Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/040

Contact: Lynette Hughes, Senior Planner Tel: 07920 084360/Venina Bland, Planner Tel: 07741 607749

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CA8).

Affinity Water is currently consulting on its Revised Draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) 2019 which looks ahead to 2080. The consultation documents outline the preferred demand management and water supply options for Affinity Water in the context of the wider South East region. The Cabinet paper sets out how the Affinity Water consultation relates to consultations by Thames Water in 2018 and advises on progress since then.  Concerns raised with Thames Water in respect of the reservoir proposal are repeated in the attached draft response to Affinity Water.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)          Consider the issues and the draft response in Annex 1 and provide comments as appropriate; and

(b)          Agree that the final response to the consultation be signed off by the Director of Planning and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Environment.

Recommendations agreed.

N.B Final response to make it clear that the County Council expects the Affinity Water proposal to go to public enquiry as well as the Thames Water Revised Draft Water Resource Management Plan.

Affinity Water is currently consulting on its Revised Draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) 2019 which looks ahead to 2080. The consultation documents outline the preferred demand management and water supply options for Affinity Water in the context of the wider South East region. Cabinet considered a report that  set out how the Affinity Water consultation related to consultations by Thames Water in 2018 and advised on progress since then.  Concerns raised with Thames Water in respect of the reservoir proposal are repeated in the attached draft response to Affinity Water.

Councillor John Sander, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment stated that the Labour Group were opposed to the South East Strategic Reservoir as proposed. An enquiry was essential given the disputed date in the plan and forecast. Steps to reduce usage and leakage should be brought forward much sooner. Councillor Sanders shared concerns set out in the report over the impact on A34 traffic, on the A415 and on the Growth project. Councillor Sanders added that the had been no consideration on the impact on the minerals and ?? local plan as there would be an impact on forecasts. Finally Councillor Sanders stated he was unable to support recommendation 2 as the final approval should come from Cabinet at a public meeting.

Responding to the points raised Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment, explained that the response was before the cabinet in draft form for approval in broad terms. Asked if he had any additional points he wished to see raised in the response Councillor Sanders did not.

Councillor Constance introduced the contents of the report and referring to paragraphs 17 and 26 proposed that the final response be amended to make it clear that the County Council expects the Affinity Water proposal to go to public enquiry as well as the Thames Water Revised Draft Water Resource Management Plan.

Following discussion Councillor Constance moved the recommendations subject to the amendment above.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)          consider the issues and the draft response in Annex 1 and provide comments as appropriate; and

(b)          agree that the final response to the consultation be signed off by the Director of Planning and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Environment with paragraphs 17 and 26 amended to make it clear that the County Council expects the Affinity Water proposal to go to public enquiry as well as the Thames Water Revised Draft Water Resource Management Plan.