Meeting documents

(Voting: 8 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions)

The Chief Executive introduced the report and advised that although it was the Council’s responsibility to regulate the private water supply, it was not responsible for rectifying it.  He said this was a complicated issue which was being used as a case study by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) as it was so unusual.  As there was no Parish Council, there was no body to lend the money to and to lend individually would be an administrative burden therefore it was easier to grant the money.  The sum requested was lower than expected and this was the only area where water improvement notices had been served so it was an exceptional circumstance. 

In response to questions from Members, the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer replied:-

·         It had been investigated but was not legally possible to add a supplement to a parish precept as they were a Parish Meeting.  Also, Secretary of State approval would be required.

·         It was for each individual community on a private water supply to resolve any issues themselves and any further requests for assistance would be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Executive.

·         The grant request was linked to the water improvement notices served.

·         The total cost of the scheme was commercially confidential.

·         The water supply had deteriorated over a number of years to the point where the notice served recommended that all drinking water was boiled.

·         The grant exceeded the amount allowed to be granted by an Area Committee (£12,500).

·         It was not possible to have a scheme which provided a solution to all the private water supplies in the district as they all required different solutions, and, it was for residents to find their own solutions.

During discussion, the following points were made:

·         Concern that giving a grant sets a precedent for other private water supply users to apply for a grant as well.

·         The money should be in the form of a loan.

·         The residents could apply for a Wessex Home Improvement Loan and the criteria for the loan scheme should be amended if it did not currently allow loans for this purpose.

·         The Council provided grants to many communities and this grant would help local residents with a local solution. 

It was noted that the comments of the Scrutiny Committee had been answered during their discussion.   

Councillor Peter Seib proposed and Councillor Henry Hobhouse seconded that the decision be deferred for clarification of whether the Wessex Home Improvement Loan scheme could be utilised, and, for an assessment on the number of private water supplies across the district and of the potential cost implications were some or all of them to make a request for funding. 

This proposal to defer the decision was put to the vote and carried by 8 votes in favour and one against.

(Voting: 8 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions)