Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Somerset Internal Drainage Boards.

The committee received a presentation from Phil Brewin, Somerset Internal Drainage Boards.

The Chair welcomed Philip Brewin, Ecology Officer from the Somerset Internal Drainage Boards IDB) and invited him to give a presentationon the role and responsibilities of the IDB in terms ofits statutory duties withWater Level Management Plans and drainage infrastructure under the Land Drainage Act 1991.  

Following thepresentation Mr Brewin took comments and questions from the committee and the following points were discussed with members - 

·         The Executive Lead member for Climate Change queried the IDB’s use of historicplans, practices and regimesin setting and managingwater levels, suggesting a more responsive approach wouldbe important given that climate change is forcing us to do things differently.Mr Brewin advised that the IDB has permissive powers only over land management, and that the Water Level Management Plans follow trends of what landownersneed.  

·         The Vice-Chair sought clarity on membership of the IDB’s and inferred that historically IDB’s were made up of landowners. Mr Brewin advised that this is a very important point and is inaccurate, the IDB’s are made up of elected members from several stakeholder organisations, including councils, concerned with water management.   

·         The Vice-Chairasked Mr Brewin if the IDB have any knowledge of the amount pollution that is flowinginto the SLM’s, to whichhe confirmed that they do not, the IDBdo not measure flow into the SLM’s but that there is a need for a better understanding of this.  

·         Cllr Alan Bradford, a member of the Parrett Internal Drainage Board gave his own gratitude to the IDBs for all thegood work they do. 

·         In terms of water dredging, is this good or bad for nutrient levels? Mr Brewin advised that much of the sediment from water dredging comes from upstream, and not from the catchments, and is therefore low in phosphorous.     

·         Mr Brewin was asked for his professional opinion on the Bridgwater tidal barrier in terms of whether it is good or bad for nutrient levels. Mr Brewin responded by stating that the purpose of the barrier is to protect people and stop tidal surges into the River Parrett and that in his opinion this is a good thing.   

·         One member queried how the IDB’s fit in with the riparian responsibilities of landowners, The Environment Agency and theCouncil as LLFA. Mr Brewin explained that there are set responsibilities and clearly defined roles for all the relevant authorities concerned in water level management and, although the IDB recognises that there is always room for improvement, there is a focus on promotingeffective communication between all the agencies concerned.  

The Chair, on behalf of the committee, thanked Phil Brewin for his attendance and very interesting and informative presentation.