Agenda item

(1)       The Leader stated that he had agreed to consider this matter as an urgent item for the following reason:

“The five Water Companies that supply Kent are currently consulting on their draft Water Resource Management Plans (WRMP) for the next 25 years and the deadline for our response is such that today is the only opportunity for KCC’s position on these plans to be discussed at Cabinet.”

(2)       Mr Carter introduced the report, stating that there was significant concern about the management of water demand in future years, particularly given the proposed expansion in the number of new homes that were due to be built in Kent. He added that the five water companies did not appear to be acting together in relation to medium and long term planning and that, subject to legal advice, there was a strong case for a public inquiry into the Water Resource Management Plans for Kent. Mr Carter stressed that residents of the County should not have to pay extra for the investment in infrastructure needed to meet the demand for water in future years. Mr Carter then introduced Councillor John Horne of Maidstone Borough Council, to address Cabinet.

(3)       Councillor Horne stated that Maidstone Borough Council had already made an 18 page submission to the Secretary of State on the draft Water Resource Management Plans for Kent and that copies of the submission and reference documents had been made available to the Cabinet. Councillor Horne stated that there was a distinct lack of coordination and strategic planning between the five water companies that serve Kent, especially between supply and disposal strategies and he echoed the comments of Mr Carter in relation to the enormous demand in the South East for new housing. He commented that a sole company solution to the demand for water in Kent was unlikely to be successful and he supported the recommendation being made to the Cabinet for a full public inquiry.

(4)       Mr Ferrin stated that the five water companies were appearing to work to the disadvantage of the people of Kent, particularly in relation to a number of apparently un-coordinated plans for capital investment in new facilities, some of which involved 2 companies proposing to pump water in completely opposite directions. He stated that the companies appeared to be adopting a ruthlessly commercial attitude, the only effect of which would be higher charges for Kent residents. He supported the request for a public inquiry.

(5)       In adding his support for the public inquiry, Mr Gough highlighted paragraph 37 of the report in relation to the water supply and disposal infrastructure needed to meet the projected housing growth and, specifically, the need to control the environmental impact of any agreed solutions.

(6)       Mr Chard referred to the significant environmental damage to chalk streams in Kent as a result of previous underground extraction to supply water to London.

(7)       Councillor Horne expressed his support for the recommendation to Cabinet to call for a public inquiry. He added that current EU Directives would further curtail the use of river water to top up reservoirs in times of drought, which would appear to conflict directly with the plans of the water companies for addressing water demand within Kent.

(8)       Cabinet agreed:-

(a)       The KCC responses to the Water Resource Management Plan consultations should include:

            (i)         strong support for the emphasis on demand management and the implementation of universal compulsory metering providing that there are appropriate tariffs in place to ensure that vulnerable families in Kent are not subjected to higher bills;

            (ii)        strong response to DEFRA that existing customers should not be made to pay higher water charges to pay for the water infrastructure needed to accommodate housing growth;

            (iii)       detailed questioning of the basis for the water companies’ proposals for balancing water demand; and

            (iv)       pointing out the unacceptable lack of strategic cooperation between companies regarding their medium and long term infrastructure proposals and rejecting some of these proposals

(b)       KCC should seek legal advice with a view to requesting the Secretary of State to call a public inquiry into the Draft Water Resource Management Plans of South East Water, Southern Water Services and Folkestone and Dover Water Services;

(c)        KCC should use its influence on Local Development Frameworks by:

            (i)         demanding high standards of water efficiency in new homes

            (ii)        calling for a strategic tariff on new developments that would be partly used to offset the residual water demands of new homes by investing in improvements to the water efficiency of the existing local housing stock

            (iii)       ensuring land is identified and safeguarded for future infrastructure that may be required in the long term

(d)       KCC should continue to play a leadership role in promoting the sustainable management of water demand and should encourage local water demand targets within the District Chapters of the Kent Agreement 2.