CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR WATER (CCWATER) WALES COMMITTEE. MINUTES OF THE 34th MEETING IN PUBLIC. City Hall, Cardiff. 22 September 2017

Transcription

1 CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR WATER (CCWATER) WALES COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE 34th MEETING IN PUBLIC City Hall, Cardiff 22 September 2017 CCWater Wales Committee Chair Mr Tom Taylor Chief Executive Head of Policy & Research Local Consumer Advocates Mr Tony Smith Mr Mike Keil Dr Sian Phipps Dr Lee Gonzalez Mr Robert Gilchrist Consumer Relations Manager Policy Support Officer Ms Ceri Walsh Ms Jade Painter Representatives: Severn Trent / Dee Valley Water SVT/DVW Head of Government Relations Senior Advisor Welsh Affairs Mr Andrew Fairburn Ms Ann Beynon Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water [DCWW] Chief Operating Officer Managing Director of Retail Services Chief Executive Catchment Manager Mr Peter Perry Ms Julia Cherrett Mr Chris Jones Dr Philippa Pearson Welsh Government [WG] Head of Water Branch Ms Eifiona Williams Natural Resources Wales 1

2 Natural Resources Planning Manager Drinking Water Inspectorate Mr Mark Squire Mr Frank White Greener Grangetown City of Cardiff Council RainScape Strategy & AGA Client Manager Ian Titherton Fergus O Brian Papers for this meeting are electronically available at: Meeting-in-public-papers-22-September-2017.pdf 1 Welcome & Apologies and consumer issues from the floor 1.1 Tom Taylor (TT) (Chair) welcomed attendees and members of the public. Apologies and attendance of the meeting is listed in Annex 2 of these minutes. 1.2 No consumer issues from the floor were raised at the meeting although two questions were received from the public, one from social media and the other was requested via , which TT read out to the water company representatives. Action: CCWATER to collate answers from both companies to the queries from the public above and respond to both members of the public by October Update on water and sewerage services in Wales 2.1 TT raised awareness of CCWater s complaint report that was published on 20 th September. 2.2 TT presented the company performance slides, pages TT confirmed that with regards to Affordability; take up of WaterSure for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) has increased with majority of customers being registered. Severn Trent data includes all of Severn Trent s area although TT confirmed that there is low uptake in the Powys area. 2.3 With regards to customer funded tariffs, the number of customers per 10,000 household connections registers for customer funded tariff is 144 for DCWW and 85 for Severn Trent. 2.4 TT highlighted that with regards to written complaints, Dee Valley continues to show a reduction from 35% in 2016/17 and now showing a further 2

3 decrease in Q1 of 2017/18. Severn Trent however has seen an increase in written complaints. 2.5 TT confirmed that CCWater is continuing to ask for quarterly reports from three of the four worst performing companies for written complaints in These companies include Southern, which still has the highest complaints per 10,000 connections; Dŵr Cymru, which remains the second worst; and Affinity. Welsh Water in particular showed the smallest decrease at 8% although for quarter /18, we have noted a much larger decrease since Q1 16/ TT made the companies aware that CCWater will be consulting on how best to report customer contact in the future. 2.7 TT discussed the key issues to watch in Wales including; Sewage resilience, Water supply interruptions and customer satisfaction with water quality. Discussions were then opened to the audience. 2.8 Frank White (FW), Drinking Water Inspectorate, introduced himself and made a note that Customer satisfaction with water quality (taste, odour and smell) was on their radar. Even though water quality for both companies is improving, FW would like to see an even bigger increase. South East Wales is a key area that DWI are keeping an eye on for improvements. 2.9 Mark Squire (MS), Natural Resources Wales, presented highlights for both companies. MS confirmed that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are looking into Severn Trent s performance and finding best practice from Dee Valley Water. Severn Trent has also seen a reduction in pollution incidents MS confirmed that NRW has seen an improvement in pollution incidents for DCWW and their overall performance has improved although they will need to improve further to get up to industry standards Peter Perry (PP),, confirmed that with regards to sewage flooding, this is the worst performance he has seen although DCWW are in the top 3 with regards to internal sewage flooding. PP has accepted that a lot more needs to be done with regards to external sewer flooding Bob Gilchrist (BG), CCWater questioned Severn Trent over sustainable drainage and where are they at with implementing their schemes Andrew Fairburn (AF), Severn Trent, confirmed that they have sustainable drainage schemes in place and have two business plans although there is an opportunity to do more in Wrexham/Powys area. 3 Severn Trent takeover of Dee Valley Water and provisions of future services. 3.1 Andrew Fairburn (AF) delivered a presentation (slides 15-19) which gave an update on the following: 3

