Issue - meetings

The report of the Director – Neighbourhoods is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2024-2029 be approved.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Inglis presented the report of the Director – Neighbourhoods, which detailed the revised Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy for 2024-2029.

Councillor Inglis advised that contaminated land could pose a significant risk because of substances contained within it and stated that the two key areas of the report related to the protection of the local environment from harm and to the protection of people’s health, well-being and safety, which also complimented the Council’s Corporate Priorities for the environment and quality of life.  The Council was required to regularly review the Strategy and it had last done so in 2018.

Councillor Inglis stated that in December 2013, DEFRA had announced that funding for site investigations would be withdrawn, which had resulted in the Council having to be more reactive, rather than proactive, when undertaking contaminated land investigations, due to the costs falling directly on it.  Cabinet noted that primarily investigations would be dealt with in the planning process at cost to the landowner, which was deemed the most appropriate means of dealing with land contamination.

Councillor Inglis advised that the Strategy remained unchanged from the last review, ensured that the Council met its responsibilities under the legal requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and represented the anticipated progress in the context of current resources and expertise available to the Council, with a renewed action plan for the next five years.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Virdi referred to the withdrawal of Government funding in 2013, which left the Council with a potential budget shortfall from any required investigation and remediation.  If a major emergency occurred, financial support could be requested from DEFRA, subject to its budget availability, but generally costs would be resolved directly with the landowner and their insurance companies through the Council’s planning regime.

Councillor Virdi advised that for Council owned land, it would be necessary to utilise contingency budgets or in-year efficiencies, with staff costs contained within existing budgets, and Cabinet was reminded that the Council was unable to carry out its statutory enforcement responsibilities without a Strategy being in place.

It was RESOLVED that the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy 2024-2029 be approved.