A rate of 18.0p was set.
The Clerk reminded Board members of the need to declare interests in any relevant matters. Appropriate declarations were duly made.
The Electoral Register was approved.
The Board received update reports on the Spreading/Disposal of Spoil, Defra Grant-in-Aid and the Water Framework Directive.
The Board discussed the latest developments on the IDB Review and associated legal developments in particular the Public Bodies Bill. The Clerk referred to the continued need for vigilance, even though the most contentious elements of that Bill, so far as IDBs were concerned, had been removed. He referred to a Defra statement of £225,000 savings as regard IDBs due to the changes proposed under that Bill, without any supporting evidence yet published and to the implementation of the Flood and Water Management Act.
Byelaw consents granted were noted. Determinations of annual value were made and the writing off of rate arrears were also made.
The Board considered the report of their Consulting Engineers on proposed works and planning issues within the District. They noted damage caused by badgers to the bank of the District Drain at Bensons Farm. The drainworks programme costing £20,580 was approved. The Clerk reported that, as yet, no allocation of money had been made by the Environment Agency for the provision of automatic weedscreen cleaning equipment at Bensons and Curf Pumping Stations. The Board agreed to await developments.
The Environmental Officer's newsletter and report were noted and approved as was the report on the Board's Biodiversity Action Plan and the water vole resurvey work. This work had been undertaken in the District to compare the results of the Survey undertaken in the District 5 years earlier and had shown that the Board's drainworks programme was beneficial for voles.
The update from the Cambridgeshire Flood Risk Management Partnership was noted.
The payments and accounts were approved and approval given to the Annual Governance Statement. The Board approved the report of their internal auditor, their Internal Audit Strategy and Plan and Risk Register and resolved that they were satisfied with the internal controls in place. The use of internet banking facilities was also authorised.
The precept figure of £8,693 was noted.
It was agreed to transfer £24,500 to a weedscreen cleaner fund.
Following the meeting the members undertook an inspection of the new St Germans pumping Station, constructed by the Middle Level Commissioners.