Agenda for Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board meeting on 5 June 2026
A meeting of the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) will be held at 9.45am on Friday 5 June 2026 at Somerset Council’s offices (formerly Sedgemoor District Council’s headquarters), in Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3AR.
Below are lists of people expected to attend the meeting from across the SRA partnership. The meeting’s agenda is being published earlier than legally required so that people can see what is coming up for discussion and decision. Members of the public and press are welcome to attend.
Please send in any public questions for answering by the Board by noon on Monday 1 June. Email sra@somerset.gov.uk
Reports where needed for items on the agenda will be published on this page by Thursday 28 May.
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)
Andrew Gilling (Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board)
Claire Newill (Natural England)
Cllr Nick O’Donnell (Somerset Council)
Cllr Claire Sully (Somerset Council)
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)
James Divall (Somerset Council)
Caroline Dunn (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Ross Edwards (Environment Agency)
Paul Elliston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Vicky Farwig (Wessex Water)
Sam Hitchcott (Somerset Council)
Piers Hooper (Environment Agency)
Jonathan Hudston (Somerset Rivers Authority)
David Mitchell (Somerset Rivers Authority)
Iain Sturdy (Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium)
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
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
10 2026-27 SRA Unallocated Enhanced Programme funds
Purpose: Decision on allocation of £350,000 of available funds
Lead: David Mitchell
11 River Brue modelling
Purpose: Update following April meeting
Lead: David Mitchell
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)
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.