Plans to give communities stronger say over billions of pounds of water investment backed by Mayor

The Mayor of the East Midlands has welcomed plans to give communities across England a bigger say over how water companies invest in their area.

Eight new regional water councils will bring local leaders, customers and businesses together to set the priorities for their region, helping shape billions of pounds of investment in water and flood infrastructure.

Decisions about the water system are taken nationally, despite communities facing different challenges. The Government said the new councils will change that, giving communities and local leaders a stronger voice over priorities including sewage and water quality, flooding, drought and future water supplies. Mayors will also receive new powers through the strengthened Water Bill to hold water companies to account for their performance.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Water is fundamental to our communities, our environment, and our economy – and decisions about our water should reflect the needs of the people and places they affect. People rightly expect clean rivers, secure water supplies, and better protection from flooding, but feel unable to influence those things.

“Giving Mayors and communities a stronger voice means we can push for cleaner rivers, greater resilience to flooding and drought, and the investment our region needs to grow. This is a positive step towards a water system that works better for local people.”

The reforms are part of the Prime Minister’s drive to move power out of Westminster and give communities greater control over the services and investment that shape their lives.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “I know how desperate people are for change when it comes to water. I share their frustration at seeing sewage and pollution blight our rivers, lakes, and seas, while decisions about their local areas are taken miles away.

“That’s not right. So for the first time, local people will have a real say over what they need from their water company, whether that is cleaning up polluted rivers, building new reservoirs or protecting homes from floods.

“That is what moving power closer to communities looks like. Making sure local voices are heard and local priorities come first.”

Local leaders have been asked to submit proposals on how they want to run the new bodies by the end of the year. Each council will then draw up a plan setting out the biggest pressures on its region’s water system, the choices that need to be made and the public and private investment that can help address them.

New approach to water industry

Environment Secretary, Dame Angela Eagle said: “For decades, the water industry has failed to work for the people and places it was meant to serve.

“I am determined to put the public at the heart of decision-making – shaping what their bills will be spent on, so they can see real differences happening in their communities.

“I share the country’s desire to see change now and that’s why we are creating a radical new water system that will put public interest first.”

The Government said further details on its approach to the industry will be set out in its 10-year plan for Britain, to be published later this year.

Matthew Browne, The Wildlife Trusts head of public affairs, said: “Putting communities at the heart of water management could finally turn the tide on our polluted rivers. By giving local leaders wide-ranging powers and bringing together all those with a stake in the water system, the Government can place freshwater recovery in the hands of people able to take the radical, comprehensive action needed to fix our water.

“This is good news for communities, nature and the economy. Water is critical national infrastructure, and healthy, well- functioning rivers mean thriving wildlife, water supplies for farming and new homes, fewer floods, and fantastic places for people to enjoy.

“It is community campaigning that first sounded the alarm about increasing threats to rivers. It is community control that holds the key to bringing our waters back to health.”

Mark Lloyd, The Rivers Trust chief executive officer, said: “We’ve long been calling for a regionwide systems planning approach to how our water is managed, and it’s encouraging to see the government recognise that this is needed. We look forward to working with local leaders to shape what this looks like in practice.”