Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board meeting on 8 March 2024
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held on Friday 8 March 2024 at the offices of Somerset Council (formerly Mendip District Council’s headquarters) in Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT.
Read a summary of decisions taken at the SRA Board meeting on 8 March 2024.
Read the minutes of the SRA Board meeting held on 8 March 2024.
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)
Dr Rachel Burden (Environment Agency)
Cllr Simon Coles (Somerset Council)
Cllr Dixie Darch (Somerset Council)
Jeff Fear (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Tony Grimes (Somerset Council – substitute)
Rebecca Horsington (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Harry Munt (Somerset Council)
Cllr Tessa Munt (Somerset Council – substitute)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Matt Wheeldon (Wessex Water)
Trevor Whitcombe (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board – substitute)
In Attendance:
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Amanda Gallacher (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest)
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)
Ian Withers (Environment Agency)
Apologies for Absence
David Jenkins (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
Cllr Heather Shearer (Somerset Council – substitute)
Janette Ward (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
Cllr Ros Wyke (Somerset Council)
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 19 January 2024
Purpose: To agree accuracy
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 3 Draft minutes of SRA Board meeting on 19 January 2024
4 2024-25 SRA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Constitution
Purpose: To agree and sign the 2024-25 SRA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Constitution
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 4 2024-25 SRA Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution 8 March 2024
5 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 5 Public Questions to the SRA Board meeting on 8 March 2024
6 Progress report
Purpose: A verbal update on some recent SRA-funded activities
Lead: Jonathan Hudston
7 SRA finance report
Purpose: To update the Board with Quarter 3 2023-24 Finance Report
Lead: Sam Hitchcott
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 7 SRA Board Paper SRA Finance Report 8 March 2024
PLEASE NOTE: The main finance report for Item 7 is not confidential, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as an 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 approve for publication the SRA Strategy 2024-34, and update on progress with preparing a Flood Action Plan
Leads: David Mitchell, Jonathan Hudston
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 8 SRA Board Paper SRA Strategy and Flood Action Plan 8 March 2024
ITEM 8 Appendix 1 SRA Strategy 2024-34 8 March 2024
ITEM 8 Appendix 2 Summary of Survey Responses 8 March 2024
9 A short break in proceedings
10 Hills to Levels presentation
Purpose: A presentation about the successes of the Hills to Levels project led by the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SW)
Lead: Amanda Gallacher (FWAG SW)
11 SRA 2024-25 Enhanced Programme and Budget
Purpose: To review and approve the 2024-25 SRA Enhanced Programme and Budget
Leads: David Mitchell, Caroline Dunn
Documents (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11 SRA Board Paper SRA 2024-25 Enhanced Programme and Budget 8 March 2024
ITEM 11 SRA Board Paper Appendix 1 2024-25 SRA Proposed Enhanced Programme scheme descriptions
PLEASE NOTE: The main report for Item 11 is not confidential, nor is Appendix 1, but additional detailed financial information will be made available only to SRA Board Members as a second Appendix to Item 11. 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).
12 Risk report
Purpose: Annual review of the SRA Risk Register
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 12 SRA Board Paper Strategic Risks 8 March 2024
13 River Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD) update
Purpose: A verbal update about progress towards completing King’s Sedgemoor Drain bank-raising
Lead: Iain Sturdy
14 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 the Public Guidance notes below:
Document (downloadable PDF): SRA Board Meeting Agenda and Public Guidance notes 8 March 2024
Next SRA Board meeting: 10am on Friday 14 June 2024. The venue is to be confirmed.