Issue - meetings

(i)       to agree that the existing Property Level Protection Grant Scheme be expanded to include commercial properties with effect from the date of the Committee decision;

(ii)       to note the costs would be covered from the remaining amount of the original £500,000 budget, recorded in the General Fund Capital Programme and standing at £460,000 (NB, this figure will be updated by officers to reflect the current figures outlined at the Council Budget meeting);

(iii)      to authorise the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to make grants for Flood Protection Surveys of i) £200 per qualifying property over 200m2 ground floor area; and ii) £150 per qualifying property less than 200m2 ground floor area to eligible commercial property owners;

(iv)      to authorise the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to make grants of i) 50% of the cost of installing Property Level Protection up to a maximum of £5000 per property over 200m2 ground floor area; and ii) 50% of the cost of installing Property Level Protection up to a maximum of £2500 per property less than 200m2 ground floor area to eligible commercial property owners on receipt of proof of expenditure; and

(v)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to monitor take up of the grant and to report back to the Committee in September 2024.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which sought approval to expand the current grant support for a Property Level Flood Protection Scheme in relation to domestic properties to include commercial properties.  The report advised that this would reduce the impact on commercial properties vulnerable to internal flooding.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      agree that the existing Property Level Protection Grant Scheme be expanded to include commercial properties with effect from the date of the Committee decision;

(b)      note the costs would be covered from the remaining amount of the original £500,000 budget, recorded in the General Fund Capital Programme and standing at £460,000;

(c)      authorise the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to make grants for Flood Protection Surveys of i) £200 per qualifying property over 200m2 ground floor area; and ii) £150 per qualifying property less than 200m2 ground floor area to eligible commercial property owners;

(d)      authorise the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to make grants of i) 50% of the cost of installing Property Level Protection up to a maximum of £5000 per property over 200m2 ground floor area; and ii) 50% of the cost of installing Property Level Protection up to a maximum of £2500 per property less than 200m2 ground floor area to eligible commercial property owners on receipt of proof of expenditure; and

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services to monitor take up of the grant and to report back to the Committee in September 2024.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would update the £460,000 figure at (b) above to reflect the current figures outlined at the Council Budget meeting; and

(ii)       to approve the recommendations.