Issue - meetings

To consider issues relating to, and proposed scope of work for, decarbonisation and water resource management.

The Local Plans and New Communities Manager presented the report which sets out the issues relating to and the proposed scope of work to address how the Local Plan can address climate change mitigation, resilience, adaptation and achieving net zero carbon and water resource management in preparing the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan. It was confirmed that it was the water companies’ responsibility to provide a water supply, however it was the local authorities responsibility to ensure that the Local Plan is supported by appropriate evidence to demonstrate that the plan is deliverable.

Members discussed the challenges of providing a sustainable water supply for the future, given the long-term forecast of less rain in the region and an existing dependency on aquifers. In addition, they considered current thinking around supplying water in future and ideas included scaling down extraction to create a reservoir downstream, piping water from elsewhere and pumping water through sand dunes.

Members highlighted the need to raise concerns about water infrastructure early with providers, in order to ensure that the supply is provided for a deliverable local plan.

Officers noted the concerns and suggested that we await the output of the work before drawing any conclusions.

Councillor Lees left the meeting at 20:13

The meeting ended at 20:20