HOW could the disastrous floods which devastated Worcestershire last summer have been better-managed?

That's the central question to be addressed by councillors from across Worcestershire who came together this week to form a special watchdog group looking into last July's flooding.

It is the first time members of the scrutiny committees of all seven local authorities in Worcestershire have joined forces in this way, forming a Joint Scrutiny Task Group to investigate all aspects of the floods which struck the county last year.

The idea will be to make sure Worcestershire is better prepared next time any type of disaster strikes.

"We're here to look at what happened last time," said group chairman councillor Martin King, of Wychavon District Council. "But that's not all - we need to look forward as well. "It's our constituents' homes and gardens that are being flooded, and we need to show them something real is being done about it."

Worcester's representative on the group, Councillor Geoff Williams, said: "In Worcester there are some areas that always seem to flood, but the problem with flash-flooding is it may well be somewhere different each time."

The group is planning to hold a series of public meetings where it will question the relevant bodies about how things could be improved, from the police and the Environment Agency to farmers' groups, insurance companies and representatives from the media. The public will also have the chance to raise any concerns they have.

The group will discuss:

  • How well different authorities work together to cope
  • How drainage issues affect the problem
  • The response of emergency services and other emergency planning issues
  • How well the public are kept informed of what is happening
  • How well utility companies respond to the situation
  • Problems caused by insurance companies not having consistent standards when dealing with flooding
  • Flash-flooding issues will be investigated in as much depth as flooding from the River Severn