This report will propose the adoption of a land quality strategy for Oxford.

The Head of Environmental Development has submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) to adopt the Land Quality Strategy.

Councillor Tanner, Board Member for Cleaner, Greener Oxford, Climate Change and Transport presented the report. He explained that the report was a legal requirement and outlined what the council would do with contaminated land.

The Environmental Policy Team Leader explained that the Government had stopped providing financial assistance to clean up contaminated land and the Council would now pay for the clean-up through its reserves. However the chances of finding contaminated land in Oxford are very unlikely.

The City Executive Board resolved to

1. Approve the Land Quality Strategy for adoption.

2. Endorse proposed procedure for dealing with contaminated land by:

·         Using the development control regime wherever possible in order to assess and remediate land affected by contamination.

·         Where this is not possible we will utilise powers under Part 2a in order to ensure contaminated land is fully remediated.

3. Note that if works are required under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 then this will be funded from contingencies and reserves.