Residents' Questions - 20 July 2004

	Slough Residents' Questions - 20 July 2004

	Question 11

From: Mrs Margaret Stoklosinska

As a public organisation this council is responsible for its actions including neglect, Incompetence and omissions. With increasing birth defeats in the West London area, down wind from the existing Colnbrook incinerator, particularly within the London Borough of Hillingdon, this authority might be litigated against for the granting of planning permission for both old and new incinerators in Colnbrook and also in the Trading Estate and in Chalvey. To what extent has this authority insured itself against possible public compensation claims and associated legal costs?

Reply: Councillor Geoff Howard

The Council insures against claims from third parties for personal injury and damage to property (Public Liability) and for financial loss (Officials Indemnity) but only where the Council have been negligent. The onus is on the claimant to prove that legal liability exists. It is not considered that the grant of a planning permission for incinerators will give rise to such personal injury claims against the Council.

29 December 2005