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Question from: County Councillor James Gibson-Watt Subject: Sewerage Charges to Powys residents
Question:
Could the Portfolio Holder explain why residents in former Powys County Council houses have received 2021/22 Sewerage Charges Notices that have increased charges by nearly 70% from 2020/21 levels? The Notices refer to possible further increases in future years. These increases are excessive and appear to have been imposed without consultation with residents or subject to scrutiny by Cabinet or the relevant Council Scrutiny Committee. Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
Sewerage charges reflect actual expenditure incurred maintaining and managing water treatment plants. The Council is only able to recover costs incurred.
Charges are levied each year for spending which occurred two years earlier. For 2018-2019 (for which charges were made in 2020-2021) the Council spent £60,427.12 on all sewerage works (repairs and general maintenance). In 2019-2020 (for which charges will be made in 2021-2022) the Council spent £103,530.04. This is because a high level of repairs were required to make sure that the water treatment plants continued to comply with regulations governing the operation of the installations. The extent of future charges will be informed by the need for repairs and maintenance of the plants. That means that annual charges could increase or decrease, depending on the expenditure incurred by the Council.
The Council is currently undertaking a site-by-site review of all water treatment plants, to inform a preventative programme of major works, which may include renewal where necessary to reduce the need for ongoing repairs. Provision for such investment has been made in the capital programme included in the Council’s Thirty Year Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2021-2022.
Sewerage charges were considered by Cabinet as part of the annual Rent Setting Report for 2021-2022, which was approved by Cabinet February 16th, 2021.
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