Issue - meetings

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report concerning three consultations running concurrently on water supply management and maintenance of supply into the future which closed that day.  It was noted that:

·  The consultations were as follows:

Water Resources South East – Draft Best Value Regional Plan

South East Water – Draft Water Resources Management Plan

Southern Water – Draft Water Resources Management Plan

·  The Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) were a Government requirement of water companies and had to be produced every five years.  The proposed WRMPs covered the period 2025-75.

·  Water Resources South East (WRSE) was a south east regional alliance of the six operating water companies within its geographical area.  It was not directly involved in the provision of water supply.  Like the WRMPs produced by the water companies, the Best Value Regional Plan produced by WRSE assessed the water needs of the region and identified strategic solutions to the problems identified.  The Plan covered the same timeframe as the WRMPs and was also a requirement within the water regulatory system.

·  Each consultation followed a standard approach, and the proposed responses were set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee who was present as a Substitute thanked the Lead Member and the Officers for involving the Water Management Cycle Working Group in the responses to the consultations and cited this as a good example of joined-up working.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE LEAD MEMBER FOR PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE:  That the proposed responses to the three water supply consultations set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved subject to the following additions/amendments: