Board Minutes and Report Extracts
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A MEETING OF THE BROADS (2006) INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD WAS HELD AT THE SUTTON STAITHE HOTEL, SUTTON, STALHAM, NORFOLK ON MONDAY 18 MAY 2015 AT 10.00 AM. Elected Members Appointed Members * H J Alston Broadland D C L E Baugh Ms A Cassam * J Burton * A Mallett * R Buxton J Pettman * H G Cator OBE * Mrs B Rix * J W Chapman N Shaw * S G Daniels D Ward * J Deane * G D Gay North Norfolk D C * M Harris * Mrs A M Fitch-Tillett * K Hart * Mrs P Grove-Jones I Robinson W Northam * F Sharman R C Price * M Smart * R Shepherd T P Strudwick N Smith * J G Tallowin R Stevens * E Wharton P Williams * J W K Withers * S D Wright Great Yarmouth B C * Mrs M Coleman B Cunniffe J Shrimplin D Thompson MBE T Wainwright Mrs S Weymouth * Present (56%) Mr H G Cator in the Chair In attendance: Mr P J Camamile (Chief Executive), Mr A Goose (Operations Manager), Mr G Bloomfield (Catchment Engineer) and Mrs M Creasy (minutes) ID Broads (2006) IDB, Minute Action 24/15 FUNDING FOR RURAL SUDS 24/15/01 Mr Neil Punchard, Broadland Catchment Partnership attended to give a presentation about funding the Broadland Catchment Partnership had secured from Defra’s Catchment Partnership Action Fund, for projects in 2015/16 that would help to improve 1 ID Broads (2006) IDB, Minute Action WFD water body status and for the construction and promotion of rural sustainable drainage schemes, (SuDS) in less productive, marginal areas of arable fields. Applications from interested landowners for grant funding for such schemes were required by August 2015. 24/15/02 The Chairman thanked Mr Punchard for his presentation and Mr Punchard left the meeting. 25/15 APOLOGIES 25/15/01 Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Messrs L Baugh, W Northam, J Pettman, R Price, I Robinson, N Shaw, N Smith, R Stevens, T Strudwick, D Thompson, T Wainwright, D Ward, P Williams and Mrs S Weymouth. 26/15 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 26/15/01 Mr M Harris declared an interest in respect of the payment reported in the Broads (2006) IDB Schedule of Paid Accounts and paid to him for pump maintenance. RESOLVED that this be noted. 26/15/02 Mr A Goose, Operations Manager declared an interest in respect of the payments to B Goose and B Goose & Partners reported in the Broads (2006) IDB Schedule of Paid Accounts, due to the family relationship between himself and Mr B Goose. RESOLVED that this be noted. 26/15/03 Mr S G Daniels as a member of the Windmills Trust, declared an interest in the Operations Report item on Stracey Arms Windmill access improvements sought by the Windmills Trust. RESOLVED that this be noted. 27/15 MINUTES OF THE LAST BOARD MEETING 27/15/01 The minutes of the last Board meeting held on 26 January 2015 were approved and signed as a true record. 28/15 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 28/15/01 Potter Heigham Middle Wall (05/15/03) Mr K Hart reported that the EA used the access track along Potter Heigham Middle Wall and were currently obtaining quotes for its repair. The Catchment Engineer reported that the retiring District Engineer had spoken with the Parish Council and understood that the issue of funding for repair to the track had been resolved. RESOLVED that this be noted. 2 ID Broads (2006) IDB, Minute Action 28/15/02 Precept Charges (05/15/04) The Chief Executive reported that to date he had not had received any update from the Anglian (Eastern) RFCC about how the IDB precept charges would be used. It was agreed to wait for receipt of the Board’s Highland Water Claim following the introduction of a new procedural note for the payment of these claims, before chasing for details of IDB precept spend. RESOLVED that this be noted. 28/15/03 Broadland Flood Alleviation Works – Bank Strengthening Works Outstanding on River Ant Upstream of Barton (06/15/06) The Chief Executive would follow up the possibility of the IDB PJC undertaking these works, (which fell outside the main BESL Broadland Flood Alleviation Contract), under a PSCA with EA funding. RESOLVED that this be noted. 28/15/04 Planning: Potential Development, Hemsby (07/15/02) Mr S G Daniels recorded that he would keep the Catchment SGD/GB Engineer updated with news of this development should anything further be forthcoming so that any impact of surface water drainage on the Board’s system could be established. RESOLVED that this be noted. 28/15/05 Poors Trust (10/15/09) Mr J Burton reported that Essex and Suffolk Water were hoping to establish a new Catchment Agreement for water levels on the Trinities Broads. This may help to alleviate some of the conservation issues on the Muckfleet that had been raised by the Poors Trust. RESOLVED that this be noted. 