Westmorland and Furness Council’s Lake Administration Committee discussed its remit at a meeting in Kendal on 4 June, alongside a copy of the 1975 agreement which sets out its responsibilities.
Windermere and Bowness Town Council representative Cllr Barbara Cullen told members she believed the committee’s terms of reference were “not up to date” and argued that lake water quality should be included, saying it was an important issue for residents.
Officers advised that water quality is formally the responsibility of the Environment Agency, with the Lake Administration Committee’s role confined to the lake bed.
The council’s Assistant Director for Climate and Natural Environment said she sits on the Love Windermere Partnership, where monitoring is regularly discussed, and that officers work with the Environment Agency, United Utilities, the Lake District National Park Authority and other partners to improve water entering the lake.
Cllr Cullen asked where scrutiny of the Environment Agency’s performance on Windermere water quality actually takes place. Committee member Cllr Garry Archibald backed her concerns and said that, although the committee’s powers are limited, it was important for members to challenge on issues affecting the lake, including pollution.
In response, Cllr Archibald proposed that organisations responsible for improving water quality in Windermere be invited to attend a future Lake Administration Committee meeting to give a presentation. During the same agenda item, Cllr Peter Dixon raised the problem of boats moored on the lake discharging waste directly into the water and asked whether the council monitored this.
Members were told by the Operational Lead for Service Delivery that enforcement against any illegal discharges is handled by the Environment Agency’s enforcement team, and that it would be difficult for council lake wardens to investigate such incidents because they would need to be present at the time of any discharge.
Cllr Stephen Pender said the need to improve water quality should apply across the whole lake, not only in Windermere.
The Assistant Director for Climate and Natural Environment then suggested inviting officers from both the Environment Agency and the Love Windermere Partnership to a future committee meeting, and said it might also be beneficial to have officers from United Utilities present. Members agreed to that proposal.
Later in the discussion, Cllr Cullen described the 1975 agreement as “out of date” and suggested it should be rewritten or amended, although she acknowledged that changing it could be open to legal challenge.
The Assistant Director for Corporate Assets, Fleet and Capital Programme told the committee it was important to understand the distinction between the Lake Administration Committee and the wider council, and reiterated that under the 1975 agreement improving water quality is not part of the committee’s formal responsibilities.
The committee went on to note its existing terms of reference and the 1975 agreement, and formally asked officers to arrange for a presentation on improving water quality in Lake Windermere to be brought to a future meeting, setting the scene for Environment Agency, Love Windermere and United Utilities representatives to be questioned in public.
