Calls for an independent review into the causes of, and response to, the recent flooding in parts of the City have apparently now led the York Council to agree to mount an Inquiry.

The historical Merchant Adventures Hall was one of the victims of the flooding.

Press reports suggest that it will take a similar format to that of a Select Committee.

What will be critical will be the terms of reference of the Inquiry and the clarity of any written evidence published before witnesses are called.

In our view the Council should encourage written questions and representations using “open dialogue” socal media channels to allow all those with concerns to contribute.

The move comes at a time when the Environment Agency has confirmed that water entering the control cabin (which was supposedly watertight) on 26th December led to the decision to raise the Foss barrier.  

This threat had not been identified as an issue prior to the recent floods.

It is likely that any Inquiry will want to scrutinise carefully the actions of not only the York Council, but also the Emergency Services, local MPs, the Environment Agency, power and telecoms companies, and the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC)

Inquiry members will no doubt also familarise themselves with the many reports that have been published on the flooding threat in the City over the last few years.

These include: 

• Flood risk assessment report received by the Economic & City Development Scrutiny Committee 25^th January 2011
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment  14^th March 2011  report to the Local Plan Working Group (their next meeting wasn’t until 3^rd Oct 2011 where  minutes of the previous meeting were agreed) Minutes of the March meeting were, however, never reported to the new “Cabinet” which was elected in May of that year?
• Flood Risk Assessment 6^th Sept 2011 Cabinet Report by Cllr Dave Merrett (No reference was made to the March LPWG report)
• Major flooding occurred in Sept 2012 web site,  3^rd October fall out, A fresh report was commissioned but it did not appear for 2 years. Improvement works in the Leeman Road area had been commissioned.
• The Flood Risk Management Strategy report was presented to the “Cabinet” in Sept 2014. Consultation on the plan started on 7^th Nov 2014  web site
• The Flood Risk Management Strategy was finally agreed by the Cabinet in March 2015 Download