Water companies will be allowed to charge churches and charity groups a concessionary rate for surface water drainage under legislative changes announced by Hilary Benn.
Some charities, churches, sports group and other voluntary organisations had been hit hard by the move to to charging for surface water drainage by site area, rather than rateable value.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said this wasw wrong. "We will legislate to allow water companies to run concessionary schemes for these organisations so they can get on with the great job they do in our communities, instead of worrying about unaffordable bills," he told the Labour party conference in Brighton. The legislation will be brought in as part of the Flood and Water Management Bill in the next session of parliament.
Environment minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who handles the water brief, said: "While all customers should contribute towards the cost of surface water drainage, increases in bills of several hundred per cent or more are clearly unaffordable for community and voluntary groups, and we cannot be in a position where this would force them to close.
"So the Government's new laws will allow water companies to apply concessionary charges for community organisations such as scout groups, amateur sports clubs and faith groups.
"I said recently that I was determined to fix the problem. I am confident that this will provide a national solution that will mean a fairer deal."
See reports from Brighton at our ""Connected":http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/blogs/connected/" blog.

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