Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority Board meeting on 20 January 2023
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 10am on Friday 20 January 2023 in the Exmoor Room at Junction 24, North Petherton, Somerset.
Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting held on 20 January 2023.
Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 20 January 2023.
Below are lists of people who attended from across the SRA partnership, plus the meeting’s agenda.
Members of SRA Board:
Emma Baker (Environment Agency)
Tony Bradford – Vice-Chair (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Sedgemoor District Council)
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 Matt Martin (Mendip District Council)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Cllr Mike Stanton – Chair (Somerset County Council)
In Attendance:
Doug Bamsey (Sedgemoor District Council)
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Michele Cusack (Somerset County Council)
Gary Cutts (Environment Agency)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Paula Hewitt (Somerset County Council)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Niels McCartney (Environment Agency)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
John Rowlands (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Ian Tier (Somerset County Council)
Minute taker:
Jennie Channing (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 held on 16 September 2023
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft Minutes of SRA Board meeting 16 September 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 SRA Strategy and Action Plan 20 January 2023
6a SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board
Lead: Ian Tier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 6a SRA Board Paper Quarter 2 2022-23 Finance Report
6b Funding request A38 Blackbird Bends study
Purpose: To consider a request for additional funding
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 6b SRA Board paper Funding Request A38 Blackbirds Bends study 20 January 2023
PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 6a will not be confidential, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as an Appendix to Item 6a. 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).
7 Proposed 2023-24 SRA Enhanced Programme and draft Budget
Lead: David Mitchell
Purpose: To review the proposed 2023-24 SRA Enhanced Programme and draft Budget
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 7 2023-24 SRA Proposed Enhanced Programme and Draft Budget 20 January 2023
ITEM 7 Appendix 1 2023-24-SRA Proposed Enhanced Programme scheme descriptions
8 Risks and issues
Purpose: Annual review of strategic risks and issues
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Strategic Risks and Issues 20 January 2023
9 River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) Enhancements Scheme
Purpose: Key Project Update and Funding request
Lead: Emma Baker
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 9 SRA Board paper Funding Request River Sowy Kings Sedgemoor Drain Enhancements Scheme 20 January 2023
10 SRA Adminstration
Purpose: To propose 2023-24 SRA Board meeting dates
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10 SRA Board paper 2023-24 Calendar of meetings 20 January 2023
11 Local Government Reorganisation
Purpose: To update the Board
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11 Local Government Reorganisation and the SRA SRA Board Meeting 20 January 2023
12 Flood risk on A361 between Lyng and Burrowbridge
Purpose: To discuss protocols and timings of road closures when Athelney spillway runs
Lead: Chair
13 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items
Lead: Chair
14 Papers to Note
Purpose: Updates for information
Lead: Chair
14a Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14a SRA Board Paper to note Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 20 January 2023
14b Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14b SRA Board Paper to note Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme 20 January 2023
14c Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14c SRA Board Paper to note Strategic Approach to Mitigation 20 January 2023
14d River Brue schemes
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 14d SRA Board Paper to note River Brue Schemes 20 January 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 20 January 2023
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 3 March 2023. The venue is to be confirmed.