Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority Board meeting on 16 September 2022
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 10am on Friday 16 September 2022, at the headquarters of Somerset West and Taunton Council, Belvedere Road, Taunton, TA1 1HE.
Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting held on 16 September 2022 in Taunton.
Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 16 September 2022.
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 Dixie Darch (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
Cllr Sarah Dyke (South Somerset District Council)
Jeff Fear (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Andrew Gilling (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Rebecca Horsington (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
David Jenkins (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
Cllr Ros Wyke (Mendip District Council – substitute)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Cllr Mike Stanton – Chair (Somerset County Council)
In Attendance:
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Michele Cusack (Somerset County Council)
Gary Cutts (Environment Agency)
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)
Caroline Murray (Mendip District Council)
John Rowlands (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Jonathan Stevens (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Ian Tier (Somerset County Council)
Apologies:
Doug Bamsey (Sedgemoor District Council)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Sedgemoor District Council)
Dave Coles (Sedgemoor District Council)
Donna Gowler (Natural England – substitute)
Cllr Duncan McGinty (Sedgemoor District Council – substitute)
Katy Menday (South Somerset District Council)
Peter Paddon (South Somerset District Council)
Haylee Wilkins (Mendip District Council)
AGENDA
1 Apologies for Absence
Purpose: Clarification
Lead: Chair
2 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair
3 Minutes of previous meeting held on 22 July 2022
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft Minutes of SRA Board meeting 22 July 2022
4 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
5 SRA Strategy and Action Plan
Purpose: To update the Board on progress
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 5 SRA Board Paper Updated Version SRA Strategy and Action Plan 16 September 2022
6 Phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors
Purpose: Presentation and discussion
Lead: Claire Newill, Natural England
7 SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board
Lead: Ian Tier
Documents (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Paper Quarter 1 2022-23 Finance Report 16 September 2022
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 as an Appendix to Item 7. 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 these papers 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 Funding requests
Purpose: To request extra funding for projects
8a Rode flood management project and Beckington drainage works
Lead: Haylee Wilkins
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8a SRA Board Paper Rode and Beckington Funding Request 16 September 2022
8b Parrett Internal Board maintenance dredging (water injection dredging)
Lead: Iain Sturdy
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8b SRA Board Paper Additional Funding Request for Maintenance Dredging 16 September 2022
Key Project Update
9 River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) Enhancements Scheme
Purpose: Presentation and Key Project Update
Lead: Emma Baker
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 9 SRA Board River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain Enhancements Scheme 16 September 2022
10 Local Government Reorganisation
Purpose: To discuss the reorganisation of local government in Somerset and the SRA
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10 SRA Board Paper Local Government Reorganisation 16 September 2022
ITEM 10 Appendix 1 2022-23 SRA Local Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution
11 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items
Lead: Chair
12 Papers to Note
Purpose: Updates for information
Lead: Chair
12a Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12a SRA Board Paper to note Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 16 September 2022
12b Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12b SRA Board Paper to note Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme 16 September 2022
12c Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12c SRA Board Paper to note Strategic Approach to Mitigation 16 September 2022
12d River Brue schemes
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12d SRA Board Paper to note River Brue Schemes 16 September 2022
For more information relating to the meeting, such as public attendance and access, please see below:
Document (downloadable PDF): SRA Board Meeting Agenda and Public Guidance notes 16 September 2022
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 9 December 2022. The venue is to be confirmed.