Limited support for North Somerset
We do not currently provide detailed weekly summaries for North Somerset Council. Running the service is expensive, and we need to cover our costs.
You can still subscribe!
If you're a professional subscriber and need support for this council, get in touch with us at community@opencouncil.network and we can enable it for you.
If you're a resident, subscribe below and we'll start sending you updates when they're available. We're enabling councils rapidly across the UK in order of demand, so the more people who subscribe to your council, the sooner we'll be able to support it.
If you represent this council and would like to have it supported, please contact us at community@opencouncil.network.
Scrutiny Committee - Climate and Place - Thursday, 6th June, 2024 9.30 am
June 6, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
The meeting focused on several key issues, including the presence of a work experience student, a minute's silence for D-Day commemorations, and the approval of previous meeting minutes. The main discussions revolved around the Somerset Catchment Phosphorus Project and the executive response to scrutiny recommendations on nutrient neutrality.
Somerset Catchment Phosphorus Project
Dr. Shane Rothwell from Lancaster University presented findings from the Somerset Catchment Phosphorus Project. The project, funded by the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Somerset Catchment Partnership, and Wessex Water, aims to understand phosphorus flows and their impact on water quality in the Somerset Levels and Moors. The study revealed that the catchment is heavily influenced by agricultural activities, particularly livestock farming, which contributes significantly to phosphorus surplus. Various scenarios were modeled to assess the impact of reducing phosphorus inputs, including reducing feed phosphorus content and improving wastewater treatment. The findings highlighted the complexity of managing phosphorus pollution and the need for a multi-faceted approach.
Executive Response to Scrutiny Recommendations
The committee discussed the executive's response to recommendations made during a special water quality session held on April 26. The recommendations included removing the 20% buffer in the Somerset phosphate calculator, reviewing inconsistencies between Dr. Andrew Clegg's research and the Somerset calculator, and conducting an urgent review of the nutrient neutrality policy. The executive, represented by Councillor Ros Wyke and Kate Murdoch, emphasized the legal and financial risks of deviating from Natural England's advice. They highlighted that nutrient neutrality is a national approach supported by case law and that the council must follow Natural England's guidance to avoid legal challenges.
Key Points Discussed
- Phosphorus Surplus: The study found that the Somerset catchment has a significant phosphorus surplus, primarily due to livestock farming.
- Nutrient Neutrality: The executive stressed the importance of following Natural England's advice to mitigate legal and financial risks.
- Task and Finish Group: The committee agreed to set up a task and finish group to further explore the issues, with a focus on influencing external bodies like Natural England.
Decisions Made
- The committee approved the minutes of the previous meetings held on March 20 and April 26.
- A task and finish group will be established to further investigate the issues related to nutrient neutrality and phosphorus management.
Next Steps
- The task and finish group will draft terms of reference and report back to the committee at the next meeting.
- The committee will continue to monitor the progress of the Somerset Catchment Phosphorus Project and other related research initiatives.
Overall, the meeting highlighted the complexities of managing phosphorus pollution in the Somerset Levels and Moors and the need for a collaborative approach involving multiple stakeholders.
Attendees

















Topics
No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.
Meeting Documents
Agenda