Issue - meetings

To approve the Contaminated Land Strategy.

The Cabinet Member: Highways, Housing & Enforcement presented the Contaminated Land Strategy which provided an update on the process for considering and regulating contaminated land across the borough.  The report set out how the council would continue to protect local communities and the environment so that it was safe for current and future use.  Although the borough had a long and proud industrial history, it was vital that the council remained vigilant with regards to land contamination.  The Strategy provided a clear, modern framework which was aligned with the Environmental Protection Act and would replace the previous 2013 Strategy.   Inspection duties and assessing and prioritising sites played an important role in managing and remediating land where development took place.  The Strategy reinforced the commitment to transparency through the publicly accessible contaminated land register.  Emphasis was given that through the work of the Environment Agency and the Landowner that the only site ever classed as contaminated had now been fully reclassified and removed from the public register.  As a result of this there was currently no land within Telford and Wrekin that was classed as contaminated.  This demonstrated that the processes were working with strong partnerships and the effective management of the industrial past.  The Policy ensured the proactive monitoring and assessment of sites and intervention to protect public health would be undertaken if required.

In summary, Councillor Overton reported that this updated strategy strengthened the protection of the local environment, and supported safe development giving continued confidence to residents, businesses and developers.

Cabinet Members reiterated that it was important for the council to understand the potential risks of contaminated land and that there were controls in place to limit pollution of land and water and that by having the strategy in place it would allow the identification of any potential risks.  If land was to come forward through the planning process, it would enable the risk to be understood and any remedial action on historic contamination to be taken.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the Contaminated Land Strategy be approved;

b)   delegated authority be granted to the Director Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Enforcement, to make ongoing changes to the strategy as required; and

c)    the development of an Action Plan to provide the framework for ongoing monitoring and management of contaminated land within the borough be endorsed.