Regional leaders met with Yorkshire Water Chair Vanda Murray OBE yesterday, following growing public concern over the company’s appalling performance, transparency and executive pay.
The meeting, chaired by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, focused on the company’s accountability to customers and communities, as well as the urgent need to rebuild public trust in light of continuing pollution incidents and a 41% increase on bills.
Mayors and representatives of the Yorkshire Leaders Board pressed Ms Murray to set out how Yorkshire Water plans to demonstrate real progress over the next year, given its recent record as one of the worst performing water companies in the country, and raised questions about its ability to rebuild public confidence against a backdrop of governance failures, noting Yorkshire Water’s role as a public service provider.
Leaders also sought clarity on how senior management divides its time and accountability between Yorkshire Water and its offshore parent company, Kelda Holdings, particularly, referencing the £1.3 million in undisclosed payments that has been made to Chief Executive Nicola Shaw over the past two years.
They called for a stronger, more transparent approach to communication, and for firm commitments to measurable change to ensure that today’s discussions lead to real action, not another round of the same questions in a year’s time.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Yorkshire Water customers are angry, and rightly so. They’ve seen bills rise, rivers polluted, and trust in the company all but vanish.
“We’ve been clear today that enough is enough. People deserve a water company that is open, accountable, and focused on delivering clean water and healthy rivers - not secret pay deals and excuses.
“This isn’t a one-off conversation, we’ll be holding Yorkshire Water to account over the months ahead to make sure they deliver on their promises - and if they don’t, we’ll be back at the table demanding answers.”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
“Yorkshire Water haven’t gone far enough to improve standards and reduce pollution, they are amongst the worst performing water companies in the country. This is not good enough.
“This was the start of regular engagements on behalf of the residents we represent to ensure Yorkshire Water is more transparent in how they are working to improve services for residents.
“It’s time for Yorkshire Water to get their head out of the sand and prove they are actually committed to improvements, transparency and fairness for rate payers.”
The meeting agreed to establish stronger scrutiny of Yorkshire Water’s performance and communications, with a follow-up meeting due to take place within three months to assess progress, to be attended by Mayors and representatives of Yorkshire Leaders Board.
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