Essex County Council, in its role as Lead Flood Risk Authority, has produced a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) for Brentwood Borough.  The plan has been undertaken in consultation with stakeholders, including Brentwood Borough Council.

The SWMP is an intermediate assessment to inform spatial and emergency planning along with determining possible areas that may benefit from flood mitigation measures.  It will also determine if/where detailed assessments should be undertaken and enable warning and informing initiatives.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr McCheyne and SECONDED by Cllr Trump to agree the recommendation in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hand and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.                  That the Surface Water Management Plan for Brentwood Borough, as attached at Appendix A, be acknowledged as a material consideration for the purposes of determining planning applications where relevant to a particular application.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

Reducing flood risk requires a pro-active stance on planning policy across the Borough.  The formal acknowledgement of the SWMP for Brentwood Borough as a material consideration for the purposes of determining planning applications will give the plan greater weight in the planning process. 

Acknowledgement of the SWMP will help to ensure the Borough meets its Local Plan policy objectives and assist development management in negotiating good quality sustainable drainage schemes as part of new major developments.