Meeting documents

To update the Panel on changes to membership since the last meeting and review of Terms of Reference.

The Chair welcomed the following new Scrutiny Panel members to their first meeting – Cllr Jon Cousins (Mendip Council), Cllr Janine Nash (Mendip Council) and Cllr Robin Pailthorpe (South Somerset Council).

The current terms of reference of the Panel were NOTED.

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website at

County Councillors membership of Town, City, Parish or District Councils

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting: -

(a)    Cllr A Betty – Sedgemoor DC representative – personal interest – member of the Parrett Internal Drainage Board.

(b)   Cllr J Cousins – Mendip Council representative – personal interest – member of Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board; Glastonbury Town Council.

(c)    Cllr T Munt – Somerset County Councillor – in attendance – personal interest – member of ‘Reimagining The Levels’.

To seek nominations for the Vice Chair position.

The Panel resolved that, subject to clarification from the Monitoring Officer, Mendip Council regarding membership on the Panel and the Axe and Brue Internal Drainage Board, the appointment of Cllr Jon Cousins as Vice Chair of the Panel for 2021 be AGREED.

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 12 February 2021 were confirmed as a correct record.

If submitted by the deadline (the deadline for public questions for this meeting is 5 pm on Monday 28 June 2021), the Chair will allow members of the public to ask a question or make a statement about any matter on the agenda for this meeting. These questions may be taken during the meeting, when the relevant agenda item is considered, at the Chair’s discretion.  

There were no public questions.

To consider the report from Jonathan Hudston, Communications Manager, Somerset Rivers Authority.

The Chair has asked that if Panel members have any questions on the draft report it would be helpful if these could be submitted prior to the meeting. Please email fabbott@somerset.gov.uk

Panel members are also invited to suggest items for consideration at future meetings of the Scrutiny Panel.

The Panel received a report and PowerPoint presentation from Jonathan Hudston, Communications Manager, SRA, which invited the Panel to review and comment on the draft 2020-21 Annual Report. The Panel noted that because some end-of-year financial information has only very recently been finalised, the financial section in the report has not yet been completed. Details on the financial performance during the 2020-21 financial year are contained within the 2020-21 Finance Report detailed elsewhere on the agenda for the meeting. 

The following questions / comments were made: -

·           The Chair welcomed the good report and for information provided on the diverse work undertaken across the county, especially in current pandemic restrictions;

·           Natural Flood Management - 6 Triple C schemes across Somerset, and at Montacute – Mr Hudston said that he would be happy to arrange for the Panel to visit at a later stage;

·           Noted that of £13.049m awarded in 2014, 91% spent, rest to go on River Sowy and King’s Sedgemoor Drain Enhancements Scheme and that the latest phase is due to begin at Cossington Way later in the day;

·           Cllr Smedley asked a question about the impact of the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier on navigation of the River Parrett. David Mitchell Senior Manager, SRA advised that he would contact the Environment Agency for a response. The Chair asked that responses to queries raised at the meeting are shared to all Panel members attending the meeting;

·           Cllr Munt asked about the trees for water schemes and the management of the trees going forward – David Mitchell referred to the terms and conditions attached to a grant whereby there is a commitment for the grant recipients to maintain them for 25 years. He also agreed to provide further information to the Panel about access to locations;

·           Cllr Hunt asked questions about the funding of the Selworthy Scheme – David Mitchell advised that the scheme comes under the National Trust Riverlands Work and the SRA is providing match funding, along with the National Trust and the Environment Agency and that the scheme is being led by the National Trust;

·           With regard to urban water management, Cllr Hunt asked about the tree pits installed at Coal Orchard riverside redevelopment site in Taunton and that he would find it helpful to visit the site; 

·           Noted that the SRA funds a small number of grants for equipment and training given to communities by Somerset Prepared and that one grant was given in 2020-21 - mention made about how best can promote the community grants scheme.

The Panel: -

1.      NOTED the draft Annual Report which outlined the achievements of the SRA and its partners in 2020-21.

2.      AGREED that any further thoughts and comments on the format / progress / achievements to David Mitchell as soon as possible to help inform future reports.

3.      AGREED that the PowerPoint presentation be circulated to the Panel following the meeting.

To consider the report from David Mitchell, Senior Manager Somerset Rivers Authority

Note:

The Confidential 2020/21 Enhanced Programme List, with costs has been circulated separately to the Panel.

The Panel considered a report from David Mitchell, Senior Manager, SRA, which provided an update on key actions of the SRA Board since the Scrutiny Panel’s last meeting in February 2021. The SRA Board had held one meeting since the last Scrutiny Panel meeting.

