Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board meeting on 19 January 2024
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held on Friday 19 January 2024 at the Bridgwater House offices of Somerset Council in King Square, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3AR. The meeting was a longer one than usual, lasting about three hours.
Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting on 19 January 2024.
Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 19 January 2024.
Below are lists of people who attended the meeting from across the SRA partnership, plus the meeting’s agenda.
Members of SRA Board:
Cllr Mike Stanton – Chair (Somerset Council)
Tony Bradford – Vice-Chair (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Somerset Council)
Cllr Simon Coles (Somerset Council)
Cllr Dixie Darch (Somerset Council)
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)
Trevor Whitcombe (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board – substitute)
Cllr Ros Wyke (Somerset Council)
In Attendance:
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Donna Gowler (Natural England)
Sam Hitchcott (Somerset Council)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Kirsty Larkins (Somerset Council)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Sean Papworth (Somerset Council)
John Rowlands (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Andy Wallis (AW Water Engineering Ltd)
AGENDA
1 Apologies for Absence
Purpose: Welcome and Clarification
Lead: Chair
2 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair
3 Minutes of previous meeting held on 3 November 2023
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft minutes of SRA Board meeting on 3 November 2023
4 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 4 SRA Board Meeting Public Questions 19 January 2024
5 SRA administration
Purpose: To agree 2024-25 meeting dates
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 5 SRA Board Paper SRA Administration 19 January 2024
6 SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board with Quarter 2 2023-24 Finance Report
Lead: Sam Hitchcott
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 6 SRA Board Paper Quarter 2 Finance Report 19 January 2024
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 SRA 2024-25 Enhanced Programme and Budget
Purpose: To review and approve the draft 2024-25 SRA Enhanced Programme and Budget
Leads: David Mitchell, Caroline Dunn
Documents (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Paper 2024-25 Proposed SRA Enhanced Programme and Budget 19 January 2024
ITEM 7 SRA Board paper Appendix 1 2024-25 SRA Proposed Enhanced Programme scheme descriptions
PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 7 will not be confidential, nor will Appendix 1, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as a second Appendix to Item 7. 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).
8 SRA Strategy and Flood Action Plan
Purpose: To update the Board on progress following public engagement period
Leads: David Mitchell, Jonathan Hudston
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Board Paper SRA Strategy and Action Plan 19 January 2024
9 River Brue modelling
Purpose: A presentation about this project
Leads: John Rowlands, Andy Wallis
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 9 SRA Board Paper River Brue Modelling 19 January 2024
10 River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) update
Purpose: a) Environment Agency update about completion of outfall works, b) River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain bank-raising update
Leads: a) Rachel Burden, b) Iain Sturdy
Documents (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10a SRA Board Paper Environment Agency River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain Update 19 January 2024
ITEM 10b SRA Board Paper Kings Sedgemoor Drain bank raising 19 January 2024
11 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 12a SRA Board Paper to note Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 19 January 2024
13b Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12b SRA Board Paper to note Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS) 19 January 2024
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 19 January 2024
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 8 March 2024. The venue is to be confirmed.