Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority Board meeting on 3 March 2023

A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 10am on Friday 3 March 2023 at the headquarters of South Somerset District Council at Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT.

Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting held on 3 March 2023.

Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 3 March 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 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)
Michele Cusack (Somerset County Council)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Peter Paddon (South Somerset District Council)
Jonathan Stevens (Somerset West and Taunton Council)
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 20 January 2023
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 DRAFT SRA Board Meeting minutes 20 January 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 set out requirements under the new Somerset Council
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 5 SRA Board Paper 202324 Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution 3 March 2023

6 SRA Strategy and Action Plan
Purpose: To update the Board on progress
Lead: David Mitchell

7 2022-23 Major Flooding Incident
Purpose: To discuss proposals for summits between SRA partners
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 Flooding Summit Proposal SRA Board Meeting 3 March 2023

8 SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board
Lead: Ian Tier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Board Paper Quarter 3 2022-23 Finance Report 3 March 2023

PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 8 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).

9 Proposed 2023-24 SRA Enhanced Programme and Budget
Lead: David Mitchell
Purpose: To review and approve the proposed 2023-24 SRA Enhanced Programme and Budget
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 9 2023-24 SRA Board Paper 2023-24 proposed Enhanced Programme and Budget 3 March 2023
ITEM 9 Appendix 1 2023-24-SRA Proposed Enhanced Programme scheme descriptions 3 March 2023

PLEASE NOTE: The main report for Item 9 will not be confidential, nor will Appendix 1, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as a further 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:

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

10 Risk sharing for SRA funded projects
Purpose: Verbal update
Lead: David Mitchell

11 River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) Enhancements Scheme
Purpose: To update on progress and decide next steps on remaining works
Lead: Emma Baker
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11 SRA Board Paper River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain Enhancements Scheme 3 March 2023

12 Enhanced Programme Development 2024-25
Purpose: To consider opening up the SRA grant-giving process to external organisations
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12 SRA Board paper SRA Enhanced Programme Development 2024-25 3 March 2023

12 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items
Lead: Chair

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 3 March 2023