Former MP Angela Smith has joined Portsmouth Water’s board as an independent non-executive director.
Smith, who left the Labour party for the Liberal Democrats last year, served as an MP between 2005-19 in which time she was shadow environment minister and sat on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee. She also chaired the All Party Parliamentary Water Group and was involved in an inquiry into policy around water and housing building.
Bob Taylor, chief executive at Portsmouth, noted Smith’s wealth of knowledge and experience in water and environmental policy and said: “I look forward to Angela bringing an element of challenge and scrutiny to the business that will help us deliver more for our customers, the environment and wider society.”
Smith expressed her delight at joining the board at a pivotal time as Portsmouth embarks on the first reservoir project in the south east for five decades.
“I am really excited to be involved in delivering this much needed water resource and all the associated environmental and economic benefits it will bring to the area,” she said.
“That being said there are challenges to be faced, not least the current priority of supporting customers through the Covid-19 crisis and delivering the company’s ambitious performance commitments over the next five years, including challenging targets to reduce leakage and household water use. This will require strong leadership and I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members and the Portsmouth Water team to help the company continue to deliver excellent service for customers now and in the future.”
In May Portsmouth announced Christopher Deacon would replace Mike Kirk as chairman.
During lockdown the company carried out a public consultation for its new reservoir, which included presentations and public meetings hosted online.
More than 1,600 respondents to the consultation voiced queries and concerns including the environmental impact of the project. Taylor said more than 110 hectares of woodland would be created or enhanced on the site and in the adjacent area.
The earmarked site is 160-hectare plot at Havant Thicket, which is owned by Portsmouth Water. It will hold approximately 8.7 billion litres of water to supply up to 21 million litres of water each day to Portsmouth and neighbouring Southern Water via a supply agreement.