THE new Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) looks set to be given powers to add another levy to Council Tax bills across the county.

The authority was set up in the wake of last year’s devastating floods on the Somerset Levels and will help shape flood management across the county by identifying work, funding and delivering schemes and projects.

It will also ensure the large number of separate flood risk management authorities in the county work together through a combined programme.

At their meeting on Wednesday, West Somerset Council’s full council agreed the SRA should have precepting powers to enable it to raise money through Council Tax bills.

The police, fire and town and district councils already have such powers and add their own shares to district and county Council Tax bills.

But West Somerset councillors said it was vital money raised for the SRA was used differently from money already paid to support the Environment Agency.

In particular, they wanted to ensure coastal flooding and sparsity factors were taken into account when money was allocated for projects by the SRA.

Councillors also raised concerns that Sedgemoor taxpayers could be excluded from the new levy as they were deemed to already be paying extra to cover the cost of their district council’s existing internal drainage board.

Cllr Sue Goss said she believed Sedgemoor District Council was given extra Government funding to cover the cost of the internal drainage board and said it would be unfair for other taxpayers to pick up Sedgemoor’s share of the SRA bill.

The precepting proposal has to be agreed by all Somerset’s district authorities as well as the county council and, if approved, will have to go to Government and the House of Lords before it can become law.