The Panel NOTED: -

1. The key actions of the SRA Board since the last meeting of the Scrutiny Panel.

2. That the confidential 2020-21 Enhanced Programme List with costs had been circulated to the Scrutiny Panel.

To consider the report from David Mitchell, Senior Manager, Somerset Rivers Authority

The Panel considered a report from David Mitchell, Senior Manager, SRA, which provided an update on progress on delivery of actions within the current 20 Year Flood Action Plan and asked for views on the proposed approach to preparing, and scope of, a new Flood Action Plan.

Mr Mitchell highlighted that the SRA Grant Guidelines were updated in March 2021 - addressing the impacts of climate change was added as a criteria which bids to the SRA will be assessed against.  Work on preparing a new plan is expected to start by the end of July and consultancy support is being commissioned to aid in the preparation of the plan and the target date for completion of a new plan is April 2022.

In response to a query in the report, Mr Mitchell said he would provide clarification on the objectives / workstreams of the current plan.

The Panel NOTED: -

1.   The significant progress made on delivery of actions within the current Flood Action Plan.

2.   The proposed approach to preparing, and scope of, the new Flood Action Plan and that a draft version of the plan will be brought to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Panel.

Presentation from John Rowlands

Update on Sowy KSD Phase 1 channel works

The Panel received a PowerPoint presentation from John Rowlands, SRA, which updated the Panel about the River Sowy / King’s Sedgemoor Drain enhancements scheme and the Phase 1 channel works.

In the presentation, Mr Rowlands highlighted: -

·      key piece of infrastructure – to west of Bridgwater, and the scheme benefits

·      outlined works which have been completed

·      outlined the key organisations and suppliers involved

·      key constraints, requiring mitigation method statements

·      all enhancement works will be carried out on Environment Agency land

·      outlined mitigation action plan

·      forecast project timeline and that the ‘on the ground’ work will start on 2 July (vegetation clearance)

·      the environmental statement and appendices are open for consultation for 1 month from 3 July.

·      That some works still to be programmed

·      The LEP funding agreement allocation for the scheme will be spent by end of 2022 financial year.

Cllr Betty thanked the SRA for their consultation with the local public and said that he had been very impressed.

The Scrutiny Panel NOTED the information and thanked Mr Rowlands for the detailed presentation. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation will be circulated following the meeting.

To consider the report from Ian Tier, Finance Manager.

Note:

The 2020-21 Finance Report detailing commercially sensitive information has been circulated separately to the Panel

The Panel considered a report from Ian Tier, Finance Manager, SRA, which provided information on the financial position at the end of quarter four of 2020 – 21. With regard to information provided in Table A – local partner funding 2020-21 summary, David Mitchell, Senior Manager, SRA, advised that, as detailed in key project update earlier in the meeting, that the SRA Board, held on March 2021, had approved moving £1m from contingency to the Sowy/KSD project.  With regard to information provided in Table B - Growth Deal funding Mr Mitchell highlighted that the underspend on Pioneer Dredging, which was completed in February 2021, has now been reallocated to the Sowy/KSD enhancement scheme.

The Panel NOTED: -

1.   The financial performance as at the end of Quarter Four 2020-21.

2.   The 2020-21 detailed commercially sensitive update had been circulated separately to the Panel.

Update from David Mitchell, Service Manager, SRA

The Panel received an update from David Mitchell, Senior Manager, SRA, who outlined the situation with regard to the precept for the SRA.

David Mitchell referred to sections in the draft Annual Report discussed earlier at the meeting and that the SRA is an Unincorporated Association, hosted by Somerset County Council and has no independent legal status. The SRA continues to maintains its dialogue with Defra – that the SRA needs to have legal standing and certainty this will bring – and whilst the Minister is supportive, she has advised that there is currently no Parliamentary time available to consider how will move forward the precepting legislation.

The Chair supported the work by the SRA Board, pushing for the SRA to become a precepting body.

The Panel NOTED the update.

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.

Jonathan Hudston, Communications Manager, SRA, said that he is keen to take the Scrutiny Panel members to visit sites and will be in contact with members shortly, asking which sites they would find most beneficial / rewarding and interesting.

There were no other items of business raised.

To confirm the dates of future meetings, as follows:-

Friday 28 January 2022 10.00 – 13.00

Friday 8^th July 2022 10.00 – 13.00

The Panel AGREED the following meeting dates: -

·             Friday 28 January 2022 10.00 – 13.00

·             Friday 8^th July 2022 10.00 – 13.00

The meetings will continue to take place virtually, via MS Teams.