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The committee considered odour, enforcement and monitoring at Hafod Landfill Site, where complaints have been high since October 2024. Members noted the report, supported work to reduce odour, and asked for a further update in six months that includes health information. They also agreed to defer the sports pitches report and to take the grass cutting report in May.
Some sentences of this summary are missing in English, because an older automatic check removed them from the English only. The Welsh version has them.
There were no apologies for absence.
AGREED - To sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 January 2025
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That item 5 - Hafod Landfill Site update – be brought forward and taken at this time.
AGREED – That item 5 - Hafod Landfill Site update – be brought forward and taken at this time.
Decision as recorded
AGREED - i) That the report be noted and that the Committee support the ongoing work to reduce odour from the site and its impact on public health. ii) That a further update report be considered in 6 months. iii) That this report also contain details of any toxicity and any resultant impacts on the health of nearby residents. iv) That the Council explore the expansion of the monitoring stations in the surrounding community. v) That if the monitoring data continues to show odours being above the accepted limits, that the Council explores under its powers via the Environmental Protection Act, measures to tackle any statutory nuisance caused by odours emitted by the site.
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The Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Pubic Protection submitted a report which allowed Members to consider progress regarding enforcement, liaison and monitoring action at Hafod Landfill Site. The Chair welcomed representatives of National Resources Wales (NRW), Enovert and Public Health Wales to the meeting and together with the Lead Member they responded to questions accordingly. The Committee received a presentation from Enovert representatives which provided detail about the site, work they had undertaken to mitigate issues and future actions. During the debate a number of issues were discussed, including: · The level of complaints, received by both Wrexham County Borough Council’s Public Protection service and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). · Concern in respect of the monitoring of the air quality on site. · It was noted that odour complaints were primarily related to levels of hydrogen sulphide and that at the levels recorded, this would be considered to be an annoyance. · Data currently available had only been collected over a short period, further monitoring will establish an increased base of intelligence. This will then help in linking periods of complaints with site works, which should then feed into preventative works. · The legislation that relates to the operation of the site and possible enforcement action. · The regime of monitoring that is undertaken by all relevant parties. · The process undertaken to cap areas of the site. · The changing composition of waste received at the site. · The role of gas extraction in the business model for the site and the financial imperative to capture as much as possible. · The role that temperature inversions and weather conditions can have on odour issues. · Query around the air quality monitoring data received from the off-site location. · The liaison actions and work between enforcement authorities and Enovert. · Public Protection Officers attendance at the Hafod Landfill Site Liaison Meetings. AGREED - i) That the report be noted and that the Committee support the ongoing work to reduce odour from the site and its impact on public health. ii) That a further update report be considered in 6 months. iii) That this report also contain details of any toxicity and any resultant impacts on the health of nearby residents. iv) That the Council explore the expansion of the monitoring stations in the surrounding community. v) That if the monitoring data continues to show odours being above the accepted limits, that the Council explores under its powers via the Environmental Protection Act, measures to tackle any statutory nuisance caused by odours emitted by the site.
Decision as recorded
AGREED - (i) That the report on Sports Pitches and Pavilions be deferred until a later date. (ii) That the report of the Grass Cutting and Weed Control task and finish Group be considered at the May meeting.
The Chief Officer Governance and Customer submitted a report COGC/32/25 which allowed the Committee to consider the revised work programme of the Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee attached at Appendix 1. The Scrutiny Facilitator highlighted the main points for consideration within the report. AGREED - (i) That the report on Sports Pitches and Pavilions be deferred until a later date. (ii) That the report of the Grass Cutting and Weed Control task and finish Group be considered at the May meeting.