Memorandum from Yorkshire Water (YH 11)

 

We note the scope and remit of the Inquiry, and wish to contribute to assist the review. However, our comments are restricted to our experiences and involvement with Yorkshire Forward, and we do not offer views or opinions as to role responsibilities accountability nor capabilities either existing or for the future.

 

1. We see Yorkshire Forward as a key regional stakeholders, who has actively engaged with utilities through the Joint Utility Group that it established which has improved communication with utility company's that support the development of the regional economy plus further contribute significantly to the regional economy in their own right as investors and employers. We believe Yorkshire Forward recognises and can demonstrate the opportunities arising from this positive engagement. The scope of the engagement could be and should be extended further to share investment knowledge and cognisance of emerging or dominant key regional issues.

 

2. Yorkshire Forward provides a much needed interface with utility and infrastructure providers, and has worked effectively through the Joint Utilities Group that shares forward plans and information, and will act as a 'problem solving' vehicle. The Group was particularly effective in providing input and early comments on the Regional Spatial Strategy, and supported the individual links to the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Assembly.

 

3. Regional knowledge backed by regional focus, and the ability to move or think across local authority boundaries on forward infrastructure provision, sustainable/climate issues and opportunities, flooding, strategy planning is very important; and will be of even greater importance for the future if current practices and arrangements are to evolve and be implemental.

 

4. Yorkshire Forward or a similar body has an increasingly important role to fulfil and deliver on the emerging key issues like climate change, carbon, sustainability; by providing regional profile of the issues for debate with support to those discussions and learning through opportunity events together with sharing of information and practices. A regional body brings focus to the local regional plus national issues, and 'makes the issue real' and relevant to all whether business or members of the public.

It could be argued that a regional body like Yorkshire Forward could take and offer more planning strategy to the region and challenge to local planning authorities on wind generation projects where local parochial interests may gain more weight and not be considered in a regional context, leading to a shortfall of achieving sustainable energy generation.

There should be a balance of effort and focus on large scale innovation and projects, against smaller scale projects and practice sharing. That balance at the present time seems to favour larger projects such as carbon capture, and less visibility and support on smaller projects or initiatives.

 

5. Yorkshire Forward maintains local and regional business contacts. We would support and commend further development of local and regional business contacts, including a direct feedback link.

 

6. The level of involvement facilitated by Yorkshire Forward of utilities as regional stakeholders in RES process was limited but probably at an appropriate level for that policy. The significant benefit came from focussed communication of the RES strategies, that provided earlier and relevant information upon future infrastructure provision requirements.

 

 

NEIL D. PINNER,

MANAGER OF LAND PROPERTY & PLANNING,

REGULATION AND INVESTMENT,

YORKSHIRE WATER.