Powys Council Back Calls for a Natural Resources Levy to Support Local Finances

Powys County Council has backed calls to place a levy on energy and water that is exported from Powys to other parts of the country in order to support the county’s finances.

The motion was brought forward by the Welsh Liberal Democrats Cllr Jake Berriman and seconded by non-affiliated councillor Geoff Morgan.

Conservative Councillors opposed the motion.

The motion was passed with 40 in favour and 19 against.

Powys has numerous reservoirs and lakes that provide water to other parts of the UK and there are also several renewable energy production sites and wind turbine farms (with several more in the pipeline).

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Cllr Jake Berriman said:

“On the back of the COP 27 climate summit in Egypt, and Powys’s declaration of climate and nature emergencies, this council has called on the UK and Welsh Governments to put in place the necessary legislative frameworks and provisions to enable the people of Powys to retain some of the financial benefit arising from the water and energy resources exported from Powys for consumption elsewhere.

“The rate of return for the shared use of these resources should initially not be less than £1 per mega litre and £1 per megawatt, uplifted by the annual rate for inflation (RPI).

“In our race to save the planet and get to net-zero the world is changing. If we are to achieve a just transition to Net-Zero, it only seems fair that communities in Powys benefit from the usage of local natural resources.

“The income raised from such a levy could at first be used to help pay for insulation retrofits in public buildings across Powys and in the more distant future could even provide a source of income to support the delivery of public services.

“It was disappointing to see the Conservatives did not support the idea of some profits from energy and water sales in Powys staying in the community.

“I hope that the UK and Welsh Government’s will listen to the voice of Powys council today and consider our ask.”

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

• Last month the ruling, Liberal Democrat/Labour administration made a further commitment to address climate change by announcing that Green Party County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp and conservation expert, Cllr Adam Kennerley (Lib Dem) would become cabinet assistants to help spearhead the council’s drive to become Carbon Zero.