Agenda item

Statutory Officer Group report

To receive an update report of the SOG (papers to follow).

Minutes:

The key points made included:

 

  1. There will not be a further progress update of the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) at the next NMB meeting, but this was to give board members a picture of the actions and where they are at currently.

 

  1. There will be actions in addition to the recent plan that were not captured in the 2021 Nutrient Management Plan.

 

  1. Moving forward the focus of the Nutrient Management Plan will be set out measures and actions to restore the river to favourable conservation status. All plans and projects likely to impact upon the River Wye SAC are the subject of Habitats Regulations Assessment. Within the Lugg catchment where the river is failing to meet its conservation targets Nutrient Neutrality is applied on development proposals.

 

  1. It was noted that Herefordshire Council link up with all the local authorities who received funding from DLUHC.

 

  1. For example, Norfolk commissioned a report on septic tank upgrades and the report author is willing to make that available for learning.

 

  1. The SOG have agreed that the primary spend will be on updating the Welsh evidence feeding into the NMP.

 

  1. The Chair argued that the Phosphate Action Plan forms a useful baseline to have within the agenda papers of the NMB so that the board can refer to it and change things included in it.

 

  1. Emma Johnson responded that she would take that request back to the SOG.

 

  1. The Chair asked about actions that sit with DEFRA.

 

  1. Martin Quine responded that evaluations will be made on where the DWPP is at before the next NMB meeting and an update can be provided on that.

 

  1. It was asked if it was possible for a summary on what progress has taken place regarding the plans in place.

 

  1. It was agreed that an executive summary would be helpful for newcomers onto the committee to outline the facts and an update on the direction of travel of the plans.

 

  1. The Chair asked who would be willing to produce a summary.

 

  1. Claire Minett responded that the SOG could take the request away and consider a summary to be produced.

 

  1. It was noted that the Wye Catchment Partnership are trying to create a plan for the river that deals with the defined problems and slots in the elements of the DWPP and the Upper Wye SAC Restoration Plan in order to work in a more coordinated way.

 

  1. It was asked what timescale is expected for the Welsh Government funded work in Wales of the NMP to be done by.

 

  1. Liz Duberley responded that that the project brief is being worked through with the SOG and NRW have provided feedback. Discussions will then be had with Welsh local authorities to get their feedback before developing the specification to go out to tender.

 

  1. It was asked if there are any outcomes from TAG groups.

 

  1. Martin Quine responded that when the governance for the NMB was looked at, there were six TAG sub-groups. It was felt that it was more appropriate to focus on the key things that needed to be focused on first subject to a review to ensure that funding and resourcing is placed in the right areas. The ambition with the review of the NMP and the Catchment Plan is that existing groups need to be used to avoid duplicating groups that already exist.

 

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