Issue - meetings
Sewage Summit report
Meeting: 25/09/2024 - Council (Item 38)
38 Sewage Summit Update 
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Purpose
The purpose of the report is to provide an update to all Councillors on the Sewage Summit event that took place on 8 July 2024, the meetings held with the 3 water companies and 2 workshops that took place leading up to the event, along with outlining a series of recommendations associated with these.
Recommendation
That Council resolves to:
- Note the report and
approve the following recommendations;
- The Chief Executive writes to Government requesting they:
i. Make Water Companies Statutory Consultees for both Development Control and in preparing Local and Strategic Plans;
ii. Introduce clear mandatory controls on storm water drainage for all development.
- Introduce a validation checklist and matrix of Grampian conditions.
- Incorporate policies within the new Local Plan to optimise water efficiency for new houses.
- Consider, subject to a business case and affordability including in the 2025-26 budget process funding for a specialist Officer to work with the Flood Risk Management Team and Planning service to liaise between Developers and the Water Companies along with related bodies.
- Continue to develop an effective Communication Strategy to outline to residents the statutory obligations and powers of each local government body and other relevant organisations such as the Environment Agency.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The purpose of the report was to provide an update to all Councillors on the Sewage Summit event that took place on the 8 July 2024, the meetings held with the 3 water companies and 2 workshops that took place leading up to the event, along with outlining a series of recommendations associated with these.
Councillor Lisa Spivey, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety introduced the report and made the following points:
- Thanks were given to all those involved including Council Officers, West Oxfordshire District Councillor Charlie Maynard and Councillor Angus Jenkinson for their work in this area. It was also noted that there were many voluntary organisations such as Windrush Against River Pollution (WASP) who had taken part in the work on sewage in rivers.
- The report was a comprehensive overview of the problem following the Sewage Summit in July 2024.
- It was highlighted that this was a national problem which damages all waterways in the United Kingdom.
- The Council was only a small part of those organisations who could make a difference. However, the Environment Agency was one of the key government bodies to manage these issues and help oversee the operation of water companies.
- There were many risks involved with the issue of sewage, and the lack of upgrades to the sewage infrastructure that were needed.
- It was important that the Council used what powers it could to make a difference with new developments and urging for water companies to be made statutory consultees for planning applications.
Councillor Joe Harris formally seconded and reserved his right to speak.
A question was asked regarding the new MPs for the North and South Cotswolds constituencies and what dialogue would take place. Councillor Spivey stated that regular meetings would take place and she was confident that they would use their influence in Parliament to ensure action on this issue.
There was clarification sought on the definition of a ‘matrix of Grampian conditions’. Councillor Spivey responded that these were planning conditions based on the size of developments proposed and what actions are needed. These were important to ensure the appropriate infrastructure was put in place where required.
There was a question on the current flood management team and how the new officer post would work. In response, Councillor Spivey highlighted that the Flood Risk Management Team would be key to assessing the risks from developments. However, there was a need for all stakeholders to come together to tackle these issues and for the Council to have a link with water companies.
A question was raised regarding the Grey Water Motion that was passed by Council and how work around grey water linked to the issue of flooding from sewage. Councillor Spivey noted the Council’s online resources on grey water and reaffirmed the important work to reuse natural water where possible.
There was a question regarding the issue of run-off of agricultural chemicals from farmland and how this will be tackled. It was noted by Councillor Spivey that the issue of ... view the full minutes text for item 38