Decision

Acceptance of the of £97,000 grant
funding from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee
Local Levy to design a nature-based solution pilot scheme to
mitigate coastal erosion at Scalby Sea Cut, Scarborough.

Reasons for the decision

As Risk Management Authority, North Yorkshire
Council under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, is required
to act in a manner that is consistent with the National Flood and
Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England and work
collaboratively with other RMAs.

Alternative options considered

Under the Do-Nothing option, awareness of the
coastal erosion risk amongst residents may remain low. There would
be no forward planning for managing the consequences of coastal
erosion. Residents would be unprepared for the loss of properties
creating difficulties for the Risk Management Authority to manage
the process when the time comes for residents to have to leave.
Significant mental health burden for residents becoming suddenly
aware of the risks in an emergency situation, and with no forward
plan for dealing with the risks residents may be left feeling
unsupported and isolated. Whilst the cost of this option is zero in
the present day, it may increase the costs to the Risk Management
Authorities for dealing with the issue as the properties become at
imminent risk of loss.

North Yorkshire Council is the lead Authority of the Environment
Agency funded Cell 1 Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme. Under
the option of Do-Minimum, North Yorkshire Council will continue to
capture aerial photography and LiDAR data through the ongoing Cell
1 Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme to support understanding of
coastal change and inform the likely remaining life span of the
properties. As this data collection is already funded, the cost of
this option would be minimal requiring only RMA staff time to
consider timescales. However, this option poses the same risks as
the Do-Nothing option in terms of community preparedness, and
increased costs to the RMAs for dealing with the issue as the
properties become at imminent risk of loss