Agenda item

This is a policy and development item. The Panel have an early opportunity to help shape strategy.

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, introduced the item. Officers showed clips from the National Emergency Briefing and outlined that the session would be structured as follows: (presentation slides are attached to the minutes):

1. Feedback on the outline Climate & Nature Strategy draft, including three questions:
   • Sources used
   • The outline structure
   • The content framework
2. Discussion on people?focused elements (communities, businesses, jobs/skills, and vulnerable groups).

Dan Green, Group Sustainability Director YTL-UK, Wessex Water, addressed the panel and covered the following points: (presentation slides are attached to the minutes):

·  Meaning of Sustainability for Wessex Water / YTL

·  Challenging Established Approaches

·  Sustainability Frameworks

·  Biodiversity & Catchment Management

·  Climate Mitigation & Adaptation

·  Social Sustainability & Vulnerable Customer Support

·  Brabazon – Sustainable New Town Development

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Heijltjes asked how the Council and Wessex Water could work together to stop sewage pollution so that rivers become safe for nature and for recreational use (e.g., swimming). Dan Green stated that the issue is a rainwater problem, not foul sewage capacity. He stated that the Victorian combined sewer systems collect both rainwater and foul water, causing overload during storms. Managing rain “where it falls” is essential: porous surfaces, reduced hard?standing, sustainable drainage.

He further explained that Wessex Water is investing in additional capacity although integrated catchment management is needed. For ecology, the largest problem is phosphorus, not storm overflows. He referred councillors to Environment Agency’s Catchment Data Explorer for detailed breakdowns.

Councillor Leach noted past Wessex Water accounts where dividends exceeded infrastructure investment and hoped this balance would change. He also asked if foul water is treated by being diluted. Dan Green explained that treatment is a defined process at sewage treatment works with multiple stages. In-network spills may involve some settlement, but this is not classed as treatment. During prolonged rainfall, spills can pass through rapidly, but the aim is to reduce frequency via more storage.

Councillor Leach asked if Wessex Water considers current environmental harm acceptable as long as it does not increase. Dan Green stated that ecological status assessments identify reasons rivers fail to reach “good status”. Only a few sites fail primarily due to storm overflows. Nutrients (phosphorus) remain the major ecological driver, not overflows.

In response to a query from Councillor Leach, Dan Green stated that swallowing water from any river or chlorinated swimming pool is not advised. A river sterilised to swimming?pool levels would have no ecology, so some risk always exists.

Councillor Hounsell thanked Wessex Water for the Bath Hill storage tank in Saltford, which had significantly reduced historic flooding issues.

A member of the public asked if this information (for example on porous pavements) has been shared. Dan Green stated that messages are shared in customer magazines, YouTube content and social media. However, greater impact comes from working with local authorities and developers.

Councillor Wait asked what nitrates and phosphates actually do to a river and what safe levels are. Dan Green explained that both are nutrients that fuel algal growth and that excessive growth strips dissolved oxygen, causing ecological collapse (eutrophication). Phosphorus is the limiting nutrient in freshwater; nitrogen more so in marine systems. Regulatory limits vary by location, flow and river size; many limits are being tightened.

Councillor Walker asked why Wessex Water is not doing enough with farmers to prevent agricultural run?off and why not divert sewer overflows away from rivers. Dan Green explained that Wessex Water employs catchment advisers and maintains one of the largest teams. Much of this work fills a gap where other regulators have not acted. He further explained that overflows cannot simply be diverted “elsewhere”, they are naturally located in low?lying areas.

Councillor Jackson asked about plans for the Radstock Sewage Plant (Mill Road). She also asked how water rising from old mines is being managed and if the mine-water heat be used for energy. Dan Green stated that Mine-water discharges fall under the Environment Agency, not Wessex Water. Regarding Radstock treatment works, an update will be provided.

The Chair thanked Dan Green.

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Climate and Nature Strategy

Officers asked for feedback on the sources:

Members commented that the following additional sources could be incorporated:

·  Canal & River Trust

·  Bath & Avon River Trust

·  Movement Strategy and Air Quality Strategy, once finalised, should be treated as key internal sources.”

·  Community Groups/surveys (such as in Peasedown)

·  Consider legislation — rights of rivers, nature protection orders — legislation makes things happen.

·  Concerns raised about individual responsibility (e.g., car idling near schools; tree vandalism).

·  additional health-related sources, including references to the Wellcome Trust and a recent national “Bristol Health Declaration”.

Officers asked for feedback on the outline:

Councillor Leach stated that he would like to seea theme on attitudes, cultural change, and shifting narratives. People need support to adopt sustainable behaviours. The Cabinet Member agreed and emphasised the Council’s influence through communications, partnerships, anchor institutions, and culture?change work.

Councillor MacFie expressed concern that combining climate and nature risks over?emphasising ecology at the expense of carbon reduction. The officer explained the interdependence of climate and ecological crises, the importance of nature?based solutions, and that delaying nature action until a perfect net?zero pathway exists would be harmful.

Councillor Heijltjes highlighted co?benefits (insulation reducing bills) and the importance of focusing on aspects the Council can influence (transport, data, behaviour change).

Councillor Hounsell stated the need for public access to local carbon?emissions data (e.g., at village?level), and targeting messaging to motivations beyond altruism, including financial savings.

Councillor Beaumont suggested stronger community involvement models (local assemblies, place?based engagement).

Councillor Wait highlighted the importance of including threats, such as national policy changes, infrastructure stress (e.g., burst water mains), and power cuts.

Councillor Leach stated that people do care about costs but also about their children and grandchildren.

Councillor Jackson noted asked that historic buildings be considered.

Officers asked for feedback on the framework:

Councillor Leach stated that the framework needs a chapter on economic practices, including plastics use, packaging and supply chains.

Councillor Wait mentioned a recognition of plant?based diets as a shift and suggested wetlands creation as a major resilience intervention.

Councillor Heijltjes agreed on a plant?based shift and added regenerative farming. She also argued the Council should focus resources on areas where it can have the greatest influence.

Councillor MacFie reiterated concern that resources must be targeted and questioned practicality of acting across all areas simultaneously.

Councillor Walker emphasised the importance of food?waste education and practical household skills.

Officers asked for feedback on the people focused sections of the strategy:

Councillor Wait spoke about queuing at recycling centre queues (61 cars at Keynsham) and urged consideration of additional recycling centres.

Councillor MacFie commended officers for the report/presentation and stated that stressed carers and the most vulnerable must be central.

Councillor Heijltjes asked how children and young people will be consulted meaningfully. The officer outlined a recent secondary?school climate conference, upcoming engagement with university students and primary schools and analysis of school sustainability plans.

Councillor Walker asked for stronger involvement of schools and colleges in shaping local skills pipelines and matching young people's training to local job opportunities.

Councillor Wait raised concerns about under?resourced public?sector agencies (planning enforcement, EA, water regulation) and the impact on delivery.

Councillor Henman mentioned – a better allocation from the West of England Combined Authority; tourist levy powers and national action on energy?industry taxation.

The Chair closed the item and thanked officers and the Cabinet Member for their presentation and Panel members for their input.