Chichester District Council
Agenda item

Agenda item

Motion from Cllr Brown

Having complied with the Motions Procedure as set out in the council’s Constitution the motion attached will be proposed by Cllr Brown and if duly seconded it will then be discussed at this meeting.

Minutes:

Cllr Brown proposed his motion. This was seconded by Cllr O’Kelly. The Motion was as follows:

 

 This Council notes that:

 

      Chichester Harbour and local rivers are particularly threatened by continuing sewage discharges.

      Southern Water were sentenced to pay a record £90 million in fines for widespread pollution after pleading guilty to 6,971 unpermitted sewage discharges.

      Every river in England is now polluted beyond legal limits.

      The Environment Agency rated only 14% of rivers as ‘Good’ in 2019.

      In England, water companies released untreated human waste directly into our waterways over 400,000 times for a total of 3 million hours in 2020 alone.

      Government funding to the Environment Agency to monitor river quality and regulate farms and water companies has dropped 75% since 2010/11.

      In 2020 just 3.6% of pollution complaints made to the Agency resulted in penalties.

      Farms are now almost never inspected, water quality is not tested enough, and water companies can pump raw sewage into rivers and seas with virtual impunity

·         Council believes that, as host nation of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), the UK Government should now commit to:

      Restoring Environment Agency budgets to deliver the necessary oversight.

      Increasing inspection regularity of water companies and farms, and rigorously prosecuting offenders through the Environmental Audit Committee and Ofwat.

 

Council resolves to:

 

1.    Formally ask Southern Water to install live update signs at each sewage outfall site in the district to enable residents to make informed choices about using the water.

2.    Should Southern Water refuse to so in a timely manner, investigate the cost of Council doing it, to be considered within the Future Services Framework prioritisation exercise.

3.    Agree with the Conservancy an improved Testing regime in Chichester Harbour with tests undertaken as close as possible to Southern Water discharge points immediately after high tide.

4.    Publicise the testing results on the District Council website.

5.    Include a link to the Southern Water “Beachbouy” warning system on the District Council website.

6.    Write to The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee to advocate for greater enforcement of existing regulatory powers.

7.    Write to The Chief Executives of Southern Water and OFWAT calling for urgent action to address the impact of waste-water discharges on our local rivers and harbours.

8.    Write to The Regional Director of the National Farmers’ Union requesting clarification on the action being taken locally by farmers to prevent nutrient run-off.

9.    Write to the charities River Action and The Rivers Trust expressing this Council’s support for their campaign to restore the health of Britain’s rivers.

10.Require the Chichester Water Quality Group to make a quarterly report to the Environment Panel.

 

Cllr Brown with reference to Cllr Plant’s proposed major amendments which had been circulated to members in line with the Motions Procedure explained that he wished to keep bullet point number 6. He confirmed that bullet points 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 did not require debate. The remaining bullet points 1, 2, 6 and 10 were to be debated.

 

Cllr Plant suggested debating bullet points 1 and 2 together. She confirmed that she did not wish to debate bullet point 6 and that bullet point 10 would require a separate debate.

 

Cllr O’Kelly suggested debating bullet points 1 and 2 individually.

 

Bullet points 1 and 2 were then discussed.

 

Cllr Lintill confirmed that a letter could be written to Southern Water. With regard to live update screens she asked how many would be required and what the cost would be.

 

Cllr Purnell explained that bullet point 2 could mean that the council pays the cost for the screens if the cost is not paid by Southern Water. Cllr Bowden responded that the council were being asked to support investigating the cost.

 

Cllr Tim Johnson requested clarification of whether bullet point 2 would be paid from the revenue or capital budget. Mr Ward explained that until it had been investigated further that could not be confirmed but it was likely to involve both.

 

Mrs Shepherd advised members that Southern Water would have to agree to provide the council with the information being requested as the council has no powers to require the information. Mr Bennett added that also applied to a Survey Licence which would be required.

 

Cllr Briscoe asked how many sewage outlet points are in the district.

 

Cllr Oakley requested including reference to horticultural plastic in the water course as part of bullet point 8.

 

Cllr Plant also asked how many outlet points are in the district. With regard to the reference of using water she requested clarification on whether that refers to drinking water or bathing water. In addition she also asked who would be liable for any information provided on a live update screen.

 

Cllr Sharp asked whether the updated Environment Act would cover the requirement for water companies to provide real time information.  She also asked whether the council could put in a complaint to the new office for environmental protection. Mr Bennett responded by explaining that the new office had been established to advise the Secretary of State.

 

Cllr Tim Johnson asked a point of order of whether each bullet point would be voted on in turn.

 

The Chair decided to take a vote on each bullet point separately.

 

In a vote on bullet point 1 that section of the Motion was carried as follows:

 

RESOLVED

 

Council resolves to:

 

Formally ask Southern Water to install live update signs at each sewage outfall site in the district to enable residents to make informed choices about using the water.

 

In a vote on bullet point 2 that section of the Motion was not carried.

 

Bullet point 6 was then discussed. Cllr Brown initially withdrew the bullet point. Cllr Oakley asked him to reconsider. Cllr Brown then decided to keep the bullet point in the Motion.

 

The Chair then took a vote on bullet point 6.

 

In a vote on bullet point 6 that section of the Motion was carried as follows:

 

RESOLVED

 

Council resolves to:

 

Write to The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee to advocate for greater enforcement of existing regulatory powers.

 

The Chair then took a vote on bullet points 7, 8 and 9.

 

In a vote bullet points 7, 8 and 9 were carried as follows:

 

RESOLVED

 

Council resolves to:

 

      Write to The Chief Executives of Southern Water and OFWAT calling for urgent action to address the impact of waste-water discharges on our local rivers and harbours.

      Write to The Regional Director of the National Farmers’ Union requesting clarification on the action being taken locally by farmers to prevent nutrient run-off.

      Write to the charities River Action and The Rivers Trust expressing this Council’s support for their campaign to restore the health of Britain’s rivers.

 

Bullet point 10 was then discussed. Mrs Shepherd confirmed that the wording would need to be amended to ‘ask’ rather than ‘require’. Cllr Brown agreed the amendment. Cllr Purnell requested that the report be made to DPIP. This was also agreed.

 

The Chair took a vote on bullet point 10 as amended above.

 

In a vote on bullet point 10 that section of the Motion as amended was carried as follows:

 

RESOLVED

 

Council resolves to:

 

Ask the Chichester Water Quality Group to make a quarterly report to the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel.

 

Supporting documents:

 

Top of page