Issue - meetings

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to agree:

a. To Somerset Council continuing in the role of Host Authority and Accountable Body for the Somerset Rivers Authority for financial year 2025/26.

b. To review the revised 2025-26 Local Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution set out in Appendix 1 and authorise the Lead Member for Public Health, Climate Change and Environment to sign this on behalf of Somerset Council.

c. To review the proposed SRA Budget and SRA Enhanced Programme for 2025-26, (Appendix 2) in accordance with the recommendations to be considered by the SRA Board at its meeting on 7th March 2025.

d. Subject to Full Council confirming the raising of the SRA’s 2025-26 shadow precept on 5 March 2025, to the release of funding committed from all sources in 2025-26 for the purposes of the SRA as set out in Appendix 2.

e. That the detailed management of the 2025-26 SRA Budget and Enhanced Programme within the control total allocated to the SRA is undertaken in accordance with the constitutional, financial regulations and decision-making arrangements of Somerset Council as Accountable Body.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited the Lead Member for Public Health, the Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Graham Oakes to introduce the report. Cllr Oakes highlighted that the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is the only body of its kind in the country and it was set up after floods in 2014 and that the ask of Executive was that we continue to host them and act as their accountable body.

Cllr Oakes proceeded to hand over to the Chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority Board, Cllr Mike Stanton, and Service Manager – Somerset Rivers Authority, David Mitchell. They explained: the work done by SRA over the last ten years; the updated flood action plan; the changing nature of flooding in Somerset; and how the SRA is funded.

The Leader of the Council invited comments from Committee Members and other Members present, with officers providing responses as appropriate. Questions and points raised included: whether Members had had a briefing from the SRA; the early warning system trial involving 8 radar systems connected by an app; whether the funding agreement for the SRA was a permanent solution or if an alternative such as setting its own precept could be found; the different challenges of flooding across Somerset; that funding for the SRA has reduced in real terms over the last ten years; that flooding is on the agenda of future meetings with MPs; the inclusion of EU requirements in the report; and the differing tolerance numbers within the report.

The Leader of the Council concluded the discussion and proceeded to a vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to agree:

a. To Somerset Council continuing in the role of Host Authority and Accountable Body for the Somerset Rivers Authority for financial year 2025/26.

b. To review the revised 2025-26 Local Memorandum of Understanding and Constitution set out in Appendix 1 and authorise the Lead Member for Public Health, Climate Change and Environment to sign this on behalf of Somerset Council.

c. To review the proposed SRA Budget and SRA Enhanced Programme for 2025-26, (Appendix 2) in accordance with the recommendations to be considered by the SRA Board at its meeting on 7th March 2025.

d. Subject to Full Council confirming the raising of the SRA’s 2025-26 shadow precept on 5 March 2025, to the release of funding committed from all sources in 2025-26 for the purposes of the SRA as set out in Appendix 2.

e. That the detailed management of the 2025-26 SRA Budget and Enhanced Programme within the control total allocated to the SRA is undertaken in accordance with the constitutional, financial regulations and decision-making arrangements of Somerset Council as Accountable Body.