Report No 717/01

ANGUS COUNCIL

PLANNING AND TRANSPORT POLICY COMMITTEE 14 JUNE 2001

SUBJECT: NORTH OF SCOTLAND WATER AUTHORITY INVESTMENT PLAN 2001-2002

REPORT BY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND TRANSPORT

Abstract: This report outlines details of the Interim Single Year Investment Plan (2001-2002) published by the North of Scotland Water Authority (NoSWA) and highlights the areas of specific interest to Angus Council including progress being made towards resolving drainage constraints in Angus.

1 RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Committee:-

1. note the general terms of the Interim Investment Plan (2001-2002) published by NoSWA and the planned investment for the coming year throughout the Water Authority’s area and in particular investment in Angus;

2. note the programmed investment in Monfieith, and as part of the Tay Waste Water Project, and in Montrose (Waste Water Plant), Brechin, Kirriemuir, Letham, Auchterhouse and in relation to specific drainage issues;

3. seek the support of NoSWA in subsequent reviews of the Investment Plan to programme investment to fully secure the timeous implementation of the Adopted Angus Local Plan Development Strategy through the removal of current drainage infrastructure constraints applying to Kirriemuir and a number of the Angus villages with priority being given to Hillside, Inverkeilor and Monikie. The latter to also include resolution of a water constraint;

4. note that subsequent investment plans will return to the three year programme timescale.

2 INTRODUCTION

2.1 NoSWA has recently published an Interim Single Year Investment Plan (2001-2002). The departure from the more usual three year plan has been caused by a major exercise now being carried out by the Scottish Executive on the investment needs of all three Scottish Water Authorities during 2002-2006. This review includes extensive public consultation and is unlikely to be concluded until late 2001.

2.2 The Investment Plan document provides a summary of recent achievements towards meeting NoSWA’s priorities and includes an outline of projects completed during the 2000-2001 financial period. Details of investment projects over the 2001-2002 period are also outlined. 2 Report No 717/01

2.3 Priority for investment continues to be directed towards improvements in drinking water quality and providing a cleaner environment, with priorities often guided by requirements to reach legislative deadlines on water quality and especially water treatment.

2.4 NoSWA have stressed that there is still a full programme of investment in the years beyond the current Interim Investment Plan 2001-2002. Over a six year period it is anticipated that more than £500 million will be spent on sewage treatment plants and sewerage systems to clean up beaches and rivers. A further £400 million will be invested in providing safe clean drinking water.

2.5 A copy of the Interim Investment Plan 2001-2002 is available for reference in the Members’ Lounge.

2.6 This report provides a synopsis of projects affecting Angus and how this contributes to implementation of the development strategy and priorities established by the Adopted Angus Local Plan (November 2000).

3 SUMMARY OF INVESTMENT PLAN

3.1 The key objectives of NoSWA improvements to drinking water quality and sewage treatment continue to drive the investment programme. Although only an interim one year plan, NoSWA will be investing approximately £125 million over the coming year with a further £70 million contribution from three public/private partnerships. Approximately £110 million, including finance from public/private partnerships will be spent cleaning up rivers, beaches and lochs to meet urban waste waster treatment regulations and other legal requirements and £50 million to improve water quality to satisfy drinking water quality regulations. The remaining expenditure will renew and upgrade existing treatment works and pipes with a small amount allocated to providing new public services.

3.2 Approximately 71 major projects were completed during 2000-2001 within the NoSWA area. In Angus this included:-

• Phases 1 and 2 – new sewer improvements.

• Progress towards the Tay Waste Water Project.

3.3 Total expenditure associated with the Forfar project was of the order of £1.92 million.

3.4 Future projects within Angus included in the Investment Plan 2001-2002 are outlined in Appendix 1. In addition to the individual projects specified, the Tay Waste Water Project (involving Arbroath, Carnoustie, Monifieth and the City of ) is a major project (£110 million) being financed through public/private partnership which is due to be completed during the span of this Investment Plan in late 2001.

4 DISCUSSION

4.1 The Adopted Angus Local Plan (adopted November 2000) outlines Angus Council’s priority for drainage investment in the Angus towns and villages in order to secure implementation of the Local Plan Development Strategy. These priorities are reflected in Policy INF1: Drainage Investment Priorities which is outlined in Appendix 2. 3 Report No 717/01

4.2 The investment profile of projects contained in the Interim Investment Plan will at least partly address various drainage constraints affecting:-

• Arbroath, Carnoustie and Monifieth (through the Tay Waste Water Project) and Montrose (through the construction of a single waste water treatment plant);

• Brechin, Kirriemuir (through the implementation of sewer improvements); the villages of Letham and Auchterhouse.

