Campaigns

ACRE was pleased to hear Hilary Benn MP’s announcement of the Government’s intention to enable water companies to set concessionary rates for surface water and drainage charges, which Ofwat will be required to accept. ACRE will be involved in discussions with Defra regarding the details of the concessions to ensure that all community organisations managing buildings are included. The concessions are expected to form part of Defra’s Flood and Water Management Bill. Addressing the Labour Party conference, Environment Minister Hilary Benn said water firms would now be able to offer concessions for surface drainage. The new legislation will affect England and Wales

Submission of Evidence to Environmental Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Inquiry - OFWAT’s Price Review 2009

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee undertook a short inquiry into the current Periodic Review 2009 of water price limits being conducted by the Office of Water Services (Ofwat). View ACRE's submission

Surface Water Charges Campaign

United Utilities have informed Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) www.acre.org.uk that they have been in discussions with Ofwat and that in order to qualify for the review of the site area charge, customers must be in one of the following categories:

Faith buildings – registered under the Places of Worship registration Act 1855
Community amateur sports cubs – registered under Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 2002 with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
Guide and Scout Association Buildings

ACRE wants to make sure that these categories are changed to include all rural community buildings such as WI halls, memorial halls, reading rooms, parish halls. These types of halls play a significant pivotal role in their community, are registered charities under the Recreational Charities Act 1953 and have a definition under the Licensing Act 2003.

We have spoken with Church representatives and are reassured that their campaign did not have any intention of excluding any voluntary sector group affected by these charges.

Please contact the adviser for your County who will be collecting evidence of increases in your surface water charges and alert your local MP.

Note also that the United Utilities categories do not include community centres in suburban and urban areas. If you manage an urban building contact Community Matters

Examples of possible increased charge:

Building	Previous annual charges	New annual charges	Percentage increase
Hough Village Hall, Cheshire	£53.65	£2580.00 by 2011	4009%
Alvanley Village Hall, Cheshire	£67.71	£458.72 in 2008 rising to £1,233 by 2010	Initially 675% rising to 1813%
Kelsall Community Centre, Cheshire	£400.00	£1,600	400%

See www.dontdrainus.org for more information

Briefing update Surface Water Charges Aril 2009

Background Information - ACRE Briefing [August 2008] - Water charges for village halls