16/03/2024 update from Andrew Clements, Flood Warden

Hi all,

Sorry about last weeks late cancel. I am just about back to full health now so we can go ahead with the meeting on Monday 18^th March at 7.30 – 9.00 . The venue is the Weston Centre.

I am sending this email to everyone that has declared an interest in getting involved in the group, but I have blind copied you all in to keep email addresses private. FYI there could be 20 of us if everyone is still interested in getting involved and can make it.  If you are still interested in getting involved but can’t make it on Monday then please could you let me know and I will keep you updated on progress and future meetings.  If there is anybody else you think may be interested in getting involved in forming the Duffield Flood Plan then please feel free to forward onto them.

At this first meeting I would prefer we try and avoid discussing in too much detail any specific flooding issues, concerns or locations so that we can use the time we have to concentrate on moving the plan for the whole village forward.  As the plan matures we can look to focus on certain areas at later meetings. I am always open to discussing individual concerns and issues and I am happy to do this one to one outside of the meeting, do feel free to email me, or speak to me after the meeting.

Thank you, and hopefully see you Monday,

Andrew

I am proposing that we have our first meeting on Monday 18 March at 7.30 until 9.00. I will arrange a venue shortly and pass on details nearer the time, but wanted to get this date in your diary if you are still interested in getting involved, or at least coming along to the first meeting.

It has taken a little longer than hoped to get around to setting this meeting up, as I have been spending time collecting as much information as possible after the flooding that hit the village so we understand the fullest extent of the issues. Much of this information collected has been shared with Derbyshire County Council and the Environment Agency. I have also been looking through other Parishes Flood Actions Plans and the work of other Flood Action Groups to understand what we should be aiming for with our Flood Action Group. I will formalise an agenda the week before the meeting, however it will probably be something along the lines of

Flood Warden to give a quick summary of the information that has been collected and shared with the EA / DCC (10 mins)
Flood Warden to present an initial suggested proposal for what I believe we should be aiming for as a group (15 mins)
All to have an open discussion on this proposal, make amendments and additions to the proposals as decided by the group (45 mins)
Look to appoint some roles / delegate some tasks to help move the group and the plan forward (20 mins).

If you have any thoughts on any of this or suggestions for things you would like discussed then please do contact me. I am working though guidance provided by bodies such as the National Flood Forum and others to help us set this up, but it is a first one for me so all thoughts will be gratefully received.

Best Regards

Andrew Clements
Flood Warden
Duffield Parish Council