As flooding hits Rutland once again, a senior county councillor says the authority has finally managed to find a flood officer. 

A major incident was declared today due to widespread flooding across Rutland and neighbouring Leicestershire, with the area fire crews called out to more than 200 incidents, schools closed and people having to be rescued from flood water. 

The flooding comes a year on from Storms Henk and Babet, which wreaked havoc. In response Rutland County Council set up a scrutiny group, which looked at how the council and other agencies had responded and made a series of 14 recommendations including appointing a flood officer. The authority, which is the lead local flood authority, has been operating without one for several years. 



Rutland County Counil are struggling to find people to fill the roles they have open (Photo: Nub News)

Last month, the authority's cabinet member for transport, environment and communities, Cllr Christine Wise (Lib Dem), admitted the authority was struggling to recruit a qualified officer due to competition from other councils which were paying higher prices, but today she said the authority had made an offer to someone who had accepted the post. 

Other recommendations from the scrutiny report included better communications from the authority to residents and helping the various parish councils in Rutland to create their own flood resilience plans and to appoint voluntary flood wardens. 

But Cllr Wise said she had heard some areas were struggling to find people willing to take on the roles.  

"I think the major issue for some parishes is getting volunteers to step up to the role. Anecdotally I have heard that at least some of the parishes are finding it difficult to get volunteers to step up to the roles. 

Asked what her role had been in today's response, she said: "I have kept out of it, because to be honest, this is an operational response and I am a councillor. I may be involved after the event, looking at what worked and what didn't." 

Langham near Oakham is one of the areas affected. The nearby A606 was closed, which has pushed traffic through the village. Melting snow water coupled with surface water unable to make it into the stream lead to flooding in the early part of the morning. 

Cllr Richard Besant from Langham Parish Council, who has been leading the parish's flood action plan, says 'no one seems to be focused on solving the problem' and said a lead flood officer for the county was needed to bring the different organisations together. 

He said: "The issue is getting the plans to work when it needs to work, rather than in theory. And today I have seen the place in chaos. What we need is for theory and practice to marry up." 

He said that even as the councillor who has a focus on flooding and having attended local meetings set up by the county council, he is unsure of what number to call for assistance. 

The parish council has its own draft flood plan in place and has appointed three flood wardens and identified the village hall as a place of safety in case of emergencies. The parish has also identified vulnerable people. 

The council's flood risk management strategy, which sets out how the authority's plan dates back to 2018 and is overdue an update. Oakham is an identified flood risk area of national significance and according to the government, the county council and the environment agency should have carried out a new flood risk investigation of the town by 2027.