The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Tunbridge Wells Council is scheduled to consider a report on the findings of a Task and Finish Group investigating South East Water's performance following recent water outages. The committee will also receive a presentation from Southern Water regarding waste water management and infrastructure.

South East Water Task and Finish Group Report

A significant item on the agenda is the consideration of the draft final report from the South East Water Task and Finish Group (TFG). This group was established following severe water outages in December 2025 and January 2026, with the aim of reviewing South East Water's delivered promises after the 2022 water outages, assessing the financial impact on the local economy, and pushing for improved emergency plans. The TFG's work has focused on key concerns including the lack of resilience, communication issues with the council and residents, and supply issues for future housing developments. The report is expected to outline recommendations for how the council will engage with South East Water and regulators moving forward. The TFG's findings suggest a Trust Gap has emerged between residents and South East Water, highlighting issues with transparency, communication, and the need for improved resilience. The report also proposes the concept of a Council-led Civic Trust Layer to provide residents with a single point of contact for utility issues and to improve the council's intelligence on community impacts. The committee will discuss and decide which recommendations from the report will be put forward to Full Council.

Southern Water Presentation

The committee is scheduled to receive a presentation from Southern Water concerning waste water management and infrastructure. Following this presentation, the committee will consider any further actions that may be required.

Work Programme

The committee will also review its future work programme. This will involve considering upcoming topics and potential Task and Finish Group investigations for the coming months. The work programme document outlines scheduled meetings and potential unscheduled topics for discussion, including the Environment Agency's flood mitigation issues and accessibility at High Brooms Railway Station.