Water Resources Act 1991

123 Power to make scheme imposing water resources charges

(1) Where—

(a) an application is made for any licence under Chapter II of Part II of this Act or for the variation of, or of the conditions of, any such licence;

(b) a licence under that Chapter to abstract water is granted to any person or there is a variation of any such licence or of the conditions of any such licence; or

(c) a licence under that Chapter to abstract water is for the time being in force,

the Authority may require the payment to it of such charges as may be specified in or determined under a scheme made by it under this section.

(2) The persons who shall be liable to pay charges which are required to be paid by virtue of a scheme under this section shall be—

(a) in the case of a charge by virtue of subsection (1)(a) above, the person who makes the application; and

(b) in the case of a charge by virtue of subsection (1)(b) or (c) above, the person to whom the licence is granted or, as the case may be, the person holding the licence which is varied or is in force.

(3) Provision made by a scheme for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) above may impose a single charge in respect of the whole period for which a licence is in force or separate charges in respect of different parts of that period or both such a single charge and such separate charges.

(4) The Authority shall not make a scheme under this section unless its provisions have been approved by the Secretary of State under section 124 below.

(5) A scheme under this section may—

(a) make provision with respect to the times and methods of payment of the charges which are required to be paid by virtue of the scheme;

(b) make different provision for different cases, including different provision in relation to different circumstances or localities; and

(c) contain supplemental, consequential and transitional provision for the purposes of the scheme;

and such a scheme may revoke or amend a previous scheme under this section.

(6) It shall be the duty of the Authority to take such steps as it considers appropriate for bringing the provisions of any scheme under this section which is for the time being in force to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.

(7) A scheme under this section shall have effect subject to any provision made by or under section 58 above or sections 125 to 130 below.