28/15/06 Former Quirk Depot, Martham (17/15/02) The Chief Executive reported that he expected contracts to be exchanged in early June 2015 for the Board’s purchase of the depot at Martham. The agreed purchase price had been negotiated down to £155k. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15 OPERATIONS REPORT 29/15/01 The Operations Report was considered in detail and approved (a copy of which is filed in the Report Book). Arising therefrom: 29/15/02 Cantley Pumping Station – Access Road (A2) The Catchment Engineer would discuss with Tim Strudwick, RSPB GB/TS the increased risk in using the access road to Cantley pumping station due to the high water levels covering the road. RESOLVED 3 ID Broads (2006) IDB, Minute Action that this be noted. 29/15/03 Sutton Pumping Station (A2) The Catchment Engineer reported that Sutton pump had failed and a temporary pump had been put in place pending repairs. Options appraisal for a replacement pump was ongoing as a matter of urgency although the Catchment Engineer reported that the current EA people and property benefits ratio meant that FDGiA may not be awarded. It was considered that this could have huge implications given the increased costs of pump replacement arising from compliance with the eel and fish regulations and whilst historically the EA had awarded 100% grant funding for costs arising from regulatory obligations, the number of sites affected nationally may make the cost of funding in the future prohibitive for the EA. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15/04 Plant (A2) Two new Hyundai 360 14 tonne excavators, (as approved at the Board meeting on 20 October 2014), had been delivered and were operational. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15/05 Mautby Pumping Station (A4) The Catchment Engineer reported that works were in progress to GB facilitate the removal of the pump gearbox and also ground raising works behind the flood bank. Members considered that the works should be completed as soon as practically possible. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15/06 Repps Pumping Station Automatic Weedscreen (A4) The Catchment Officer reported that discussions between BESL and NCC Highways were still ongoing concerning the soke dyke at Staithe Road, the location of which would need to be considered when deciding the location of the weedscreen. 29/15/07 Brograve Catchment: Bridges Replacement (A4) Members considered that in view of the EA’s decision not to award GB/PJC grant aid for the replacement of old bridges in the Brograve Catchment, the Board would need to establish ownership/responsibility for these as soon as possible. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15/08 Muckfleet Main Drain (A4) Members considered the geotechnical, asset and level surveys GB already undertaken on the Muckfleet Main Drain bank and that the environmental survey looking at both vegetation and protected species was underway. It was agreed and thereby RESOLVED to proceed as soon as possible with the preparation of a Project 4 ID Broads (2006) IDB, Minute Action Appraisal Report (PAR) looking at funding of various engineering options for the repair of the damaged bank. 29/15/09 Toxic Algae (Prymnesium) Outbreak in Upper Thurne (A5) The Catchment Engineer reported on the assistance provided from the Board’s Officers to the EA in response to the major fish kill arising from the presence of toxic algae bloom in the Thurne Catchment. NE had been advised of the temporary deviation from the normal operating protocol under the Habitats Regulations due to the required emergency response to save as many fish as possible. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15/10 Members considered the newspaper article that had inaccurately PJC reported that the major fish kill incident had been caused by the IDB and how the Catchment Engineer had taken the opportunity at a later Broads Forum meeting to highlight that this was in fact, not the case. It was agreed that it would be appropriate to have a PR plan in place to avoid any future misrepresentation in the media. RESOLVED that this be noted. 29/15/11 Stracey Arms Windmill Access Improvements (A5) Members considered the proposal for the Board to infill a small GB section of ditch to enable safer passage for highway improvements to this site of the historic windmill structure owned by the Windmills Trust. Due to past problems caused by the ditch preventing access to the Board’s main drain feeding water into the Halvergate system, it was considered that infilling this section of ditch would be beneficial to both the Board as well as the Windmills Trust. It was therefore agreed that subject to due diligence, the Board would undertake the works to infill the ditch and would bear the cost of these works, estimated at £2,500, which would support the Windmills Trust application for match funding for the highways improvements via a heritage funding bid.