Agenda item

This Council is very concerned the Government continues to allow raw sewage to be dumped into rivers flowing through Leeds.

Council is shocked Environment Agency figures show raw sewage has been pumped into Yorkshire’s natural environment once every 18.75 minutes since 2016 and the number of spills has increased by over 100,000% in that time.

Council notes that the Government’s failure to implement effective regulation, as well as Government cuts to the Environment Agency budget since 2010 have reduced the amount of surveillance of water companies aimed at stopping pollution in rivers and caused an increase in raw sewage dumping.

Council calls on the Government to end this disgraceful practice by allowing unlimited fines, holding water company bosses legally and financially accountable for their negligence, and by toughening up regulations that currently allow the system to be abused.

It was moved by Councillor Carlill, seconded by Councillor Sharpe that this Council is very concerned the Government continues to allow raw sewage to be dumped into rivers flowing through Leeds.

Council is shocked Environment Agency figures show raw sewage has been pumped into Yorkshire’s natural environment once every 18.75 minutes since 2016 and the number of spills has increased by over 100,000% in that time.

Council notes that the Government’s failure to implement effective regulation, as well as Government cuts to the Environment Agency budget since 2010 have reduced the amount of surveillance of water companies aimed at stopping pollution in rivers and caused an increase in raw sewage dumping.

Council calls on the Government to end this disgraceful practice by allowing unlimited fines, holding water company bosses legally and financially accountable for their negligence, and by toughening up regulations that currently allow the system to be abused.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Amanda Carter, seconded by Councillor Richards

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with the following:

acknowledges the work already undertaken by this Government on environmental matters.

This includes the recent Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan published in August 2022 which places obligations and penalties on water companies to actually comply with regulations and permits issued by the Environment Agency, and the expectation that year on year, there will be reductions in the amount of surface water going into the sewer network. 

Council also notes and endorses the local work started by the Wetherby Ward Members to significantly improve water quality in the River Wharfe, including facilitating a deputation to Council in November 2019 and subsequently convening a ‘sewage summit’ at Civic Hall with Council Officers and stakeholders from Yorkshire Water and rivers groups.  Meetings have taken place with Government Ministers and the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board has undertaken an investigation into this issue at the request of the Wetherby Members.

Work is currently underway in the Wetherby Ward to achieve Bathing Water Status for the River Wharfe at Wetherby and Boston Spa.  When successful, this will become one of only a handful of river locations in the country with this formal designation. 

Given the clear action from Government, this Council believes it is now time action is taken in Leeds. This Council commits to actively supporting citizen groups and Wards to achieve Bathing Water Status on rivers within the Council boundary.

Council calls for a report to be brought to Executive Board before the end of March 2023, detailing the timescales and constructive actions Leeds residents can expect as a minimum the Council will deliver in supporting Bathing Water Status applications.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Hart-Brooke, seconded by Councillor Campbell

Add a further paragraph at the end of the original motion:

"This Council further believes that Ofwat is completely discredited as a regulator. It calls on the government to make arrangements for its abolition and replacement with a new regulator focussed on prioritising the protection of waterways and beaches, and ensuring that more water company profits are invested in fixing our broken sewage system."

The amendments in the name of Councillor Amanda Carter and Councillor Hart-Brooke were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council is very concerned the Government continues to allow raw sewage to be dumped into rivers flowing through Leeds.

Council is shocked Environment Agency figures show raw sewage has been pumped into Yorkshire’s natural environment once every 18.75 minutes since 2016 and the number of spills has increased by over 100,000% in that time.

Council notes that the Government’s failure to implement effective regulation, as well as Government cuts to the Environment Agency budget since 2010 have reduced the amount of surveillance of water companies aimed at stopping pollution in rivers and caused an increase in raw sewage dumping.

Council calls on the Government to end this disgraceful practice by allowing unlimited fines, holding water company bosses legally and financially accountable for their negligence, and by toughening up regulations that currently allow the system to be abused.

On the requisition of Councillor Lennox and Councillor Lewis the voting on the motion in the name of Councillor Carlill was recorded as follows;

YES – 65

Akhtar, Almass, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Garthwaite, Garvani, Gibson, Grahame, Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, Z Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Lennox, Lewis, Maloney, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McKenna, Midgley, Mulherin, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Sewards, Shahzad, Sharpe, Thomson, Truswell, Tudor, Venner, Walshaw, Wilson, Wray, Blackburn, Carlisle, Forsaith, Hutchison, Newton, Downes, Golton, Campbell, Chapman, Hart-Brooke and Dixon.

NO – 18

Alderson, B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Amanda Carter, Andrew Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Foster, Harrington, Richards, Robinson, D Seary, S Seary, Smith, Stephenson and Wadsworth.

ABSTAIN –0