Severn Trent plc v Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig & Ors. This was an action in which the claimant ('Severn') sought to prevent the first defendant ('DCC') from concluding an operation and maintenance and customer services agreement ('the O & M agreement') with a company ('Newco') on the ground that Council Directive 93/38/EEC and the Utilities Contracts Regulations 1996 required the services which were the subject of the O & M agreement to be put out to competitive tender.