Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at http://council.webcast.vualto.com/leicestershire-county-council/home?EventId=20345

To note that Mr. S. J. Galton CC has been appointed Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission in accordance with Article 6.05 of the County Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that Mr. S. J. Galton CC has been appointed Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission for the period ending with the Annual Meeting of the County Council in 2018 in accordance with Article 6.05 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED:

That Mrs. R. Page CC be elected Deputy Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission for the period ending with the date of the Annual Meeting of the County Council in 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2017 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 36.

The Chairman sought and obtained the consent of the Commission to vary the order of business from that laid out on the agenda.

Severn Trent Water will attend the meeting for this item and will give a powerpoint presentation

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive which set out questions that had been submitted to Severn Trent Water prior to the meeting and a statement provided by Severn Trent Water in response to the questions. The Commission also noted that a letter from a local resident had been received raising concerns regarding infrastructure provision for new developments and the condition of the existing sewerage system.  A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 11’ and the letter is filed with these minutes.

The Commission received four presentations, three from Severn Trent Water and one from the Assistant Chief Executive of the County Council.  The presentations from Severn Trent Water outlined its approach to supply and demand management, its role in supporting housing growth and development and its role in managing flood risk, particularly with regard to sewer flooding.  The presentation from the Assistant Chief Executive provided an update on the development of the Strategic Growth Plan.  A copy of the slides forming the presentations is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman welcomed Doug Clarke, Paul Hurcombe and Tim Smith from Severn Trent Water to the meeting for this item.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:-

(i)          A Price Review would be undertaken in 2019 by Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water sector in England and Wales.  This would set the price, investment and service package that customers would receive between April 2020 and March 2025.  It would determine how much was available to invest, for example in improvements to the existing system and set out penalties and rewards linked to the achievement of customer priorities and associated targets.  Severn Trent Water was currently identifying the options and priorities it would issue for public consultation and then submit to Ofwat and was undertaking engagement with customers to inform this.

(ii)         The level of infrastructure charges that Severn Trent Water could levy for new connections to the water supply and sewerage systems were agreed annually with Ofwat.  The charge was intended to cover connection to the water supply and provide a contribution towards the costs of developing or enhancing local networks to serve new customers.

(iii)       An infrastructure discount schemes was in place which gave developers a 100 percent discount on infrastructure charges if they built new homes to the Optional Technical Standard in Part G of the Building Regulations of 110 litres of water per person per day, rather than the standard of 125 litres.  This had been well received by developers as the standard could be reached by choosing devices with the correct flow rate at no additional cost.  The scheme had been launched in April so it was too soon to measure its effect; however, other water companies were now considering trialling similar schemes.

(iv)       Planning Authorities were able to impose the Optional Technical Standard and it was suggested that wording to this effect should be included in the Strategic Growth Plan.  Severn Trent Water could also reinforce this point in its response to the consultation on the Strategic Growth Plan.  It was felt that there would be value in an informal discussion with infrastructure providers as part of the development of the Strategic Growth Plan.

(v)        On new developments, surface water should ideally be managed sustainably and any connection to the sewerage system should be a last resort.  Capacity issues within the existing sewerage network could, in part, be attributed to historic design practices whereby surface water and foul flows were combined into a single system but the connection of additional impermeable areas could have an adverse effect on capacity.  To offset  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

A copy of the draft Annual Report is attached for the consideration of the Commission. Subject to approval, the Annual Report will be submitted to the full County Council for consideration at its meeting on 28 June.

The Commission considered the Draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2016/17 which the Council was required to publish. A copy of the report marked “Agenda Item 10” is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2016/17 be approved for submission to the full County Council at its meeting on 28 June.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled to take place on 19 July at 10.30am.

It was NOTED that the next meeting of the Commission would be held on 19 July at 2.00pm.