Agenda for SRA Board meeting on 6 March 2020

A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority was held at 10am on Friday 6 March 2020 at the headquarters of Sedgemoor District Council in the Council Chamber, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3AR.

Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting on 6 March 2020.

Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 6 March 2020.

Below are lists of people who attended, the meeting’s agenda and reports.

Members of SRA Board:
Ray Adlam (Axe-Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Emma Baker (Environment Agency)
Tony Bradford – Vice-Chair (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Sedgemoor District Council)
Andrew Gilling (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr David Hall – Chair (Somerset County Council)
Matthew Heard (Natural England)
Rebecca Horsington (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
David Jenkins (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
Cllr Matt Martin (Mendip District Council)
Cllr Mike Stanton (South Somerset District Council)

In Attendance:
Doug Bamsey (Sedgemoor District Council)
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Roger Burge (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Chris Hall (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
Rebecca Hall (Somerset County Council)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Cllr Clare Paul (Somerset County Council)
Ann Rhodes (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
John Rowlands (Environment Agency)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)

Apologies:
Michele Cusack (Somerset County Council)
Paula Hewitt (Somerset County Council)
Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts (Somerset West and Taunton Council)

AGENDA

1 Apologies for Absence
Purpose: Clarification
Lead: Chair

2 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair

3 Minutes of previous meeting 10 January 2020
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft minutes of SRA Board Meeting held on 10 January 2020

4 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair

5 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) & Constitution
Purpose: To approve and sign the 2020-21 MoU & Constitution
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 5 SRA Board 2020-21 Memorandum of Understanding

6 SRA Joint Scrutiny Panel
Purpose: To report any Panel comments and recommendations
Lead: David Mitchell

7 Quarter 3 2019-20 Finance Report
Purpose: To update the Board
Leads: Rebecca Hall
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Quarter 3 2019-20 SRA Finance Report

PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 7 is not confidential, but additional detailed financial information has been made available only to SRA Board Members in Appendix 1. The additional detailed financial information contains exempt information and is therefore marked Confidential – Not for Publication. At any point if Members wish to discuss the detailed financial information within this paper then the Board will be asked to agree the following resolution to exclude the press and public:

Exclusion of the Press and Public
To consider passing a resolution under Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 to exclude the press and public from the meeting on the basis that if they were present during the business to be transacted there would be a likelihood of disclosure of exempt information, within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Reason: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

8 Key Project Updates

8a: River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) enhancements
Purpose: Update
Lead: Rachel Burden
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8a SRA Board Sowy KSD update

8b: Brue catchment schemes
Purpose: Update
Leads: Iain Sturdy, David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8b SRA Board Brue catchment schemes update

9 2020-21 SRA Budget & Enhanced Programme
Purpose: To review and approve in principle
Lead: David Mitchell
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 9 SRA Board 2020-21 Budget and Enhanced Programme
ITEM 9 Appendix 2 SRA Board 2020-21 SRA Enhanced Programme List no costs
ITEM 9 Appendix 3 SRA Board 2020-21 SRA Enhanced Programme Map
ITEM 9 Appendix 4 SRA Board 2020-21 SRA Budget Summary

PLEASE NOTE: The main report for Item 9 is not confidential, but additional detailed financial information has been made available only to SRA Board Members in Appendix 1. This additional detailed financial information contains exempt information and is therefore marked Confidential – Not for Publication. At any point if Members wish to discuss the detailed financial information within this paper then the Board will be asked to agree the following resolution to exclude the press and public:

Exclusion of the Press and Public
To consider passing a resolution under Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 to exclude the press and public from the meeting on the basis that if they were present during the business to be transacted there would be a likelihood of disclosure of exempt information, within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Reason: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

10 Flood Action Plan Review
Purpose: Update
Lead: David Mitchell

11 Precepting legislation
Purpose: Update
Lead: David Mitchell

12 SRA representation on the Somerset Local Nature Partnership (SLNP) Board
Purpose: To consider a request for the SRA Chair to sit on the SLNP Board
Lead: Chair
ITEM 12 SRA Board Representation on Somerset Local Nature Partnership Board
ITEM 12 Appendix 1 Terms of Reference Somerset Local Nature Partnership

13 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items (agreed with Chair prior to meeting)
Lead: Chair

14 Papers to Note
Purpose: Updates for information
Lead: Chair

14a: Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14a SRA Board Bridgwater Tidal Barrier

14b: Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14b SRA Board Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme

14c: River Parrett Dredging – Oath to Burrowbridge
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14c SRA Board Oath to Burrowbridge dredging

14d: Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14d SRA Board Strategic Approach to Mitigation

For more information relating to the meeting, such as public attendance and access, please see below:
Document (downloadable PDF): Agenda and guidance notes for SRA Board meeting 6 March 2020

Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 12 June 2020, venue to be confirmed.