Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Place
Presented by the Planning Portfolio Holder

The report was presented by the Planning Portfolio Holder.

The Planning Portfolio Holder thanked Community Scrutiny Committee for their steer in setting up the Task and Finish group and members of the Task and Finish Group for their work in gathering evidence and producing clear recommendations.

Councillor T Eynon was invited to speak, as chair of Community Scrutiny Committee. Thanks were given to the Chair, the working group, residents, parish councillors, Severn Trent Water representative Stephanie Cawley, East Midlands Councils, and council officers for their contributions to the report on sewage outflows and drainage issues. They expressed appreciation for the Council's positive response to the report's recommendations. Councillor T Eynon welcomed the Council's intention to work with the local MP to encourage the Government to implement the Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Approval Body provisions. They highlighted the impact on downstream landowners, noting that sewage pollution—including waste and debris—had affected Mary Lorimer’s land at Townsend Lane. Councillor T Eynon argued that stronger public oversight of SuDS would help address such situations. they raised concerns about one SuDS pond at the end of Frearson Road, Hugglescote, which appeared different from the others and may not be functioning properly. They suggested that this could be contributing to water ingress during wet weather and therefore to the sewage overflow problems at Townsend Lane. Councillor T Eynon asked the planning and development team to raise this concern with Severn Trent Water, as the infrastructure owner, and concluded by expressing the hope that the company was being held accountable for the environmental impacts occurring on affected land.

In response to a query about Recommendation 3 from Councillor T Eynon, the Strategic Director of Place advised that Cabinet did not have the authority to direct planning enforcement actions, as it was a planning function and that was reflected in the recommendation and Officer response.

They commented that discussions had taken place with the Planning and Development Team, following the review, which had identified a potential opportunity to introduce additional planning conditions on future developments that could provide better monitoring and oversight of drainage issues. However, that remained a matter for further investigations and development.

The financial risks in relation to planning applications being overturned at appeal were noted.

The Planning Portfolio Holder moved each recommendation from the Task and Finish group individually.

A member commented that the work done by the Task and Finish group was very important and that it was good to see Community Scrutiny working at a very high level.

It was moved by Councillor T Saffell, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.  The Strategic Director with responsibility for        Planning be requested to   write to Severn Trent Water and requests a review of their approach     taken in responding to planning applications and seek further        engagement between Planning Officers and STW in this matter, including the Regulation 19 Local Plan consultation commencing in July    2026.

2.  The Strategic Director of Place writes be requested to write to Severn Trent Water to request additional interim mitigation measures to reduce           the impact of pollution on people and the local environment.

3.  The Planning and Development Team be requested to engage with      Severn Trent Water.

4.  The Chief Executive Officer be requested to write, on behalf of the        Council, to the local MP setting out the findings of the Community     Scrutiny Task and Finish Group and make representation in respect of        the enactment of Schedule 3 of the Floods and Water Management Act     2010.

5.  Officers be requested to carefully consider ongoing SuDS liabilities and      raises these matters with the MP when making representations on        Schedule 3 and the implementation of the SuDS Approval Body.

6.  The Communication Team be requested to engage with Severn Trent Water and explore opportunities to reinforce public messaging.

Reason for decision: To receive and then decide on actions stemming from the Community Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on Water Management in the Coalville Strategic Growth Area.