Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation from Anglian Water (to be circulated prior the meeting) covering the following topics:

·                Our role in the region

·                Investment in Maldon and Essex over the next five years

·                Water quality and environmental performance

·                Growth plans for the District – including planning liaison and asset capacity

The Chairperson introduced this item of business and referred to Grant Tuffs, Regional Engagement Manager from the Anglian Water (AW) public affairs team. Mr Tuffs advised that the role of him and his team was engage with local authorities, politicians and non-government organisations across the AW region. He was supported by a number of his team who then proceeded to introduce themselves:

·                Tiffany Howie – Network Manager for Colchester and Ipswich

·                Tessa Saunders – Spatial Planning Manager, covering the Essex region and liaises with Local Planning Authorities on local plans.

·                Carly Symes – Maldon Operations Manager

·                George Skinner - Environmental Process Scientist for the Essex county.

Mr Tuffs then gave a detailed presentation (attached at APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes) which provided information regarding AW, its purpose and challenges across the region, including:

·                The new ‘Just Bin It’ campaign;

·                How AW would be supporting Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in sharing future growth aspirations in Local Plans;

·                Water recycling centres and capacity;

·                Growth within the Maldon District and responding to this;

·                How AW responds to planning applications;

·                Storm overflows, planning improvements to them and recent spill performance;

·                Proposed investment in 2025 – 2030.

Mr Tuffs advised that questions received from Members in advance of the meeting would be responded to in full and sent out following this meeting.

A lengthy discussion ensued and in response to questions raised, the following information was provided:

·                AW had worked with Maldon District Council (MDC) to provide information to assist with the Local Plan, this work included assessment of the call for sites, reviewing sites in terms of water recycling and network capacity. Latchingdon was the only ‘red’ area at the moment, and it was confirmed that other areas such as North Fambridge that fed into Latchingdon would also be affected.

·                Members were advised of the current regulations that AW followed in respect of treating water and how there was very minimal chemical treatment. Prior to anything being sent to the land it went through a complex process to remove any calorific value which was burnt as a natural gas and put back into the national grid.

·                Reference was made to the Water Recycling Centre at South Woodham Ferrers (SWF), the growth scheme proposed and copper concentrates and in response AW advised that if it was agreed that a growth scheme at SWF was to progress then any copper issues would be addressed. This could potentially impact on future growth that the District may consider and there would be greater certainty on this once the Local Plan had been approved, however AW were working with the Council in respect of this.

·                Surface water was a matter for the Local Planning Authority as Lead Local Flood Authority and it was its responsibility to seek suitable Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and the best surface water systems in place from developers. Although AW was unable to comment on surface water it was encouraging all such connections to be sustainable.

·                AW gave examples of the work it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119