Agenda item

(To receive a report by Paul Brookes (County Flood Risk Manager) which provides an update on the activities relating to Anglian Water's Water Resources East (WRE) Project)

Consideration was given to a report which updated members on activities relating to Anglian Water's Water Resources East (WRE) and the opportunities which might emerge from it in relation to the GLLEP Water Management Plan and LCC's Waterways Development Strategy.  It was reported that officers were supporting Anglian Water to develop the proposal and to ensure that Lincolnshire was correctly positioned to benefit from the opportunities which may emerge from it.  It was noted that this project could bring significant investment into the county.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was commented that it was interesting to hear that a potential reservoir (or group of linked reservoirs) proposal – if this proved to be the solution ultimately selected to progress WRE - could be on a scale equivalent to Grafham Water, and it was queried whether the effect on planning was a concern.  Members were advised that Anglian Water and the authority were working in consultation with landowners, and there was also a representative of the NFU on the project board. 

·         A major infrastructure project may not go through local planning processes as it could be a regionally or nationally important project. 

·         It was queried whether any reservoir would use good agricultural land, and it was confirmed that this would be an important factor in site selection.

·         It was noted that a balance would be needed in relation to the use of agricultural land for any reservoir, as there was a need to consider how this land would be maintained if there was not enough water available for the crops.  There was also a balance required in relation to land use for housing growth as well.

·         It was clarified that the underlying strata required for a reservoir needed to be clay, and this was not the underlying strata for grade 1 agricultural land.

·         All options would be looked at in relation to water management due to increasing uncertainty with climate change and both the frequency and quantity of rainfall.

·         Members commented that they were pleased that the idea of a reservoir was being looked at seriously and queried whether due to the geography it would be an embanked reservoir.  It was also queried whether there were other reservoirs of this scale which were completely embanked.  It was suggested that fenland topography could require the use of embankments.

·         It was highlighted that Boston Borough were going through the examination process for its local plan and it was queried how this sort of proposal could affect it as there was no indication of timescale.  However, it was agreed that it was an exciting concept.  The document would set out the local plan until 2036, so any large scale infrastructure proposal could have an impact on overall land use as set out in the Local Plan.

·         Members were advised that this would be considered in a different way to local planning issues, but officers were not yet certain of the process by which it would be addressed.  All agencies which would be involved had their own powers to permit development.  In terms of timescales, it was reported that even if there was a public inquiry it was expected that an outcome would be decided by 2019 and the earliest construction could start in 2025.  However, a lot of the added value needed to be brought in ahead of this date.

·         It was noted that local plans should be kept under review, and the South Lincolnshire Local Plan would be reviewed every 5 years so it should pick up on any relevant initiative in the future.

·         It was noted that partnership working through the Waterways Development Strategy was mature and effective and had been successful in delivering £26m of projects to date. 

·         It was noted that Anglian Water would need to move water in the same channels as boats would move, and so there were a lot of synergies.

·         The Executive Councillor commented that he had always been a supporter of waterways work and now there would be opportunities for growth of the economic and tourism agenda and this proposal should be looked at as an enabler for private sector development.  There would be a need to be prepared to bid for funding at short notice.

·         It was noted that the Council was working very closely with the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to ensure that focus remained on water management structures for economic growth purposes.  It was commented that if the government could be influenced to start thinking in terms of the potential benefits to the east of England, Lincolnshire may stand a better chance of opening up wider investment channels.

·         It was queried whether similar projects had been carried out in Europe or beyond.  Members were advised that some of these things had been done elsewhere, but there was a uniqueness to each individual area.

·         It was queried whether using the waterways for goods and services had been considered, and it was reported that it had, but was not considered feasible due to the amount of goods which would need to be carried.  However, it was noted that there was always a mindset which would look for opportunities.

RESOLVED

            That the report be noted and that officers be tasked to continue to work with Anglian Water and other stakeholders to ensure that LCC was positioned to attract the investment that WRE could bring to the County and to exploit the wider opportunities that this would create.