Contaminated Land Inspection Plan, Barking, London - Feb 03-2007

Services Provided

Having worked closely with LBBD’s environmental protection team during the investigation of three major housing estates in Barking, Temple were asked to assist environmental protection in reaching a position where they could implement their existing Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy (CLIS).  This was done by firstly raising the profile of contaminated land matters and then by applying for capital funding for a 5 year Contaminated Land Inspection Plan.  Duties included:

• A review of the existing CLIS and an brief appraisal of progress since publication of their CLIS
• Co-authorship of a report for presentation to LBBD Housing & Health Departmental Management Team. 
• The report entitled ‘Contaminated Land Management’ aimed to:
• Highlight lessons learnt from the good work done to date;
• Outline the limitations in guidance;
• Identify internal and external sources of funding for investigation and remedial works;
• Highlight forthcoming changes in guidance/legislation and likely impacts; and most importantly to outline the need for a new (and focused) team to implement the contaminated land strategy.

Co-authorship of a second report for LBBD’s Executive Management Team presenting a detailed 5 year Contaminated Land Inspection Plan and setting out details of the resources required.  Temple produced a programme in MS Project and cost plan for the investigative work and defined the team that LBBD would require to manage the works.  The £3m budget scored highly in the Council’s own assessment process and funding was granted in April, 2004.

• Contribution to a briefing paper for Margaret Hodge MP and subsequently a letter to the ODPM to raise some of the difficulties that Barking & Dagenham face when dealing with contaminated land.
• Discussions with Defra and the Environment Agency with respect to Supplementary Credit Approval funding and other technical/legislative matters.  Talks with the Council’s regeneration department and an outside consultant with respect to European funding streams.
• Discussions with Stephen Tromans, barrister and professor of environmental law, on legal aspects.

Benefits

Temple worked alongside the Environmental Protection team and provided the requisite resources and IT skills that were needed to complete the tasks above.  Besides excellent technical and managerial skills, we added an impartial viewpoint and a commercially aware perspective.  Having worked with external consultants members of Environmental Protection were introduced to new ideas – operational, technical and managerial.

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