Agenda item - Zane's Law

Proposed by Councillor Pickett on behalf of the Green Group.

36a.1  The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Pickett on behalf of the Green Group and formally seconded by Councillor Davis.

36a.2  The Mayor noted that there was an amendment in relation to this motion as set out in the addendum papers.

36a.3  Councillor Rowkins moved the amendment on behalf of the Labour Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Allen.

36a.4 Councillors Lyons, McNair and Earthey spoke on the matter.

36a.5  Councillor Pickett confirmed that they would accept the amendment.

36a.6  The Mayor then put the motion as amended to the vote

36a.7  The Mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried.

36a.8  RESOLVED:

This council notes:

1.     The need to address the crisis of contaminated land in the UK, reinstating legislative provisions removed by government from the 1990 Environment Protection Act.

2.     The Human Right to a Healthy Environment, approved by the UN General Assembly.

3.     Findings in the British Medical Journal which estimated 80 per cent of people in the UK live within two kilometres of landfill.

4.     The potential for hazardous waste contained on some landfill sites to cause significant harm to residents. 

Therefore, resolves to:

5.     Make clear the council’s support for Zane’s Law.

6.     Request the leader of the council work in partnership with other local authorities, including via appropriate entities such as the LGA and ALC, to meaningfully compel the incoming government to implement Zane’s Law following the next general election, including all necessary funding for local authorities to meet these requirements.

7.     Request an officer report to the relevant decision making body to consider proposals to:-

(a)             Compile a register of land within Brighton and Hove which may be contaminated which is easily available to residents, and

(b)             Enforce remediation of any land which poses harm to public safety, or which pollutes controlled waters, and

(c)             Conduct an assessment of flood risk in relation to potential contaminated sites in order to aid prioritisation of any future actions.