Question from Councillor Cartwright to the Executive member for Planning:
“I am sure you are aware of the recent events at the Klondyke and have seen my aerial photographs showing dumping of soil. Offers have been advised by the person responsible for this that the waste is coming from Glenfield Hospital, this is very seriuos indeed. Officers have reported this to the Environmental Agency and the Envirocrime section along with the instruction for this transfer of waste without the relevant licences and monitoring in place.
Would the Planning and enforcement executive member please advise members as to the current situation at the next Full Council. I appreciate more will have come to light between me penciling the question and the council date.
Furthermore as part of the CPO process that is still live, test digs for contamination were promised not just on this part of the Klondyke but all other plots whereby tipping has occurred. A further request for a contamination report was proposed at Full Council and unanimously agreed by members. Would the executive member for planning not the leader of the Borough council please update on the progress of this report.”
Response from Councillor Allen:
“I thank Cllr Cartwright for his question. As he is aware I attended a meeting with him and fellow borough and county ward members along with representatives of Groby Parish Council last Monday where officers updated their actions on the current incident of materials being brought onto part of the Klondyke site. I can confirm that officers continue to liaise with the Environment Agency as the responsible enforcement agency, as to their determination as to any waste offences that may be occurring. Officers have and will continue to update all parties on the outcomes from the EAs investigations and the enforcement actions on the other sites as discussed. Members will be aware of the necessity for appropriate confidentiality in matters which could potentially result in formal legal actions by an enforcement agency. Further activity over the last weekend is currently being investigated by officers.
He will also be aware that the December 2013 report to council regarding the compulsory purchase of land at the Klondyke was not progressed as advised by the previous Chief Executive in 2015. Officers have not identified further commitments given at Council. Following more recent requests from the Groby Parish Council and a Steering Group meeting (which he chairs) in November 2017 and January 2018, officers agreed to seek to determine the contamination and remediation costs for the site as part of the consideration for new proposals for the site being requested by that group. Officers are awaiting details of those proposals prior to seeking estimates for these costs as part of a consideration for a new Compulsory Purchase Order by the Council as requested by the Group. I can confirm that officers continue the offer to work with the consultants appointed by Groby Parish Council to develop these proposals. I am pleased to hear however that it is anticipated that these proposals will be submitted to the Council shortly. I look forward to seeing them so that they can assist to bring a report to Council at the earliest opportunity.”
Minutes:
Question from Councillor Cartwright to the Executive member for Planning:
“I am sure you are aware of the recent events at the Klondyke and have seen my aerial photographs showing dumping of soil. Officers have been advised by the person responsible for this that the waste is coming from Glenfield Hospital, this is very serious indeed. Officers have reported this to the Environmental Agency and the Envirocrime section along with the instruction for this transfer of waste without the relevant licences and monitoring in place.
Would the Planning and enforcement executive member please advise members as to the current situation at the next full Council. I appreciate more will have come to light between me pencilling the question and the council date.
Furthermore as part of the CPO process that is still live, test digs for contamination were promised not just on this part of the Klondyke but all other plots whereby tipping has occurred. A further request for a contamination report was proposed at full Council and unanimously agreed by members. Would the Executive member for Planning, not the leader of the borough council, please update on the progress of this report.”
Response from Councillor Allen:
“I thank Cllr Cartwright for his question. As he is aware I attended a meeting with him and fellow borough and county ward members along with representatives of Groby Parish Council last Monday where officers updated their actions on the current incident of materials being brought onto part of the Klondyke site. I can confirm that officers continue to liaise with the Environment Agency as the responsible enforcement agency, as to their determination as to any waste offences that may be occurring. Officers have and will continue to update all parties on the outcomes from the EAs investigations and the enforcement actions on the other sites as discussed. Members will be aware of the necessity for appropriate confidentiality in matters which could potentially result in formal legal actions by an enforcement agency. Further activity over the last weekend is currently being investigated by officers.
He will also be aware that the December 2013 report to council regarding the compulsory purchase of land at the Klondyke was not progressed as advised by the previous Chief Executive in 2015. Officers have not identified further commitments given at Council. Following more recent requests from the Groby Parish Council and a Steering Group meeting (which he chairs) in November 2017 and January 2018, officers agreed to seek to determine the contamination and remediation costs for the site as part of the consideration for new proposals for the site being requested by that group. Officers are awaiting details of those proposals prior to seeking estimates for these costs as part of a consideration for a new Compulsory Purchase Order by the Council as requested by the Group. I can confirm that officers continue the offer to work with the consultants appointed by Groby Parish Council to develop these proposals. I am pleased to hear however that it is anticipated that these proposals will be submitted to the Council shortly. I look forward to seeing them so that they can assist to bring a report to Council at the earliest opportunity.”
As a supplementary question, Councillor Cartwright asked whether the Executive member would support him in compiling a file of information for the Environment Agency, to which Councillor Allen agreed.