Issue - meetings
Soil conditions investigations at St Raphael's and Brentfield estates
Meeting: 26/07/2010 - Executive (Item 13)
13 Soil conditions investigations at St Raphael's and Brentfield estates PDF 77 KB
Benzo-a-pyrene levels that may pose a significant possibility of significant harm have been identified in three areas, two areas of St Raphael’s Estate and one in Brentfield estate. It is imperative that we apply to Environment Agency for remediation assessments works (consisting of structural, utilities and ecological surveys) funding in July 2010. The results of these surveys are required prior to applying for remediation treatment funding. If the application is successful, the provision will be made by The Environment Agency in September/October 2010. We intend to apply for remediation treatment (removal and replacement of contaminated soil) funding when the next window opens in November 2010. The Environment Agency anticipates that £10 million allocation (recently reduced from 17.5 million) will continue to be provided by central government but cannot confirm this until after the Comprehensive Spending review in October 2010.
Additional documents:
Decision:
(i) that the findings of the soil investigation at St Raphael’s and Brentfield Estates be noted;
(ii) that agreement be given to the approach to risk management and the threshold levels of 17 ppm for benzo-a-pyrene;
(iii) that officers carry out such further investigations as are necessary in order to ascertain exactly how many properties are affected by the above threshold levels;
(iv) that the options for remediating and agree soil replacement for the affected properties be noted;
(v) that approval be given to waive the costs of basic remediation of privately owned properties;
(vi) that the financial risks associated with remediation and the intention to seek grant funding from Environment Agency be noted and that a further report would be submitted when the outcome was known.
Minutes:
Councillor Powney (Lead Member, Environment, Planning and Culture) referred to the report from the Director of Environment and Culture which advised of Benzo-a-pyrene levels that may pose a significant possibility of significant harm which had been identified in three areas, two areas of St Raphael’s Estate and one in Brentfield estate. Further soil sampling had been undertaken in May/June 2010 in order to finally identify the exact number of properties which exceed the 17 ppm (parts per million) determination value. Councillor Powney advised that a clean up would have to take place and that the council would apply to central government for grant funding at the earliest opportunity.
The Executive noted that a press briefing had already taken place and residents had been given information and were being kept informed.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the findings of the soil investigation at St Raphael’s and Brentfield Estates be noted;
(ii) that agreement be given to the approach to risk management and the threshold levels of 17 ppm for benzo-a-pyrene;
(iii) that officers carry out such further investigations as are necessary in order to ascertain exactly how many properties are affected by the above threshold levels;
(iv) that the options for remediating and agree soil replacement for the affected properties be noted;
(v) that approval be given to waive the costs of basic remediation of privately owned properties;
(vi) that the financial risks associated with remediation and the intention to seek grant funding from Environment Agency be noted and that a further report would be submitted when the outcome was known.