Summary of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board decisions 3 November 2023
A summary of what happened at the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board meeting on 3 November 2023. Not every item on the agenda is covered. Only items that required decisions to be taken are featured below.
Item 3: Minutes of the meeting on 16 June 2023
It was agreed that the minutes of the SRA Board Meeting held on 16 June 2023 should be signed as accurate.
Item 6: SRA Finance Report
As recommended, the SRA Board noted the financial performance as at the end of Quarter 1 of 2023-24.
Item 7: Parrett and Tone Maintenance Dredging Funding Request
The Board chose to approve Option 2: an increase in funding allocated to Parrett and Tone Maintenance Dredging (ref IDB19) of £129,760 to the end of financial year 2023-24, to support a repeat cycle of the annual maintenance dredging works plus a trial of desilting the upper bank.
Item 8: SRA Strategy and Flood Action Plan
As recommended, the Board noted progress with the development of the SRA Strategy and Flood Action Plan. The Board approved the content of the Draft Strategy for use in public and stakeholder engagement. The Board noted the next steps and approved moving to engagement. The Board also delegated approval of final design and minor text changes to the Draft Strategy document to the SRA Chair and Senior Manager.
Item 9: Strategic Approach to Mitigation
As recommended, the Board acknowledged receipt of, and confirmed completion of, the package of four projects under the Strategic Approach to Mitigation. The Board considered how best to incorporate the outputs and learning outcomes from these four projects into the new SRA strategy and Flood Action Plan. The Board also considered the role the SRA could play in supporting the specific actions that each project has identified.
Item 10: Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS)
As recommended, the SRA Board noted the progress of individual projects that are part of the current phase of the TSFAIS.
Item 11: King’s Sedgemoor Drain Bank Raising procurement
As recommended, the SRA Board noted the update from the SRA team on exploring options to complete outstanding bank raising on the King’s Sedgemoor Drain. The Board noted that the SRA cannot proceed to procurement until a delivery organisation is confirmed. The Board approved funding of up to £100,000 for preparatory work subject to a delivery organisation being confirmed.