• Monifieth Milton Mill Coastal protection.

4.3 Drainage constraints affecting the scale and timing of new development remain in parts of Forfar and at Kirriemuir and a number of villages throughout Angus including Glamis, Hillside, Inverkeilor, Newtyle, Monikie, Newbigging and Wellbank. Investment will be required at a number of these villages, particularly Hillside, Inverkeilor, Monikie and Newbigging in order to allow the Local Plan strategy and land allocations to be fully progressed. In addition there remains the outstanding issue of Kirriemuir Waste Water Treatment Plant (improvements to outfall) and the Phase 3 sewer improvements at Forfar. Inclusion of these projects in subsequent Investment Plans will be important in order to fully implement the development strategy established by the Council. Slippage of investment at Kirriemuir WWTP (where £800,000 had previously been identified in the 2000-2003 Investment Plan for completion in Autumn 2001) is of particular concern and will be the subject of further discussions with NoSWA officials.

4.4 The water supply infrastructure within the Angus area (sources, service reservoirs, treatment plant and distribution network) is of a very high standard. Improvements continue to be made at the major service reservoirs with additional works being undertaken at Lintrathen and the replacement of the Edzell Gannochy Reservoir. There are however local water supply problems relative to water storage capacity and/or distribution issues affecting several rural Angus villages where no provision is contained in the Interim Investment Plan. For example in the Monikie area there is a need for increased water storage capacity and a new service reservoir to enable the Local Plan development strategy and land allocation to be fully progressed.

5 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 There are no direct financial implications arising from this report.

6 CONSULTATION

6.1 The Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Director of Law & Administration have been consulted in the preparation of this report.

7 HUMAN RIGHTS

7.1 There are no human rights issues arising from this report.

8 CONCLUSION

8.1 The investment being made by NoSWA within the Angus area will assist in enabling the implementation of the development strategy outlined in the Adopted Angus Local Plan to proceed timeously. 4 Report No 717/01

8.2 In addition to the existing commitment further investment will also be required in various Angus towns and villages to allow development to proceed. Continuing dialogue with NoSWA remains essential to guide future investment proposals including longer term requirements which will be further detailed as part of the preparation of the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan.

NOTE

The following background paper, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, (other than any containing confidential or exempt information) was relied on to a material extent in preparing the above Report.

• North of Scotland Water Authority Investment Plan 2001-2002

AA/GDP/SC 1 June 2001

Alex Anderson Director of Planning and Transport

5 Report No 717/01

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF PROJECTS WITHIN ANGUS 2001-2002 INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NoSWA INVESTMENT PLAN

Project Name Total Spend Spend 2001-2002 Completion Date £’000 £’000

Cleaning Up Rivers, Lochs and Beaches:

Brechin Sewage Improvements and 2490 1415 Late 2001 Combined Sewer Overflow

Letham WWTP 1400 1112 Late 2001

Montrose WWTP 12600 6861 Autumn 2001

Renewing and Upgrading Existing Pipes and Treatment Works

Water:

Gannochy Replacement Reservoir 270 165 Summer 2001 Lintrathen Reservoir 1210 499 Autumn 2002 Backwater Reservoir repair 100 2 Summer 2001

Wastewater:

Auchterhouse Pumping Station 210 210 Spring 2002 Carnoustie – Easthaven Connection 250 175 Summer 2002 Kirriemuir Den Relief Sewer 310 60 Spring 2001 Letham Trunk Sewers 189 10 Summer 2001 Monifieth Sewer – Coastal Protection 60 60 Autumn 2001

TOTAL 19089 10569

Note:

WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant 6 Report No 717/01

APPENDIX 2

ADOPTED ANGUS LOCAL PLAN – (NOVEMBER 2000) INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES POLICY INF 1 : DRAINAGE INVESTMENT PRIORITIES

Angus Council will liaise and co-operate with NoSWA to secure implementation of the Local Plan strategy. Angus Council will continue to encourage NoSWA to make appropriate and timeous investment in Angus to remove drainage constraints from towns and villages. Priority for investment in accordance with development proposals in this Local Plan should be given to:-

(a) the construction of waste water treatment plants associated with (Forfar) Arbroath, Carnoustie, Monifieth and Montrose;

(b) drainage schemes for (Muirhead/Birkhill) and Auchterhouse identified in the 1998-2001 Infrastructure Projects Plan;

(c) other settlements where investment is required to free sites identified for housing and/or industrial purposes to meet local needs including Brechin, Kirriemuir and the villages of Glamis, Hillside, Inverkeilor, Letham, Newtyle, Monikie, and Wellbank.

Note: Settlements in (brackets) contain projects completed during 1999/2000