Somerset Rivers Authority Board
Summary of Decisions, 7 December 2018
This pages summarises what happened at the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board meeting on 7 December, 2018. Not every item on the agenda is covered. Only items that required decisions to be taken are featured below.
Item 3: Minutes of the SRA meeting on 7 September 2018
Decision:
The minutes of the SRA Board Meeting held on 7 September 2018 were signed as accurate.
Item 6: Changes to SRA Board representations
Decisions:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
1. Noted that from May 2019 Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council will formally become a single local authority – Somerset West and Taunton Council.
2. Approved a change to the SRA Constitution to remove reference to Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council and create a single Board position to be filled by a representative from the new Somerset West and Taunton Council.
Item 7: SRA Enhanced Programme 2019-2020
Decisions:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
1. Provisionally approved the proposed 2019-20 Enhanced Programme as listed, subject to final approval when funding is confirmed.
2. Approved the proposed level of funding, including £1.057m to be set aside from the 2019-20 shadow precept to enable delivery of the agreed Sowy/Kings Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) Enhancement Scheme in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
3. Approved the allocation of £65,000 from contingency to meet the Sowy/KSD public match funding requirement in the 2015 Heart of the SW Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSWLEP) Funding Agreement.
Item 8: Quarter 2 2018-19 Finance Report
Decisions:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
1. Noted the financial performance as at the end of Quarter 2 of 2018-19.
2. Approved the re-allocation of £41,864.66 remaining budget from completed actions to be transferred to contingency.
Item 9: Key project updates
Item 9a: Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Decisions:
As recommended, the SRA Board noted:
1. Work to finalise the scheme proposals and estimate.
2. Work to secure assurance of the Outline Business Case from Environment Agency/Defra/HM Treasury.
3. Acquisition of Heron Court, Express Park.
4. Further ground investigations for the downstream defences and barrier.
5. Continued consultation with landowners.
6. Consultation with stakeholders and public in December.
7. Sedgemoor District Council’s Housing Infrastructure Fund bid and investigations to secure additional funding.
Item 9b: Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme
Decision:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
Noted the contents of the report, including the revised scope of the Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme for Phase 2 and considered this as an appropriate basis for continued joint project working.
Item 9c: Pioneer Dredge, Oath to Burrowbridge
Decision:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
1. Approved the delivery of a full Oath to Burrowbridge pioneer dredging scheme, aiming to dredge in autumn 2019.
Two further recommendations were made at the meeting, and unanimously approved.
2. The SRA Board agreed in principle that the SRA would fund temporary additional Environment Agency pumping required to support this scheme (subject to more information on costs).
3. The SRA Board agreed that the flood risk baseline used for assessing the impacts of this scheme should be that pertaining before the 2013-14 floods. (Note: This is to enable a clear picture of the effects of all actions carried out as part of Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan. The Flood Action Plan was drawn up in response to the 2013-14 floods).
Item 9d: Sowy / King’s Sedgemoor Drain
Decisions:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
1. Noted the completion of the de-silting work at Parchey and Dunball rail bridges.
2. Noted and supported the development of design for further enhancement of the Sowy-KSD system.
Item 9e: Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Decision:
The SRA Board noted:
Progress has been made and a series of enabling products are nearly ready to sign off by the board. Conservation objectives have been rewritten.
Item 9f: River Brue
Decision:
The SRA Board noted:
That the Axe-Brue Internal Drainage Board wished to withdraw from leading the Brue dredging project but wished to carry on supporting promoting the project.
Item 10: Re-allocation of Funds – Environment Agency projects
Decision:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
Approved the re-allocation of £20k underspend from EA14 (River Avill Flood Relief Channel Repairs) to EA06 (Pumping Station Improvements).
Item 11: Flood Action Plan Review and future strategy
Decision:
As recommended, the SRA Board:
Noted progress to date with reviewing the Somerset Flood Action Plan and approved the next steps for updating the Plan.