WITHAM FOURTH DISTRICT INTERNAL DRAINAGE BOARD
MINUTES

of the proceedings of the Works Committee at a Meeting held at the Board's Offices, 47 Norfolk Street,
Boston on Wednesday 19 November 2014.
-------
Present:
P. Richardson (Committee Chairman)
Messrs:
P. Bedford
H. C. Drake
J.E. Grant (Chairman)
C. Hardy
A. Harrison
R.Hall-Jones
Agenda item No.2
Apologies for non-attendance were received from:
Messrs:
C. Brotherton
A. Saul
Mrs M Dennis
Agenda item No.1
1.
APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
Following Mr Hall-Jones’ decision to step down as Committee Chairman it was
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that P. Richardson be elected Chairman of the Works Committee
until the next Election of the Board.
2.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
H. Drake declared an interest in any discussions regarding the Jubilee Bank.
Agenda item No.3
3.
ENGINEERING MANAGER’S ESTIMATES 2015/2016
3.1.1
Weed Control Estimates
It is recommended that the following sums be allocated for 2015/2016:Details
2014/15
£
2015/16
£
Sewer Spraying
Drain Spraying
Roundup
Drain/Sewer Flailing
Drain/Sewer Cutting
Cotting
Hand Roding
Weed Cutting Boat
General
41 ,000
26 ,500
20 ,000
221 ,000
293 ,000
25 ,000
26 ,000
27 ,500
1 ,000
38 ,000
37 ,000
20 ,500
243 ,500
318 ,500
25 ,000
24 ,000
26 ,000
1 ,000
681,000
733,000
Note: If diquat approval is not received, drain spraying will be reduced by
approximately £30,000 but this may be off-set by increased weed cutting costs.
The Engineering Manager explained that the biggest increases in this estimate relate to weed
cutting and flailing on drains and sewers. The estimate is based on revised figures for the
current years’ weed control expenditure. It should be noted that a spell of pumping at Hobhole
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and Lade Bank will reduce actual weed control expenditure as drivers are engaged on pumping
operations.
3.1.2
Weed Cutting
The Chairman explained that he Energreen Machines were working really well.
The Engineering Manager responded that there was too much cutting to do owing to the loss of
the chemical ‘casersone’ now that the residual effects of this herbicide had ceased.
H. Drake
- enquired if the Board were due to review the watercourses in the district where
consolidation of land meant they were only serving one land owner and as such,
should cease to be maintained by the Board.
The Engineering Manager referred to the adoption and abandonment of the watercourses later
on the agenda.
3.2
Cleansing/Mudding Estimates
It is recommended that the following sums be allocated for 2015/2016:Details
2014/15
£
2015/16
£
General
Sewers/Improvements
Drains
Revetment
Vermin Control
Cowbridge Sluice & Lock
Slip Repairs
Surveys
Bushing (50% of annual cost)
Faggot Making (50% of annual cost)
43 ,000
75 ,000
10 ,000
25 ,000
4 ,000
5 ,000
30 ,000
1 ,000
30 ,000
12 ,000
235 ,000
42 ,000
80 ,000
15 ,000
20 ,000
3 ,500
4 ,000
30 ,000
3 ,000
30 ,000
12 ,000
239 ,500
916 ,000
972 ,500
3.3
3.3.1
Assets
Improvement Programme – Urban Watercourses
It is recommended that a sum of £25,000 be allowed in the 2015/2016 estimates for repairs to
culverts (may be subject to Grant Aid).
3.3.2
Improvement Programme – Other Watercourses
It is recommended that a sum of £20,000 be allowed in the 2015/2016 estimates for repairs to
culverts etc. as the need arises.
3.3.3
Bridge Works
It is recommended that a sum of £35,000 be allowed in the 2015/2016 estimates for bridge
works, subject to on-going conversations with Environment Agency in respect to Grant Aid.
