You should think very carefully before considering lobbying MPs. There
are rules of employee conduct for every local authority with (severe)
penalties for breaking them. I would be very surprised if the rules
allowed officers to lobby MPs, because it would violate principles of
neutrality.
Cheers
Anthony
Dr. Anthony Luke
Principal Officer (Contaminated Land)
TEC Services
The Highland Council
38 Harbour Road
Inverness IV1 1UF
01463-228703
07766-298104
The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily reflect
those of the council
-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark
Newman
Sent: 14 May 2010 12:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of Part 2A funding?
This is all fair and well if you are in a relatively well off council,
but a large number of us out here do not have a budget available for
contaminated land work. The budget for contaminated land at Dover is my
salary (plus a few K for desk study work). If I approached cabinet with
regard to the council providing funds for investigation/remedial work, I
have a fairly good idea what the (almost certainly post watershed)
response would be.
Removal of the grants scheme would effectively halt our pro-active
contaminated land work. This has obvious implications relating to house
sales, blight, health etc etc. But also, perhaps selfishly, there are
potential job stability implications. If we aren't working through the
list, are the powers that be going to start considering how necessary
the role of the CLO is?
I often receive letters from our local MP relating to constituents being
unable to sell their homes. Is it worth flipping the tables and
approaching our MPs about this - warning of the potential consequences
that removal of the grants might have?
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ivens,
Rob
Sent: 13 May 2010 18:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of Part 2A funding?
I wonder if this funding could be linked in to the review of Part IIA,
Personally I wrestle with the issue of the Council determining areas of
land and almost being excluded from the painful issue of costs. I know
there are a lot of costs to running an inspection (we are on our 7th,
8th and 9th at the minute) don't ask how I got 3 on the go.
Any way what strikes me is that if you do determine the LA is in an
enormous position of power. E11 of the guidance says you have to be fair
to local and national tax payers, dissolving the defra funding will be
mightily unfair but equally it seems odd to me the Council does not
share in the cost of remdiation?- isn't it all part of the social whip
round.
My reasoning for mentioning this is that might councils be a little more
considered if they shared the bill... eg 10-20%? Might that not be
better than dumping all the costs on defra? And might a cost sharing
approach mean they were more inclined to keep the funding?
Sorry to be a heretic but we are just looking at hardship and cost
recovery for Calss B's so its quite close to the heart at the minute.
Cheers.
Rob Ivens
Scientific Officer
01306 879232
-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Willcox, Ruth (DEVELOPMENT)
Sent: 13 May 2010 15:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of Part 2A funding?
Thanks Paul
I am sure members understand that their views and opinions are not
necessarily those that are held by the list owner or providers. No
direct association between 'the list' its owner/provider was intended I
am sure for any submission purpose (DEFRA or otherwise).
Kind regards
Ruth
Ruth Willcox
Environmental Protection Officer (Land Quality)
Plymouth City Council
Public Protection - Floor 6
Civic Centre
City Centre
PLYMOUTH
Devon
PL1 2AA
Tel: 01752 304154
Fax: 01752 226314
Email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Contaminated Land Management Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul
Nathanail
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 3:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of Part 2A funding?
Folks,
This seems to be going round in circles.
Perhaps folks should just post their views to the list. Defra staff
subscribe to the list and can get a feel for your views for themselves.
On a more formal note, please do not associate jiscmail or indeed the
list per se with any submission to defra - this is a network for free
and often frank exchange of views of interested individuals rather than
an organisation such as those some have mentioned.
Kind regards,
Paul Nathanail
List 'owner'
Sent using BlackBerry(r) from Orange
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