment Agency and South West Water on the River Fleet and Ilsham Valley catchments.  It was noted that £3 million of Environment Agency funding had been secured for flood resilience projects across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham and that hydraulic modelling work was helping partners better understand infrastructure constraints and opportunities for improvement.

The Board was advised that the River Fleet and Ilsham Valley represented some of the most complex flooding challenges within Torbay.  Work was underway to reduce the volume of water entering the sewerage network from the River Fleet, thereby reducing pressure on the network and improving water quality.  Members heard that this would require a long-term programme of work over a number of years.

Members asked questions in relation to:

·                the timescales for improvements relating to the River Fleet;

·                responsibilities for maintaining watercourses passing through private land;

·                action being taken to improve water quality at Goodrington Beach;

·                the outcomes of seasonal water tariff trials introduced for residents in the Wellswood area;

·                concerns raised by residents regarding increased water charges; and

·                reservoir capacity and the continued hosepipe ban.

In response, Members were advised that:

·                work had already commenced within the River Fleet catchment and funding was being targeted towards measures likely to deliver the greatest benefits;

·                landowners were generally responsible for maintaining watercourses flowing through their land;

·                water quality issues were influenced by a range of factors, including misconnections, animal waste and wider catchment management issues.  Further investigation would be required to determine whether there was any impact arising from discharges associated with Paignton Zoo;

·                provisional results from seasonal tariff trials suggested water usage had increased rather than reduced;

·                additional evidence was continuing to be gathered before any decisions were taken on future tariff arrangements (written response would be provided by South West Water); and

·                significantly above-average rainfall would be required to restore reservoir levels.

Resolved (unanimously):

That the Overview and Scrutiny Board request that South West Water in collaboration with the Environment Agency and Torbay Council continue investigations to identify and better understand the wider catchment sources contributing to bathing water quality issues at Goodrington Beach, in order to support targeted interventions and inform future improvements to water quality.