Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board meeting on 5 June 2026
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was held at 9.45am on Friday 5 June 2026 in the Maunsel Room at The Canalside, Marsh Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6LQ.
Below are lists of people who attended the meeting from across the SRA partnership, plus the meeting’s agenda and accompanying reports.
Members of SRA Board:
Cllr Mike Stanton – Chair (Somerset Council)
Tony Bradford – Vice-Chair (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Steve Ashton (Somerset Council)
Anthony Betty (Parrett Internal Drainage Board)
Cllr Mike Caswell (Somerset Council)
Ian Collins (Wessex Regional Flood & Coastal Committee)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Cllr Nick O’Donnell (Somerset Council)
Cllr Claire Sully (Somerset Council)
David Tratt (substitute – Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Wendy Welland (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Matt Wheeldon (Wessex Water)
Ian Withers (Environment Agency)
Cllr Ros Wyke (Somerset Council)
In attendance:
Dr Bel Deering (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Jennie Channing (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Paul Elliston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Sam Hitchcott (Somerset Council)
Piers Hooper (Environment Agency)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
Apologies:
James Divall (Somerset Council)
Andrew Gilling (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
AGENDA
1 Introductions and apologies for absence
Purpose: Welcome and clarification
Lead: Chair
2 Election of New Chair
Purpose: To elect a new SRA Board Chair
Lead: David Mitchell
3 Declarations of interest
Purpose: Transparency
Lead: Chair
4 Minutes of previous meeting held on 20 March 2026 and Matters Arising
Purpose: To agree accuracy, and discuss any matters arising from the last meeting
Lead: Chair
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 4a Draft minutes of 20 March board meeting SRA Board Paper
ITEM 4b Matters Arising SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
5 Public Question Time
Purpose: To give the public chance to ask questions
Lead: Chair
6 Chair’s update
Purpose: To update on any matters of relevance to the SRA Board since its last meeting
Lead: Chair
7 2026 Flooding Incident
Purpose: Update on work to review response to January / February flooding in Somerset
Lead: Ross Edwards
8 Community Engagement
Purpose: Presentation about SRA community engagement in 2025-26
Leads: Dr Bel Deering, Dr Paul Elliston
9 Finance report and Enhanced Programme performance monitoring
Purpose: To update the Board
a) Quarter 4 2025-26 Finance Report
b) 2026-27 Finance Summary
b) Quarter 4 2025-26 Enhanced Programme performance monitoring
Leads: Sam Hitchcott, Caroline Dunn
Documents (downloadable PDFs): ITEM 9a Quarter 4 2025-26 Finance Report SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
ITEM 9b 2026-27 Finance Summary SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
ITEM 9c Quarter 4 2025-26 Performance Monitoring SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
ITEM 9 Appendix One to Finance Reports and Summary SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
10 2026-27 SRA Unallocated Enhanced Programme funds
Purpose: Decision on allocation of £350,000 of available funds
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 10 Unallocated Funds SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
11 River Brue modelling
Purpose: Update following April meeting
Lead: David Mitchell
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 11 River Brue SRA Board Paper 5 June 2026
12 Any Other Business (AOB)
Purpose: Please notify the Chair of AOB in advance of the meeting
Lead: Chair
13 Paper to note: Annual update on Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Purpose: Update on progress in 2025-26 with the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier
Lead: Nigel Bennetts (Environment Agency)
Document (downloadable PDF): ITEM 13 Bridgwater Tidal Barrier SRA Board Paper to Note 5 June 2026
Board meeting information
For more information relating to this Friday 5 June SRA Board 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 5 June 2026
Next SRA Board meeting: 11 September 2026, 9.45am, venue to be confirmed.