Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Climate Change Delivery & Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/187

Contact: Lynette Hughes, Principal Planner, 07920084360

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA13).

Response to public consultations about water supply options, in particular the SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option).

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Approve responding to the consultation on the draft Water Resources South East (WRSE) regional plan, comments for which close on 20^th February 2023 (a draft response is included in Annex 1).

b)                  Approve responding to the Water Resources West (WRW), Water Resources East (WRE) and Affinity Water draft plans which have a 20^th February 2023 closing date (drafts of the responses are included in Annex 2 to Annex 4).

c)                  Approve responding to the Thames Water draft plan, which was only released on 13^th December 2022 and therefore a draft response has not been prepared for this agenda.  Comments on that draft plan close on 21^st March 2023.

d)                  Delegate the final written responses to the Corporate Director for Environment and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report proposing responses to regional water resources plans. The government set out the requirement for such regional plans in a recent government guideline, following the National Framework 2020for water resources called ‘Meeting our Future Needs’. 

In the absence of Councillor Pete Sudbury, Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, introduced the report.

The Chair thanked officers for their work on these consultations and, in particular, on the organidation of the recent “Water Day” event which had been well attended.  She expressed concern about the impact of the proposed additional reservoir described in the plans and said that alternatives should be considered.

Councillor Enright moved and Councillor Hannaby seconded the recommendations and they were agreed.

RESOLVED to:-

a)               approve responding to the consultation on the draft Water Resources South East (WRSE) regional plan, comments for which close on 20^th February 2023 (a draft response is included in Annex 1).

b)               approve responding to the Water Resources West (WRW), Water Resources East (WRE) and Affinity Water draft plans which have a 20^th February 2023 closing date (drafts of the responses are included in Annex 2 to Annex 4).

c)               approve responding to the Thames Water draft plan, which was only released on 13^th December 2022 and therefore a draft response has not been prepared for this agenda.  Comments on that draft plan close on 21^st March 2023.

d)               delegate the final written responses to the Corporate Director for Environment and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment.