Agenda item

Two public questions were asked and responded to as in minute 165 above.

Sarah Robinson, Corporate Affairs Manager, Yorkshire Water (YW) gave a presentation which addressed Members’ questions that had been submitted in advance.

• Response times to reported leaks and how their response is co-ordinated
• What steps are being taken to reduce river pollution?
• Housing development, sustainable water management and infrastructure
• Sewerage management, capacity, pollution incidents
• Sustainable land management and natural flood management
• Roadworks and traffic management
• Yorkshire Water are spending significant amounts of capital funding in Northallerton and Brompton, separating surface water runoff from combined drainage to prevent overloading water treatment plants. This is welcome but seems completely at odds with new developments in Northallerton being allowed to use retention ponds and pumping surface water drainage into the existing combined drainage water system in Northallerton. Who has ultimate responsibility for this in planning terms and what can Yorkshire Water do to resist such moves?

Following the presentation, members raised a number of other issues including:

·       Road works and closures signs left out after any works have finished.

This will be reported to the YW Streetworks Manager.

·       Bainbridge and Aysgarth not mentioned on list of works along the Swale. Community groups believe there are pollution issues there – can this be checked and does YW work with those groups who undertake sampling of the river?

Works are programmed based on the highest discharging sites but the officer will share more information on this. YW has 2050 to tackle CSO discharges. The River Health team works with local groups.

·       Leaks are a serious concern. There has been a leak on the main highway in the village of Moulton for more than year and there appears to be an issue of ownership. It is important to stop the leak before winter.

The officer asked to be provided with more details and would investigate and respond directly.

·       The algal bloom on R Swale has been very prolific – is that monitored and how does it compare to other parts of Swale?

YW test what may be discharged from their works. The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring what’s happening in the rivers.

·       Does YW influence planning decisions, especially coping with increased development?

YW is not a statutory consultee but they will comment on planning applications if there are concerns and their Head of Town Planning works closely with NYC.

·       How does YW deal with invasive plants such as Himalayan Balsam?

YW has an Invasive, Non-native Plants Policy and also funds Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to assist with species control but this may be the EA’s responsibility if found on a general water course.

·       NYC supported Blue Flag status for all rivers but phosphate levels were high in the Swale. Coliform was also high and is a health issue.

The officer will take this back to their team and provide the correct information.

·       It was sometimes difficult to know who to contact YW or the EA. Is there a conflict?

The EA are the regulator but they work with YW. The Independent Water Commission’s recent review set out recommendations for reform to improve the water sector regulatory system in England and Wales.

The Chair thanked the officer for the informative presentation and for attending.