Report attached.

Report Title: Arnold’s Field Works – Contracts Award (Phase 1)

Presented by: Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of the Council

Cabinet Members Agreed

1.         In principle, to the proposals for the Phase 1 works for Arnold’s Field (as set out in this report) (without prejudice and with no acknowledgement of responsibility for works across the wider site) to be a maximum value of £300,000.

2.         To delegate, to the Strategic Director of Place in conjunction with the Strategic Director for Resources, authority to:

a.         procure and award a contract for Phase 1 remedial works at Arnold’s Field as set out in this report; and/or

b.         Consider alternative arrangements on required works from the owner

c.         negotiate and enter into any contracts and ancillary arrangements required to give effect to the recommendations in this report

3.         To waive the Contracts Procedure Rules, as required, to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

Report Title: Arnold’s Field Works – Contracts Award (Phase 1)

Presented by: Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of the Council

Summary:

Due to the determination, on 16 October 2025, that the Arnold’s Field site is now formally identified as “contaminated land”, it became urgent and necessary to seek to stop (or significantly reduce) the cause of the adverse effects on human health before the next annual cycle of fires/smoke (likely to start in the approach to the summer of 2026).

As reported to residents at the public meeting on 25 November 2025, the Council has been in dialogue with the site landowner with a view to having initial works carried out at the site – aiming to be completed by 30 April 2026. These works will focus on the areas which were either responsible for most of the fires in the 2025 summer fire season and/or are most likely to be the seat of fires in 2026.

These initial works (known as “Phase 1”) are regarded as a temporary means to halting or reducing the fires to provide some interim relief to residents and do not constitute a permanent solution or full coverage of the site. The success, or otherwise, of Phase 1 will be reviewed to provide learning for any further works.

Due to the impact on public health and the need to take all necessary reasonable steps to facilitate the achievement of the works, consideration has been given to the Council providing funds, without prejudice and with no acknowledgement of responsibility for clearing up the wider site, of up to £300,000 for the Phase 1 works. This was noted in the Cabinet report (17 September 2025) on “Launders Lane (Arnold’s Field)” to achieve a “voluntary temporary solution” (at least in part) in 2026.

Whilst, at the time of drafting this report, the Council and the landowner have differing views as to the best way forward to achieve the desired result, there exists (at this time) a common commitment to meet the required works timeline.

The Phase 1 works are estimated to take up to three months and, in order to finish in April, they should begin in February. However, the preliminary drone surveys (currently being procured), will not bear results until the start of January and the detailed specifications and any alternative proposals for works cannot be developed until after those results are available.

Consequently, the timeline is tight – particularly in the context of the timescales required for the Council’s governance and procurement processes.

This report therefore seeks Cabinet approval to delegate authority to officers to decide on the nature of the initial (Phase 1) works to be conducted and either to directly award a contract for those works or to support the landowner’s alternative proposed works (if they would achieve a similar or better outcome).

Cabinet Members Agreed

1.         In principle, to the proposals for the Phase 1 works for Arnold’s Field (as set out in this report) (without prejudice and with no acknowledgement of responsibility for works across the wider site) to be a maximum value of £300,000.

2.         To delegate, to the Strategic Director of Place in conjunction with the Strategic Director for Resources, authority to:

a.         procure and award a contract for Phase 1 remedial works at Arnold’s Field as set out in this report; and/or

b.         Consider alternative arrangements on required works from the owner

c.         negotiate and enter into any contracts and ancillary arrangements required to give effect to the recommendations in this report

3.         To waive the Contracts Procedure Rules, as required, to give effect to the recommendations in this report.