Report on the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill

Session: 2012/2013

Date: 23 January 2013

Reference: NIA 85/11-15

Mandate Number: 2011-15 Third Report

9108.pdf (1.09 mb)

Executive Summary

1. The Committee for Regional Development (the Committee/CRD) received the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill into the Committee Stage on 27th November 2012.

2. Sign posts were placed in the Belfast Telegraph, the Irish News and the Newsletter inviting written submissions. In addition, the Committee invited the following organisations to provide written evidence:

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI NI);

The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CCNI);

The Department for Regional Development (DRD);

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee (ICTUNI);

The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR)

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA); and

Northern Ireland Water (NIW)

3. Oral evidence sessions were held from 9 January 2013 until 23 January 2013 from all of the above except NICVA and FSB who respectfully declined the Committee invitations.

4. Members were content with the clauses contained within the Bill and with the policy direction which put into place the Programme for Government PfG Priority Two commitment of no additional water charges for households during the PfG period, 2011 – 2015. The Bill extends the initial period until 31 March 2016.

5. Whilst witnesses did support this policy commitment, there was universal concern with regards to the current governance structures within NIW, in that they were overly bureaucratic and restrictive. Witness believed that the current model impeded strategic planning and that the absence of end year flexibility constrained meaningful infrastructural investment.

6. Members and witnesses are aware that the Executive is currently considering an Options Paper around governance within NIW and all were keen to become involved in a wider debate on the matter as soon as was possible.

7. The relevant extracts from the Minutes of Proceedings are included at Appendix 1. Minutes of the evidence sessions are included at Appendix 2. The Committee would wish to thank all those who provided both written and oral evidence.

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