Agenda item

To receive one Motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 12.1:

Disruption to water supply in Waverley and Guildford and raw sewage overflows / storm overflows

The deadline for receipt of motions was 5pm on Thursday 30 November.

71.1        The Mayor reported that one motion had been submitted, and the Leader found it convenient and conducive to the dispatch of business to allow the motion to be dealt with at the meeting. The motion, submitted by Councillors Kiehl, Townsend, Murray, and Williams, was set out in the agenda.

71.2        Councillor Keihl stated there was an amendment to consider before commencing her introduction. Councillor Follows mentioned he had submitted an amendment, hoping it could be adopted as part of the substantive motion before the debate. The amendment, seconded by Councillor Crowe, aimed to implement the outcome of the State of the Borough meeting held the previous Friday. The Mayor asked Councillor Crowe to confirm her seconding, and Councillor Crowe confirmed. With the consent of the meeting, the amendment was included.

71.3        Councillor Hyman requested the motion to be put up on the board. The Mayor clarified that the motion had not been agreed upon; the council had agreed to the amendment.

71.4        With the Mayor's permission, Councillor Kiehl moved the motion dealing with issues regarding the disruption to the water supply in Waverley and Guildford in early November. Councillor Townsend seconded the motion.

71.5        Councillor Kiehl stated the motion sought to formally record the disruption to the water supply in significant parts of Waverley since Saturday, 4th November. The motion acknowledged community efforts supporting vulnerable residents and raised concerns about raw sewage, poor communication with Thames Water, and chronic underinvestment in water infrastructure.The motion requested the Leader to write to Thames Water for a detailed report on the November incident, ongoing raw sewage discharges, compensation assurances, and future communications. Councillor Kiehl noted improvements to the motion due to the amendment from the State of the Borough debate.

71.6        Councillor Kiehl added concerns about Thames Water's financial situation and highlighted the massive impact of recent water disruptions, affecting around 13,000 people. Schools and daycares were closed, causing childcare issues, and communication from Thames Water was deemed unhelpful.

71.7        Compensation issues were raised, and Councillor Kiehl requested clarity from Thames Water. The motion was discussed at the borough debate on 8th December, with a high level of public attendance. Councillor Kiehl expressed gratitude to officers, building staff, and all involved in organising and facilitating the meeting.

71.8        Councillor Kiehl highlighted issues where those on the priority service register and care homes were left without water. Non-drivers faced challenges carrying water up steep hills, and local efforts, including councillors and businesses, were recognised for assisting residents. Councillor Kiehl thanked all Waverley officers who worked to represent residents' interests.

71.9        The Mayor invited speakers.Councillor Townsend mentioned that earlier at Surrey Council, she and the leader successfully presented a similar motion. She highlighted issues faced by Waverley residents, such as bursting pipes, inadequate sewage infrastructure, and multiple disruptions in the water supply. Councillor Townsend stressed the need for Thames Water accountability, citing sustained leaks and a lack of planning and investment.

71.10     Councillor Townsend found it unacceptable for taxpayers to cover Thames Water's debt, emphasising the government's role in allowing this situation. She highlighted unsustainable river extraction and worsening water quality, stating the recent events in Godalming and Guildford were symptoms of a larger issue, also impacting Cranleigh.Councillor Townsend supported the motion and its amendment, calling for action against Thames Water.

71.11     The Mayor invited more speakers.Councillor Robini recounted Thames Water's past failures in communication and infrastructure promises. He mentioned sewage leakage into highways and private houses during floods and criticised Thames Water's spending on shareholders without addressing issues. Councillor Williams reflected on the failed promises of water industry privatisation and advocated for its return to public ownership. He stressed the crisis point in water supply inconsistency, pollution, and Thames Water's absence in responding to questions.

71.12     Councillor Goodridge expressed support for the motion, emphasising the need for water distribution during outages and questioning the use of procedure rule 15.1.Councillor Follows endorsed the motion, citing its unanimous passage in Surrey County Council. He highlighted the impact on 13,000 houses, potential reservoir closures, and the historical need for assistance from Thames Water. Councillor Follows pledged to convey the outcomes of the council meeting to Thames Water.

71.13     Councillor Austin reiterated the dismay of Bramley ward residents due to decades of underinvestment in infrastructure. He listed various issues faced by the ward, including sustained leaks, sewage overflows, and water outages without compensation.Councillor Austin requested a full apology directly from Thames Water.

71.14     Councillor Martin expressed support for the motion and questioned why actions were not taken by the Labour government or the leader of the Liberal Democrats on water industry structure and investment.Councillor Busby, highlighting disruptions in Chiddingfold, emphasised the need to investigate water and sewage infrastructure issues and the environmental record of all water companies, not just Thames Water.

71.15     Councillor Palmer stressed the importance of political parties working together to press Thames Water for reassurances. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation of having to ask Thames Water for a solution and hoped for a binding commitment from the water company.

71.16     The Mayor announced the vote. Councillor Kiehl emphasised the inadequacy of Thames Water's support during disruptions and urged the council to seek answers for residents. She thanked fellow councillors for their engagement.

The Mayor moved to a vote and it was RESOLVED that the motion was CARRIED: