Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority Board meeting on 5 March 2021
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 2pm on Friday 5 March 2021, online because of the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read a summary of decisions taken by the Somerset Rivers Authority Board at their meeting on 5 March 2021.
Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 5 March 2021.
Below are lists of people who attended from across the SRA partnership, plus the meeting’s agenda and reports.
Members of SRA Board:
Emma Baker (Environment Agency)
Tony Bradford – Vice-Chair (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Sedgemoor District Council)
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)
Cllr Sarah Wakefield (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
Maurice Wall (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
In Attendance:
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Roger Burge (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Dave Coles (Sedgemoor District Council)
Michele Cusack (Somerset County Council)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Chris Hall (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Cllr Clare Paul (Somerset County Council)
Graham Quarrier (Environment Agency)
John Rowlands (Environment Agency)
Helen Smith (Somerset County Council)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Ian Tier (Somerset County Council)
Haylee Wilkins (Mendip District Council)
Apologies:
Doug Bamsey (Sedgemoor District Council)
Jeff Fear (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Martin Woods (South Somerset District Council)
Minute taker:
Emma Morgan (Somerset Rivers Authority)
AGENDA
1 Apologies for Absence
Purpose: Clarification
Lead: Chair
2 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair
3 Minutes of previous meeting 11 December 2020
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 DRAFT Minutes of SRA Board meeting on 11 December 2020
4 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
5 SRA Joint Scrutiny Panel
Purpose: To feedback any comments and recommendations from the SRA Joint Scrutiny Panel
Lead: David Mitchell
6 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Constitution
Purpose: To approve and sign the 2021-22 MoU and constitution
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 6 SRA Board Paper 2021-22 Revised Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution 5 March 2021
7 Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) funded projects
Purpose: Review of progress
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Paper Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership funded projects 5 March 2021
8 Quarter 3 2020-21 SRA Finance Report
Purpose: To update the Board
Lead: Ian Tier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Board Paper Quarter 3 2020-21 Finance Report 5 March 2021
PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 8 is not confidential, but additional detailed financial information has been made available only to SRA Board Members as Item 8a. 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).
9 Key Project Update: River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) Enhancements Scheme
Purpose: To update and seek a decision from the Board
Lead: Rachel Burden
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 9 SRA Board Paper River Sowy-KSD Enhancements Scheme 5 March 2021
10 SRA 2021-22 Enhanced Programme and Budget
10a. SRA 2021-22 Enhanced Programme
Purpose: To review and approve the 2021-22 SRA Enhanced Programme
Lead: David Mitchell
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 10a SRA Board Paper 2021-22 SRA Enhanced Programme and Budget 5 March 2021
ITEM 10a Appendix 2 2021-22 SRA Enhanced Programme Detailed Information 5 March 2021
10b. SRA 2021-22 Budget
Purpose: To review and approve the 2021-22 SRA budget
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10b SRA Board Paper 2021-22 SRA Budget 5 March 2021
PLEASE NOTE: The main reports for Item 10a and 10b are 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).
11 Flood Action Plan review
Purpose: To update the Board on progress
Lead: David Mitchell
12 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items (agreed with Chair prior to meeting)
Lead: Chair
13 Papers to Note
Purpose: Updates for information
Lead: Chair
13a: River Brue Brue dredging
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11a SRA Board paper to note River Brue Dredging 5 March 2021
13b: Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11b SRA Board paper to note Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 5 March 2021
13c: Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11c SRA Board paper to note Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme 5 March 2021
13d: River Parrett dredging – Oath to Burrowbridge
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11d SRA Board paper to note Dredging Oath to Burrowbridge 5 March 2021
13e: River Parrett dredging – Northmoor to M5
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11e SRA Board paper to note Dredging Northmoor to M5 5 March 2021
13f: Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11f SRA Board paper to note Strategic Approach to Mitigation 5 March 2021
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 on 5 March 2021
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 23 July 2021. This meeting is currently expected to be held online but if this situation changes, information about the venue chosen will be published on this website.