NDM7278 Plaid Cymru Debate - Adverse Weather and Storm Damage

NDM7278 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)   

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the damage and devastation caused to communities across Wales as a result of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

2. Pays tribute to the heroic efforts of public service workers and community volunteers in responding to the effects of adverse weather and storm damage in recent weeks.

3. Recognises that climate change will make adverse weather occurrences, including instances of serious flooding, more likely in future.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) initiate a full independent inquiry into the causes of recent flooding, in addition to conducting a review of the sufficiency of its overall adverse weather prevention plans;

b) ensure that additional support is made available to those experiencing psychological trauma as a result of the recent devastation, especially children;

c) ensure that the hardship fund for those individuals affected by adverse weather and storm damage ensures parity for businesses and homeowners, especially those without insurance;

d) clarify the status of grant support available for land reclamation;

e) explore the possibility of introducing a low cost social insurance scheme with the aim of ensuring affordable property insurance cover everywhere in Wales;

f) request a comprehensive assessment from the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales of the measures that would be required to reduce the annual risk of flooding in Wales to 1 per cent, 0.5 per cent and 0.1 per cent and to increase expenditure to this end.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In point 2, after ‘efforts of’ insert ‘the emergency services, agency staff,’.

Amendment 2 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) ensure that the investigations being carried out into the cause of flooding are published and subject to scrutiny from affected communities, the Senedd and independent authorities, including the Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee;

b) make additional financial and practical support available to individuals and businesses affected by the flooding;

c) make additional funding available for local authorities to conduct emergency repairs of flood defences and other critical infrastructure;

d) publish new planning policy and flood maps this year to take a stronger stance on development in the flood plain and reflect the growing risks from climate change;

e) publish a new Flood Risk Assessment for Wales alongside a new Flood and Coastal Strategy this year and use this to prioritise flood defence schemes that protect the communities at highest risk of flooding from all sources – coastal, river and surface water;

f) increase financial and practical support to local authorities to accelerate the development of new flood defence schemes.

[If Amendment 2 is agreed amendment 3 will be de-selected]

Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

In point 4, insert as new sub-point after sub-point (c) and renumber accordingly:

'establish a rates relief scheme to help businesses recover following a flooding event;'

Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Further calls on the Welsh Government to work with stakeholders to ensure that local communities and businesses are provided with continuing support beyond the initial clean-up operation to help them recover in the long-term, and to understand the actions required to mitigate future flooding events.

Amendment 5 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Further calls on the Welsh Government to update planning guidelines by establishing ‘Blue Belts’ in areas of flood risk, such as natural flood plains, to prevent inappropriate development and to reduce the risk of damage to homes and businesses.