Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority Board meeting on 16 June 2023
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 10am on Friday 16 June 2023 at Junction 24, Market Way, North Petherton, Somerset, TA6 6DF.
Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting on 16 June 2023.
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 Council)
Cllr Sarah Dyke (Somerset Council)
Jeff Fear (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Andrew Gilling (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Rebecca Horsington (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Harry Munt (Somerset Council)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Cllr Mike Stanton – Chair (Somerset Council)
Janette Ward (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee – substitute)
Matt Wheeldon (Wessex Water)
Cllr Ros Wyke (Somerset Council)
In Attendance:
Will Barnard (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest)
Nicola Dawson (Somerset Council)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Kirsty Larkins (Somerset Council)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Steve Mulvihill (Somerset Council)
John Rowlands (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Phil Stone (Trees for Water)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Andrea Summers (Environment Agency)
Ian Tier (Somerset Council)
Kate Towers (Trees for Water)
Apologies:
Cllr Mike Caswell (Somerset Council)
David Jenkins (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
AGENDA
1 Introduction of new Board Members and apologies for Absence
Purpose: Clarification
Lead: Chair
2 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair
3 Minutes of previous meeting held on 17 March 2023
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft SRA Board Meeting minutes 17 March 2023
4 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
5 2023-24 SRA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Constitution
Purpose: To sign the 2023-24 MoU
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 5 SRA Board Paper 2023-24 SRA Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution 16 June 2023
6 Water storage test and trial
Purpose: A presentation about the recent water storage test and trial on the Somerset Levels and Moors
Leads: Will Barnard, John Rowlands
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 6 SRA Board presentation Water Storage Test and Trial 16 June 2023
7 Flooding Recovery Update
Purpose: A presentation about flooding on the Somerset Levels and Moors during winter 2023 and progress with recovery
Leads: Andrea Summers, Nicola Dawson, Steve Mulvihill
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Presentation Flooding Recovery Update 16 June 2023
8 SRA Strategy and Action Plan
Purpose: To update the Board on progress
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Board Paper SRA Strategy and Action Plan Paper 16 June 2023
9 SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board with a) Quarter 4 2022-23 Finance Report, b) Annual Summary
Lead: Ian Tier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 9a SRA Board Paper Quarter 4 2022-23 Finance Report 16 June 2023
ITEM 9b SRA Board Paper 23-24 Finance Summary 16 June 2023
PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 9 will not be confidential, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as an Appendix to Item 9. 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).
10 Trees for Water
Purpose: Top-up funding request for the Trees for Water project
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10 SRA Board Paper Trees for Water Request for Funding 16 June 2023
11 Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Annual Report 2022-23
Lead: Jonathan Hudston
Purpose: To review and approve the SRA Annual Report for publication
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 11 SRA Board Paper about Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report 2022-23 16 June 2023
ITEM 11 Appendix 1 DRAFT SRA Annual Report 2022-23 16 June 2023
12 Key project update: River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) Enhancements Scheme
Purpose: To update on progress
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12 SRA Board Paper River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain 16 June 2023
13 Aller Moor water storage test and trial
Purpose: To consider approving test and trial payments
Lead: John Rowlands
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 13 SRA Board Paper Allermoor Water Storage Test and Trial 16 June 2023
14 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items
Lead: Chair
15 Papers to Note
Purpose: Updates for information
Lead: Chair
15a Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 15a SRA Board Paper to note Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 16th June 2023
15b Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS)
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 15b SRA Board Paper to note TSFAIS June 2023 16 June 2023
15c Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 15c SRA Board Paper to note Strategic Approach to Mitigation 16 June 2023
15d River Brue schemes
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 15d SRA Board Paper to note River Brue Schemes 16 June 2023
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 June 2023
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday September 2023. The venue is to be confirmed.