I welcome the opportunity to update the House on a critical step in the Government's reform of England's water system, one that demonstrates our commitment to strengthen local leadership, empower communities and ensure that essential services are accountable to the people and places they serve.

The Prime Minister has set a clear vision: a future where the services on which people depend every day are affordable, accountable and, crucially, shaped by strong local leadership. These reforms are part of this Government’s drive to move power out of Westminster and give communities greater control over the services and investment that shape their lives. My priority is ensuring that the water sector serves the public, not private interests, to ensure that the basic essentials of clean water and a healthy environment are protected for us all to enjoy.

Regional Water Councils

That is why the Secretary of State has asked Strategic Authority Mayors - and Council Leaders where Mayors are not yet in place - across England to work together to establish eight regional water councils, one in each river basin district.

These councils will bring together people with a stake in their local water system, including local leaders, businesses, environmental organisations, farmers, infrastructure providers, community and democratic representatives such as MPs and others. Together, they will identify the priorities, challenges and opportunities in their local water system and shape the planning processes currently underway in the water sector and more widely.

The valuable knowledge, relationships and local understanding of catchment partnerships across England will be critical to the success of regional water councils. They will help connect local and catchment-level expertise with wider regional conversations, ensuring that regional priorities are rooted in the realities of local communities and environments.

Strategic devolution

The House will recognise that many of the challenges identified do not operate at a national scale. Nor do they stop at local authority boundaries. Water resources, flood risk, environmental improvement and economic growth are often shared across whole river catchments and regions, but the specific challenges faced, and appropriate responses, are unique to local people and place. Involving local leaders from an early stage will ensure that local priorities are properly reflected within water planning.

Under the new model, Mayors or Council Leaders will have a leading role in ensuring that outcomes reflect the unique context and interests of the region. A stronger regional approach, underpinned by local representation, will help organisations plan more effectively around common priorities, identify opportunities for collaboration and support investment that delivers benefits for communities, the economy and the environment. Ultimately, this new model will support a future where services are shaped to local needs and accountabilities lie with local leaders.

Early rollout

The strengthened Water Bill, which will be introduced next year, will set out further details on the future framework for regional water planning. However, major planning and investment decisions are already being developed. Waiting for legislation would mean missing an important opportunity for regions to contribute to decisions being made now. I believe it is imperative that regional perspectives inform those discussions and that local leaders are able to provide their input on the development of the new system from the outset.

Work will therefore begin immediately. The Environment Secretary wrote to Mayors, MPs, council leaders and other regional stakeholders on 5 November, inviting proposals to establish eight regional water councils. Regions will be asked to work together with pace and ambition to bring partners around the table and help shape the next phase of reform.

Demonstrating its commitment to supporting this work from the outset, the Government will provide £1 million this year to the councils to support technical expertise, partnership coordination and engagement activity this year.

Conclusion

People across the country are crying out for a fresh approach to the way we manage our water system. They want cleaner rivers and coastlines. Businesses want confidence that future infrastructure can support growth and investment. Environmental organisations want a more joined-up approach to improving water quality and restoring nature. Local leaders want stronger mechanisms for bringing partners together around shared priorities.

The launch of regional water councils represents an important step towards achieving a water system that works for people, nature and the economy.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2026-11-10.hcws460.0