Decision details

The Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals for the entering into of a revised agreement with Essex & Suffolk Water in respect of water and sewerage services to Council houses

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented a report on the outcome of negotiations with Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW), who trade as Northumbrian Water, regarding the collection of water and sewerage charges from social housing tenants by the Council on behalf of ESW.

The negotiations result in the Council receiving an increase in the administration recoupment rate from 6.5% to 13% of the charges made by ESW, with an additional £1 million plus in back-payment of administration recoupment and claw backs for overpayments on the basis that the new agreement will be effective from 1 April 2009.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that these and other favourable arrangements would bring significant additional revenue to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Agreed, in order to achieve better value for money for the benefit of the HRA, to the Council entering into the revised three-year agreement with Essex and Suffolk Water effective from 1 April 2009 on the terms set out in this report.