This council has no confidence in the water company Thames Water, which provides services to households in Oxford. For too long now water company bosses have been able to get away with paying themselves millions of pounds in bonuses while dumping millions of tonnes of raw sewage into the River Thames and under-investing in infrastructure. Despite increasing public scrutiny and despair, dividends continue to be paid out to investors that form part of the company’s complex corporate structure. At the same time, the company has been reneging on its commitments to invest in infrastructure investments.^[1]

The consequences are many. Wildlife is disappearing and rivers are unfit to swim in. For example, Oxford has a long tradition of wild swimming in the River Thames at Port Meadow. The city celebrated when Wolvercote Mill Stream received designated bathing water status in 2022.^[2] But the level of pollution caused by sewage means the Bathing site is currently classified as Poor and bathing is not advised.^[3]

Thames Water is on the brink of collapse and has a mountain of debt estimated at £18bn which it may pass on to taxpayers if the company were to be nationalised.^[4] Furthermore, the current regulator Ofwat has demonstrated it is too weak to stand up to Thames Water.^[5]

The Sewage Scandal must end to protect the River Thames. In response, this Council believes that water companies, including Thames Water, should be put into Special Administration and transformed into public benefit companies^[6]; and Ofwat should be replaced with a tough new regulator with new powers to prevent sewage dumps.

At a local level in response to the river water emergency, the City Council can demonstrate its commitment to support the restoration of river health, by signing up to the Local Charter for Rivers.^[7] This sets out steps that councils can take to use their powers to restore our rivers to health at a local level.^[8]

To this end the Council resolves:

That it has no confidence in Thames Water.

That the Council requests the Leader:

?      writes to the Secretary of State of His Majesty’s Government with responsibility for water companies to call to: replace Ofwat with a tough new regulator with new powers to prevent sewage dumps; and place Thames Water into Special Administration to ensure the company’s debt does not fall on the Government.

?      commissions a cabinet report with an analysis of current actions and gaps in line with the Local River Charter, and recommendations for developing an Oxford City River Action Plan.^[9]

Cllr Jo Sandelson, seconded by Cllr Katherine Miles, proposed the motion as set out in the briefing notes.

Cllr Simon Ottino proposed a combined amendment to the motion and was seconded by Cllr Chris Jarvis. Council debated the amended motion. Following debate and on being put to the vote, the proposed amendment was agreed.

On being put to the vote, the amendment motion was agreed:

This council has no confidence in the water company Thames Water, which provides services to households in Oxford. For too long now water company bosses have been able to get away with paying themselves millions of pounds in bonuses while dumping millions of tonnes of raw sewage into the River Thames and under-investing in infrastructure. Despite increasing public scrutiny and despair, dividends continue to be paid out to investors that form part of the company’s complex corporate structure. At the same time, the company has been reneging on its commitments to invest in infrastructure investments.^[1]

The consequences are many. Wildlife is disappearing and rivers are unfit to swim in. For example, Oxford has a long tradition of wild swimming in the River Thames at Port Meadow. The city celebrated when Wolvercote Mill Stream received designated bathing water status in 2022.^[2] But the level of pollution caused by sewage means the Bathing site is currently classified as Poor and bathing is not advised.^[3]

The current regulator Ofwat has demonstrated it is too weak to stand up to Thames Water.^[4]

The Sewage Scandal must end to protect the River Thames. In response, this Council believes that water companies, including Thames Water, should be put into Special Administration and brought back into public ownership; and Ofwat should be replaced with a tough new regulator with new powers to prevent sewage dumps.

At a local level in response to the river water emergency, the City Council can demonstrate its commitment to support the restoration of river health, by signing up to the Local Charter for Rivers.^[5] This sets out steps that councils can take to use their powers to restore our rivers to health at a local level.^[6]

To this end the Council resolves:

That it has no confidence in Thames Water.

That the Council requests the Leader:

?      writes to the Secretary of State of His Majesty’s Government with responsibility for water companies to call to: replace Ofwat with a tough new regulator with new powers to prevent sewage dumps; and place Thames Water into Special Administration to ensure the company’s debt does not fall on the Government.