Water companies’ performance and complaint levels will come under the spotlight at the next meeting of the Consumer Council for Water’s Northern Committee in Durham on Thursday, October 17.

The watchdog will be discussing the results of its recently published annual Written Customer Complaints Report with senior representatives of the water companies which provide services to customers across the North of England.

The report revealed written complaints across England and Wales fell for the fifth year in a row, with United Utilities reporting almost a 40 per cent reduction – bigger than any other company.

Complaints to Northumbrian Water and Hartlepool Water also fell during the year ending 31 March 2013, and although Yorkshire Water saw a rise it continues to be one of the better performing companies in the industry.

Andrea Cook, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water’s Northern Committee, said:

We will be discussing complaint levels with the companies to better understand what lies behind these and, where appropriate, challenging companies to take action to ensure improvement. An update on companies’ activities and operations will be among the other items on the agenda.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting and will have an opportunity to raise any issues relating to water and sewerage services during a listening session at the start of the meeting.

The meeting will begin at 10am on Thursday, 17 October in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Frankland Lane, Framwellgate Waterside, Durham DH1 5TA.