Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Water UK
1. Water UK is pleased to submit the following
additional evidence in response to the Committee's request for
an example of how the BRITE initiative has "moved policy
away from the practicalities at the sharp end and the local staff".
2. Water companies' general experience is
that the BRITE reorganisation has introduced additional processes
which have slowed things down. Additional layers of bureaucracy
and levels of decision-making have been introduced. Companies
are spending more time going from areas to region to supra-region
to discuss regulatory issues and submissions. This process can
often be iterative and very time consuming.
3. A good example is decision-making about
statutory drought plans. It is necessary to consult three layers
of the EA in order to get consensus on specific elements (for
instance drought permit sites) whereas in the past the negotiation
was with the EA regional Water Resources Manager and his team
who spoke on behalf of the Agency as a whole. For some larger
water service companies this means speaking to three area teams,
two regional teams and the supra-regional water resources team.
4. Day-to-day issues now have to be addressed
at three different layers within the EA, and companies have to
work to bring these elements together rather than getting a "one-stop
shop" approach where one representative will speak on behalf
of the EA as a corporate body.
Alex Martin
South Staffordshire Water
Barrie Clarke
Water UK
January 2006
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