3.3.3.1
2015/16 Flood Defence Grant in Aid
The Chief Executive updated members on the funding that was included in the 2015/16 Flood
Defence Grant in Aid programme for the Board in respect of bridges.
After discussion it was:
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND
that the following Estimates be adopted
i)
Weed Control
£733,000
ii) Cleansing/Mudding
£239,500
iii) Assets
£45,000
iv) Bridgeworks
£35,000
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Agenda item No.3
4.
HMP NORTH SEA CAMP DRAINAGE – Environment Agency Proposal (and its impact on
the Jubilee reclamation)
4.1
Current Situation
The Engineering Manager explained the background to this tranche of land that was owned by
the prison, part of which was occupied by the RSPB but was not included as part of the Board’s
Rateable District.
4.2
Environment Agency Proposal
The Environment Agency have requested the Board consider giving consent to a new 600mm
diameter culvert allowing waters from the North Sea Camp reclamation into the Board’s system.
This also raised the issue of the land within the Jubilee Bank that was similarly not in the district
although landowners do pay a contribution to pumping costs based on the actual annual
pumping costs of Wrangle Pumping Station.
R.Hall-Jones
-
Asked if the penstock operated by the EA at present could be upgraded.
The Engineering Manager said this was the only option if the Board could not agree to accept
the water into the Witham Fourth system.
A. Harrison
-
The Chairman
-
Felt the Board should seek to adopt the area into the district and charge a
full drainage rate.
Asked what the impact would be
The Engineering Manager informed him that the volume of water from the HMP area equated to
6 hours diesel pumping per year.
H.Drake
-
Felt that shutting the penstock, in common with other tidal penstocks, was
the only option resulting in the land being taken into our rateable area.
With regard to the Jubilee Bank, in which he had declared an interest, he
said that when it was built in 1977, it was expected that the EA would adopt
the bank and a District Valuer would then value the land for rating purposes.
This hadn’t happened so any changes to the current arrangement would
have to be negotiated with land owners.
The Chief Executive estimated that any changes to the Board’s rateable area would take around
2 years to get DEFRA approval.
C. Hardy
-
Asked if the condition of the North Sea Camp bank was good
The Engineering Manager confirmed it was.
P. Bedford
-
Cautioned that as a prison, the land owner may be exempt from paying any
kind of rates.
The Chief Executive said he would investigate this.
As a result of the discussions it was
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND
that DEFRA be approached with the view of
i)
Land owned by North sea camp, and
ii) Land within the Jubilee enclosure
be included in the Board’s District, subject to any exemptions
that are in force.
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5.
5.1
Operational Policies
Structures in the Board’s Banks
The Engineering Manager went through his report in the Agenda.
C. Hardy
-
Asked if water extractors were included in the policy
The Engineering Manager said no.
H. Drake
-
P.Bedford
-
Asked if wording could be clarified to say it was the applicant who was
responsible.
Asked what happened to a ‘removed’ structure
An example was given.
The Committee were happy with the policy subject to the above points.
5.2
Revetment works
The Engineering Manager went through his report and the Committee were happy with this
policy.
5.3
Adoption and Abandonment of sewers
The Engineering Manager made reference to H. Drake’s point earlier in the meeting and said a
review of all of the Board’s watercourses would need to be done which was a mammoth task.
However, the Board could employ a temporary student to complete this work in order to reveal
those watercourses that could be removed from the Board’s maintenance programme.
The Committee were happy with the general wording of this policy.
5.4
Replacement or Alteration of Existing Culverts
The Engineering Manager explained that this issue was highlighted at the September 2014
Board meeting and that the policy had been worded accordingly, but that there needed to be
some room for discretion.
The Chairman
-
Said the policy is currently working so he encouraged its adoption.
The Committee were therefore happy with the wording of this policy.
The Engineering Manager said he would pull all of the Board’s operational policies together in
one pack for the 2015 February Board Meeting, it was therefore:
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND
6.
that the Board’s Operational Policies be present to the Full
Board for adoption at their February 2015 meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None.
Chairman
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