Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: For Determination

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 23, 2026

Purpose:

Content: Commission a detailed paper for Cabinet setting out options for Canterbury City Council to Lead or co-lead the coordination of a South East Water Stakeholder Group, comprising of the local authorities who are supplied by SEW, to;    Establish clear governance arrangements and terms of reference;    Raise concerns collectively, press for essential infrastructure investment, and secure consistency in emergency planning, compensation arrangements, and customer communications.    Define expectations for transparency, performance reporting and cooperation from South East Water;    Recommend mechanisms for monitoring, scrutinising and escalating issues where service failures impact residents, local businesses or community resilience.    Set out this Council’s expectation that South East Water must:    provide timely and accurate information to local authorities during supply disruptions;    share clear and accessible data on system vulnerabilities;    publish transparent investment plans for short-term resilience and long-term capacity;    engage meaningfully with regulators, local authorities, and the communities it serves.    Invite the Leader and Chief Executive to write to the government minister responsible for Ofwat and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, outlining the Council’s concerns and requesting strengthened regulatory oversight and intervention where performance failures persist.