4 In February 2017, Severn Trent merged with Dee Valley Water. They combined together to deliver better services to their customers by learning best practise from each other. Nothing has changed so far. They are still two separate companies, one acting with a separate welsh element and therefor they have two business plans. Key thing was to ask customers for their views and guidance on the merge and the outcome was that customers were happy as long as they were not worse off. There also seemed to be little public knowledge regarding the takeover. Confirmation that they are going to keep the hub in Wrexham in order to enhance customer services. Action: SP asked AF to update CCWater on their plans with regards to the payment and enquiry facility in Wrexham. 3.2 TT asked AF about the terms of prices if customers do not want anything to change. 3.3 AF confirmed that they are honouring the current prices in full for Dee Valley Water and Severn Trent. 3.4 Lee Gonzalez (LG), CCWater Local Consumer Advocate, questioned whether Dee Valley prices will be capped the same even though Customers are paying less and secondly whether Severn Trent will merge Dee Valley and Powys prices in the next AMP period? 3.5 AF confirmed that those prices will never come into alignment or in the next AMP period. AF also stated that over the Severn Trent region there are customers with different RV values because they are in different local authorities. AF continued to say that Severn Trent has a different charging arrangement so that customers should in theory be paying the same or similar amount of the water and sewage services. 3.6 Tony Smith (TS), CCWater Chief Executive, question Severn Trent on the timeframe for these price changes and whether the 5% benchmark from Ofwat is per annum 3.7 Jim McLaughlin (JM) confirmed that up to 2020, there will be no change in customer bills although from 2020 onwards, the plan for investment will change customer bills with either a reduction or an increase. 3.8 AF confirmed that Severn Trent will be working with Ofwat on a consultation in Oct/Nov to discuss the takeover and integration of prices. Action: CCWater will continue dialogue on Dee Valley Water area customer charges with Severn Trent. 4 The Super Brecon Beacon catchment area in Dwr Cymru s area 4

5 4.1 Philippa Pearson,, delivered a presentation (slides 20-33) which gave an update on the following: The Brecon Beacon Mega Catchment supplies 18 treatment works 40% is Cardiff drinking water It focuses on Water, biodiversity, agriculture, forestry, people and tourism The main priority of the project was to increase resilience of the catchment area and safeguard raw water quality and quantity for generations to come. The project aimes to prevent raw water quality deterioration which will help cut future costs in terms of treatment of water. The aim is to co-create a new way of working with stakeholders (e.g. communities, land managers and land users) and co=develop a vision to deliver social and environmental enhancements to ensure the landscape remains prosperous and resilient. 4.2 LG queried Tourism and asked how Dwr Cymru is proposing to manage the amount of tourism and work with farmers and local councils to help deliver the mega catchment plans and asked what obsticals are currently inhibiting the project. 4.3 LG also questioned how DCWW could help elevate the impact to tourism casusing erosion of land within the catchment area. 4.4 Philippa Pearson agreed that this is important and would be addressed through a coordinated planning and management approach as part of the Mega Catchment proposal. 5 Greener Grangetown Sustainable Urban Drainage Project 5.1 Ian Titherington (IT), Cardiff Council produced a video which can be found at the following link to introduce the project to all attendees. Ian then delivered a presentation (slides 34-52) which gave an update on the following: Partnership approach and funding with the collaboration of DCWW and NRW which is beneficial due to sharing of different drivers and responsibilities. The vision is to make Greener Grangetown an exemplar scheme for sustainable drainage in Cardiff, Wales and beyond, To encourage greater partnerships with the public, private and third sectors combining both expertise and funding, To enhance the visibility of water and To change the perception of rainwater, to become regarded as an asset. 5

6 The new roads will be limited to 20mph and the acceptability to park will be reduced due to the robust 550 bollards stopping parking on raingardens. This project learnt a lot from the Llanelli rainscape project. The project will be finished spring of next year. IT invited everyone to come and visit to see the end result. LG questioned what will be done with regards to community parking as this is a large concern of residents. What methods have been put in place to stop parking on Green spaces? IT confirmed that the project plan included the use of sustainably sourced wood to build bollards around the green sites to prevent people parking cars. IT confirmed that they will be carrying out door to door visits to residents asking if residential parking is needed which equates to 7.50 per year for the first car, 30 for the second and 30 for a visitor permit. Sian Phipps (SP) asked how they will measure movements of water with regards to drainage. Fergus O Brien (FOB), DCWW, confirmed that repeat surveys will take place and they will be using best practise from the results of the Llanelli project. SP asked if this project could be extended to other parts of Cardiff. IT confirmed that there are 3 other areas that this type of project can be done. Cardiff Council is keen to expand and this project has resulted in a lot of lessons learnt which they can take with them for other areas including cuts of costs and time. 6 Minutes and follow up from CCWater s 33rd Meeting in Public 6.1 The published minutes of the 33rd Wales Committee meeting in public on 31 March 2017 were signed off as an accurate record of the meeting discussion with all actions being closed. 6.2 Tom Taylor, Chair gave thanks for everyone in attendance and highlighted our next meeting in public and stakeholder event in March Wales Committee Chair Signed Dated 6

7 Annex 1- Follow up Summary Reference Action Lead 1.2 CCWATER to collate answers from both companies to the queries raised from the public and respond to both members of the public by October AF to update CCWater on their plans with regards to the payment and enquiry facility in Wrexham. 3.8 CCWater will continue dialogue on Dee Valley Water area customer charges with Severn Trent. CCWater Andrew Fairburn CCWater Annex 2- List of attendees in public gallery and apologies Attendees at the public gallery: Gerald Francis Catherine Osborne Duncan McCombie Clare Evans Samantha James Debra Hughes Suzanne Butcher Nichola Walden Scott Beard Mark Grice Jim McLaughlin Alex Mortlock Katie Wood Dimitrios Xenias Carwyn Jones Lisa Shepherd Mabon ao Gwynfor Member of the public Welsh Government McCombie Solutions Dee Valley Water CCG Chair Severn Trent Water Severn Trent Water Severn Trent Water Severn Trent Water Cardiff University Powys County Council Environment Agency Behalf of Llyr Gruffydd AM Apologies: Angela Davies Jones Ronnie Alexander Sally Grownow Alun Shurmer Andy Hughes Mark Abrams Consumer Council for Water Consumer Council for Water Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Severn Trent / Dee Valley Auriga Services LTD 7

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