South East Water Chair Resigns After Report Labels Leadership “Unaccountable Clique”

Chris Train, the independent non-executive chair of South East Water (SEW), resigned on Friday in the wake of a highly critical report detailing severe supply disruptions that left thousands of households without water.

The report characterised SEW’s leadership as an “unaccountable clique,” prompting the company to acknowledge the necessity of new leadership to guide a “critical period of positive, transformative change.” This development coincides with a cross-party group of MPs declaring no confidence in SEW’s senior management.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee asserted that SEW’s chief executive, David Hinton, and the board have failed to rectify “multiple and ongoing failures.” Approximately 24,000 customers in Kent and East Sussex experienced supply interruptions in November and December, followed by up to 30,000 households enduring days without water weeks later. Calls for Hinton’s resignation have intensified, particularly given his £115,000 bonus last year, in addition to his £400,000 salary.

Interim Chair Lisa Clement stated that the company remains focused on implementing engineering and operational changes to bolster network resilience and transform the company for its customers and local communities.

The parliamentary report, published on Friday, condemned SEW for poor leadership, weak governance, and a culture devoid of accountability. Sources close to the Environment Secretary indicated that all options are under consideration to address the company’s performance, including engaging shareholders to ascertain their position on the persistent issues.

The committee took the “unusual but necessary step” of expressing no confidence due to the gravity of the failures, noting that SEW appeared “shielded from the consequences of its incompetence.” In response, SEW has pledged to double investment in its supply network across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire over the next five years, issuing an unreserved apology for recent operational failures and the subsequent erosion of public trust.

Mike Martin, MP for Tunbridge Wells, commented that the report “confirms that South East Water poses a clear and present danger to public health,” urging the government to demand immediate change from the company’s owners and shareholders. Regulator Ofwat has highlighted South East Water’s consistently poor record for supply interruptions over the past decade and is consulting on a proposed fine of up to £22.46m related to failures during the Pembury Treatment Works incident in late 2025.