Birmingham Council says funding pressures will limit flood defences

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 13:59 · Archive

Birmingham Council has admitted financial pressures will restrict its ability to tackle flooding following severe summer weather.

Birmingham Council has admitted that financial pressures will restrict its ability to tackle flooding following extreme weather events during the summer. Dozens of homes in the north of the city were hit by torrents of water in August, with Labour councillor Nicky Brennan warning that residents in certain areas are 'suffering sleepless nights' amid flooding fears.

Green Party councillors had said communities had been pushed to 'crisis point' and argued the city needed to 'urgently improve its resilience' to flooding. Despite these alarming scenes, the council acknowledged in a new report on flood risk management that funding pressures have 'impacted in the level of service'.

The council revealed that cuts will affect the delivery of flood management projects, ongoing maintenance and management of historical flood assets that help manage flood risk. The authority also said it will be more difficult in the future to fulfil its duties under the Flood and Water Management Act and to provide emergency response. Non-statutory services, such as providing sandbags to formal flood action groups on request, will need to be reassessed.

In response, the council said it will adopt a 'more focused, risk-oriented strategy' for inspections and maintenance based on the numbers of properties affected by flooding. This approach aims to 'ensure high risk drainage assets are kept as clear as possible to help reduce flood risk'.

How it is being reported

• ‘Funding pressures’ will impact ability to tackle flooding, Birmingham council admitsLabour councillor Nicky Brennan warned that residents in certain areas are ‘suffering sleepless nights’ amid flooding fears.Birmingham World · 2 Nov, 13:42
• ‘Funding pressures’ will impact ability to tackle flooding, Birmingham council admitsLabour councillor Nicky Brennan warned that residents in certain areas are ‘suffering sleepless nights’ amid flooding fears.Express & Star · 2 Nov, 13:42
• Birmingham Council admits 'funding pressures' will impact ability to tackle floodingBirmingham councillors warned only recently that communities had been pushed to 'crisis point'BirminghamLive · 2 Nov, 12:58

In this story: Birmingham Council · Birmingham · Nicky Brennan · Green Party

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