Issue - meetings

Jon Yates (Head of Delivery for Clean Rivers Taskforce, Southern Water) was in attendance for this item

1) Mr Yates presented to the committee. The contents of his presentation included:

·       An overview of Combined Sewer Overflows

·       Rivers and Seas Watch

·       Optimisation at Whitstable and Deal; surface water connections at Whitstable; Sustainable drainage systems (SuDs) schemes in Whitstable, Deal and Margate; and, planters and water butts.

2) Further to questions from Members, it was noted that:

·       The team working in Kent had been expanded and they were keen to expand joint working.

·       Southern Water advised that they did social media apps to educate and engage with younger people. However, it was unclear what their reach was and whether communication via social media was constructive. Communication was important moving forward in engaging with customers.

·       Southern Water wanted to work with schools and link their education programme with national curriculum. Southern Water had worked in 13 schools in Margate on ‘SuDs for schools’.

·       Maintenance costs were being considered with alternate delivery such as SuDs, and were not putting pressure on KCC’s budgets.

·       It was felt that it was useful to have local people working in catchments who understood the problems in their areas.

3) RESOLVED to note the content of the presentation.