The Regulatory Committee convened to elect a chair, review planning applications for the Ufton Landfill Site, and discuss appointments to external organisations. Councillor Chris Mills was elected as chair. The committee deferred decisions on planning applications relating to the Ufton Landfill Site pending a site visit.

Ufton Landfill Site Applications

The committee discussed two applications relating to the Ufton Landfill Site. Due to the interconnected nature of the applications, the committee decided to defer decisions on both until a site visit could take place.

In-Vessel Composting Facility

The first application, SDC/24CM002, concerned the in-vessel composting (IVC) facility at the Ufton Landfill Site. The application sought to vary conditions 1 and 9 of planning permission S1751/08CM021 to extend the life of the IVC until 31 December 2038.

David Cooper, development management team manager for Warwickshire County Council, explained that the IVC processes approximately 47,000 tonnes per annum of pre-segregated organic food and green waste, producing a quality compost product. The application was a variation of conditions to extend the life of the IVC up until 2038, making use for a very well-managed facility.

The IVC sits within the national waste hierarchy¹, preventing material going to landfill, preparing it for reuse, and recycling it. The site provides 15 on-site jobs, and would retain those for a further 14 years.

Several objections had been received from parish councils and individuals, mainly concerning smells and flies. However, David Cooper stated that, having visited the site, he believed the smells and flies were not coming from the IVC, but from other agricultural uses in the area.

Councillor Adrian Warwick, Leader of the Conservative Group, sought assurance that the smells and flies were definitely not emanating from the IVC. Councillor Christopher Kettle, the division member for Ufton Village, noted that the odour and fly problem was a recent phenomenon, also affecting Harbury and Southam. He requested ongoing investigation to determine the source of the problem.

Councillor George Cowcher emphasised the importance of the facility, but also the need to ensure the operating arrangements were of the highest possible quality, with material processed in a completely enclosed system. Councillor Will Roberts, Deputy Leader of the Green Group, asked for clarification on how operating hours are enforced.

Mary Tappenden, planning manager for BIFA, addressed the committee, stating that the building is not under negative pressure, but has fast-acting doors. She said that there is no evidence that the flies come from the BIFA site, and that the site is regularly visited by the Environment Agency who cannot find any evidence that there are flies on site that are escaping in great numbers.

Councillor Edward Harris raised the issue of liquid waste, questioning whether it could be a food source for flies. Mary Tappenden responded that the site has its own self-contained drainage system, which divides into clean water drainage and fowl drainage, which is directed off the maturation pad and out of the building and into the fowl sewer.

Following a lengthy discussion, Councillor Will Roberts proposed that the committee defer the application for another meeting and conduct a site visit. This was seconded by Councillor George Cowcher and agreed by the committee.

Landfill Site

The second application, SDC/24CM004, concerned the Landfill Site itself. It sought to vary conditions 16 and 18 of permission SDC/18CM033 to amend the approved pre-settlement restoration profile and final restoration scheme, and to agree an aftercare scheme and long-term ecological management plan.

David Cooper explained that the IVC provides the compost for the restoration and aftercare of the landfill. He suggested that this application also be deferred for a committee site visit, which was agreed.

Review of Appointments to External Organisations

Deborah Moseley introduced a report outlining the proposed allocation of places on various external bodies and the nominations received from group leaders. She noted that a small number of nominations had not yet been confirmed and would be the subject of a further report at the next meeting. The committee approved the nominations as set out in the revised table.