Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority Board meeting on 3 November 2023
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 9.30am on Friday 3 November 2023 at the offices of Somerset Council, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT.
Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting on 3 November 2023.
Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 3 November 2023.
Below are lists of people who attended the meeting from across the SRA partnership, plus the meeting’s agenda and reports.
Members of SRA Board:
Cllr Mike Stanton – Chair (Somerset Council)
Tony Bradford – Vice-Chair (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Emma Baker (Environment Agency)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Somerset Council)
Cllr Simon Coles (Somerset Council)
Cllr Dixie Darch (Somerset Council)
Jeff Fear (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Rebecca Horsington (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
David Jenkins (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
Cllr Harry Munt (Somerset Council)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Matt Wheeldon (Wessex Water)
Cllr Ros Wyke (Somerset Council)
In Attendance:
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Donna Gowler (Natural England)
Sam Hitchcott (Somerset Council)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Lisa John (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Defra)
Kirsty Larkins (Somerset Council)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Simon Phelps (Natural England)
Ann Rhodes (Somerset Council)
John Rowlands (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Apologies:
Andrew Gilling (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
AGENDA
1 Introduction of new Board Member and apologies for Absence
Purpose: Welcome and Clarification
Lead: Chair
2 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair
3 Minutes of previous meeting held on 16 June 2023
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft Minutes of SRA Board Meeting held on 16 June 2023
4 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
5 Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Peat Strategy
Purpose: Presentation about Defra peat strategy and update about funding opportunities
Lead: Lisa John
6 SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board with a) Quarter 1 2023-24 Finance Report
Lead: Sam Hitchcott
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 6 SRA Board Paper Finance Report Quarter 1 2023-24 3 November 2023
PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 6 will not be confidential, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as an Appendix to Item 6. 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 Parrett and Tone maintenance dredging
Purpose: To request additional funds for 2023-24 dredging and to run a trial to expand the scope of these works
Lead: Iain Sturdy
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Paper Parrett and Tone Maintenance Dredging 3 November 2023
8 SRA Strategy and Flood Action Plan
Purpose: To update the Board on progress and seek approval to proceed to public engagement
Lead: David Mitchell
Documents (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Board Paper Strategy and Flood Action Plan 3 November 2023
ITEM 8 Appendix A SRA Board Paper Draft Strategy and Flood Action Plan 3 November 2023
ITEM 8 Appendix B SRA Board Paper Strategy and Flood Action Plan Draft catchment analysis example 3 November 2023
9 Strategic Approach to Mitigation
Purpose: A presentation about this project
Leads: Donna Gowler, Simon Phelps
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 9 SRA Board Paper Strategic Approach to Mitigation 3 November 2023
10 Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS)
Purpose: A presentation to update the Board
Lead: Ann Rhodes
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10 SRA Board Paper Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme 3 November 2023
11 King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) bank raising procurement
Purpose: Progress update
Lead: John Rowlands
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11 SRA Board Paper Kings Sedgemoor Drain Bank Raising 3 November 2023
12 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: To raise urgent items
Lead: Chair
13 Papers to Note
Purpose: Updates for information
Lead: Chair
13a Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 13a SRA Board Paper to note Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 3 November 2023
13b River Brue schemes
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 13b SRA Board Paper to note River Brue Modelling 3 November 2023
For more information relating to the meeting, such as public attendance and access, please see the Public Guidance notes below:
Document (downloadable PDF): SRA Board Meeting Agenda and Public Guidance notes 3 November 2023
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 19 January 2024. The venue is to be confirmed.