Surface water drainage: update September 2009
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At the Labour Party Conference today, 28 September, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced that the Government will legislate to allow water companies to introduce a social tariff in their areas - thereby bypassing Ofwat. The Press Office quotes him as follows: Some churches, sports clubs and youth groups have been hit by huge increases in their water bills for surface drainage. It isn't right. So I can tell you today that we will legislate to allow water companies to run concessionary schemes for these organisations so they can get on with the great job they are doing instead of worrying about unaffordable bills. Presumably this will be done through the Flood and Water Management Bill which is currently in draft and which (we assume) will be taken through Parliament in the forthcoming Session. The announcement has been welcomed by the Church of England and will no doubt be greeted with relief by all our members. General Synod member Martin Dales, who has been very active in the DontDrainUs campaign, called the announcement 'very good news' and said that Synod looked forward to the implementation of what had been promised. So do we - and we will be following developments closely and continuing to work with other groups in the sector to ensure that any schemes that are introduced are fairly implemented. [Source: CLAS - 28 September 2009] |
Church Water Bills - Background
Historically, churches and other non-household users have been treated by water companies on the basis of rateable value. In the case of churches and charities who have neither rateable values nor pay business rates they have mostly received substantially rebated bills or none at all.
Water Industry Act 1999
Since the introduction of the Water Industry Act 1999, OFWAT, the regulator, following Government guidance, has been encouraging water companies to introduce new charging regimes for non-household users for the three main elements of drainage:
- Foul water drainage: waste water from sinks, WCs, etc
- Surface water drainage: rainwater run off from roofs and car parks into main drains
- Highways water drainage: a contribution towards the cost of drainage to public roads
The general shift is towards charging for foul-water drainage in relation to
metered supply (where fitted). Surface water drainage and highways water drainage
is to be charged by reference to the footprint of building and drained car parks
or hard standings on a site.
So far, these new fees have been introduced by Northumbrian Water, United Utilities,
Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water: OFWAT are encouraging all water companies to
follow suit.
What effect is this having on churches?
Changes in water charging structures in a number of regions mean that churches are charged on the same scale as businesses, leading to large (for example, 1300%) increases in annual water bills.
Is anyone else affected by these new charges?
Scout huts, village halls, amateur sports clubs, other faith groups to name but a few: The Churches Legislative Advisory Committee is engaged with some of these in terms of joint action on the problem.
What is being done to try and change the situation?
1. Downing Street Petition
In April 2008, Teesside in the Diocese of York, faced with a huge bill, set up a petition on the Downing Street website. It has so far (1st February) attracted over 40,000 signatures, lies in 1st position out of over 4,500 petitions on the site, and its availability for support has recently been extended to 6th April 2009.
It can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ChurchWaterBills/
2. Churches’ Legislation Advisory Committee (CLAS)
CLAS (formerly the Churches’ Main Committee) of which the General Assembly is an Associate Member, has met with OFWAT to try and lobby for change to this decision, but the latter insists that it is fairer for all non-household users to share the charges and that this is cost neutral to the water companies in that, apparently, no extra revenue is raised.
Representations to Government
The Chairman of CLAS wrote to Lord Rooker, (the Minister for Sustainable Framing and Food and Animal Welfare) but received a response supporting OFWAT’s policy. Representations continue to be made at all levels including DEFRA and the Prime Minister’s office. Congregations are encouraged to take up the issue with their MP.
Additional information can be found at www.dontdrainus.org
