Despite assurances from the county’s water authorities, Bedfordsdhire Scouts are expecting swingeing sewerage rate levies which could add 20% to their membership fees – an increase of £5 per head for those affected. They say this is an undemocratic move by an unelected quango and pour cold water on the reported idea that the increases are in the interests of universal fairness.

County Commissioner John Duley said, “My treasurers around the county are anxiously scanning their post each morning expecting to see large increases in the sewerage rates they pay. Based on Scout Headquarter’s estimates for the 69 Groups that could have increased bills, we may see £27,600 added to our annual membership fee, a 20% rise for everyone from the youngest Beaver Scout to the oldest Scout Leader. It will add £5 to the cost of being a member.”

He added, “It is no comfort that we have had assurances from our water companies that they have no plans to levy these charges. If I were head of one of their businesses I would be looking at OFWAT’s recent record of massive fines for misdemeanours and saying, ‘Who next?’ Over the last 12 months OFWAT has fined four out of 21 companies a total of £75 million so there’s a one in five chance that other companies will fall into the same trap unless they follow all OFWAT’s rules and recommendations.”

After being heavily criticised by a Commons Select Committee in January 2007 for not controlling their market, OFWAT set about making their presence felt. The investigations that netted £75 million in fines for the Treasury, were the first reaction. Other fines could follow.

Then it was the turn of cathedrals, churches and scout meeting places. For years they had enjoyed a local council benefit in reduced rates in return for the valuable benefits they brought to the community. Accepted by the local business lobby and policed by the democratic process of regular elections, the system was agreed as fair at the point of delivery. It is still in place but no longer to be used for sewerage rate calculations according to OFWAT recommendations.

OFWAT’s stated aims are to be fair to all customers but they realised the old system was not the level playing field they wanted to achieve. The answer was for this unelected quango to give itself the power to set sewerage rates based on the water run off area (car parks, roofs, pathways,etc) which will raise millions of pounds from voluntary organisations who now have no local democratic way of making their voices heard.

Mr Duley reminds OFWAT that Scouting has been around for over 100 years and it pulls its weight in all sorts of ways. He said, “Each year my 1000+ adult volunteers give nearly half a million hours of unpaid time worth £2.5 million to the local economy in Bedfordshire.  We also offer a challenging programme of over 200 activities designed to push youngsters to achieve their full potential. It’s something local councils recognised when they decided to offer us reduced rates.

“As a result of OFWAT’s action, I may have to explain to my thousands of members that they each may have to find an extra £5 a year so that this quango can look good at their next Select Committee grilling. It is not something I am looking forward to especially for the young people we train. The only response now left to us is to lobby our MPs to have this undemocratic change reversed. I am sure it is a challenge my colleagues will rise to.”

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Despite assurances from the county’s water authorities, Bedfordsdhire Scouts are expecting swingeing sewerage rate levies which could add 20% to their membership fees – an increase of £5 per head for those affected. They say this is an undemocratic move by an unelected quango and pour cold water on the reported idea that the increases are in the interests of universal fairness.

County Commissioner John Duley said, “My treasurers around the county are anxiously scanning their post each morning expecting to see large increases in the sewerage rates they pay. Based on Scout Headquarter’s estimates for the 69 Groups that could have increased bills, we may see £27,600 added to our annual membership fee, a 20% rise for everyone from the youngest Beaver Scout to the oldest Scout Leader. It will add £5 to the cost of being a member.”

He added, “It is no comfort that we have had assurances from our water companies that they have no plans to levy these charges. If I were head of one of their businesses I would be looking at OFWAT’s recent record of massive fines for misdemeanours and saying, ‘Who next?’ Over the last 12 months OFWAT has fined four out of 21 companies a total of £75 million so there’s a one in five chance that other companies will fall into the same trap unless they follow all OFWAT’s rules and recommendations.”

After being heavily criticised by a Commons Select Committee in January 2007 for not controlling their market, OFWAT set about making their presence felt. The investigations that netted £75 million in fines for the Treasury, were the first reaction. Other fines could follow.

Then it was the turn of cathedrals, churches and scout meeting places. For years they had enjoyed a local council benefit in reduced rates in return for the valuable benefits they brought to the community. Accepted by the local business lobby and policed by the democratic process of regular elections, the system was agreed as fair at the point of delivery. It is still in place but no longer to be used for sewerage rate calculations according to OFWAT recommendations.

OFWAT’s stated aims are to be fair to all customers but they realised the old system was not the level playing field they wanted to achieve. The answer was for this unelected quango to give itself the power to set sewerage rates based on the water run off area (car parks, roofs, pathways,etc) which will raise millions of pounds from voluntary organisations who now have no local democratic way of making their voices heard.

Mr Duley reminds OFWAT that Scouting has been around for over 100 years and it pulls its weight in all sorts of ways. He said, “Each year my 1000+ adult volunteers give nearly half a million hours of unpaid time worth £2.5 million to the local economy in Bedfordshire.  We also offer a challenging programme of over 200 activities designed to push youngsters to achieve their full potential. It’s something local councils recognised when they decided to offer us reduced rates.

“As a result of OFWAT’s action, I may have to explain to my thousands of members that they each may have to find an extra £5 a year so that this quango can look good at their next Select Committee grilling. It is not something I am looking forward to especially for the young people we train. The only response now left to us is to lobby our MPs to have this undemocratic change reversed. I am sure it is a challenge my colleagues will rise to.”

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