Agenda item

To receive an update on the management of landfill operations across the borough.

The Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement provided an update on landfill management across the Borough, with particular focus on activity undertaken by the Council in relation to Granville Landfill (locally referred to as Redhill Landfill) since the previous update to Committee presented in February 2025.

The report outlined the respective responsibilities of the Council and the Environment Agency (EA) in relation to active landfill sites. In particular, the EA remained the primary regulator of active landfill operations, while the Council, in its role as Local Planning Authority, was responsible for ensuring compliance with planning conditions.

Members were advised that the site had been operational since 1991 and had been managed by Potters (Midlands) Ltd since 2019. The site accepted a range of non-hazardous domestic and commercial waste streams and operated under an Environmental Permit issued by the EA.

The report explained that, as with all active landfill sites, the decomposition of biodegradable waste generates landfill gas and has the potential to cause environmental impacts, including odour. Consequently, at the time of the meeting, the site was subject to ongoing regulation, monitoring and inspection.

The report acknowledged concerns raised by residents regarding odour, particularly during 2024, which prompted the EA to undertake a significant programme of monitoring and regulatory activity.

The report confirmed that the Council continues to undertake local monitoring, respond to residents’ complaints and share information with regulatory partners.

Members heard that the Local Authority had helped to build a clearer understanding of local impacts and support evidence-based discussions regarding the management of the site. The report also highlighted the challenges associated with investigating landfill odour, which had often been intermittent and influenced by factors such as weather conditions, wind direction, and landfill gas management. As a result, the development of a robust evidence base required ongoing monitoring and assessment over a period of time.

The report further noted that the EA had required the operator to introduce enhanced landfill gas abstraction measures to help manage emissions from the site. Although odours had been detected, investigations undertaken to date did not identify sufficient evidence to demonstrate the existence of a statutory nuisance.

The Committee heard that the management of landfill sites presented ongoing challenges, including those associated with odour, landfill gas and leachate management. Members were advised that weather conditions and atmospheric changes could significantly influence both emissions and the investigation of complaints. These risks were managed through environmental permitting, planning controls and regular monitoring and inspection.

Looking ahead, the report noted that the Council would continue to work closely with the EA, residents, local ward members and the site operator. Ongoing odour monitoring and community engagement would continue, alongside consideration of additional environmental monitoring technology to strengthen the available evidence base.

Responding to questions raised on whether the Council felt that stronger regulation was needed in respect of Granville Landfill and at what stage would it step in, the Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement advised that the Council continues to consider and investigate concerns relating to potential statutory nuisances and in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, will act where appropriate.

Members raised concerns that, between 2022 and 2026, seventy-one site visits had been undertaken, yet none had resulted in the issuance of a statutory enforcement notice. Members also sought clarification on the specific breaches that had been identified, the circumstances under which statutory enforcement notices are issued and the measures in place to prevent further breaches.

In response, the Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement advised that these matters fell within the remit of the Environment Agency (EA) and would therefore need to be addressed by that organisation. The Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee confirmed that he would take these questions away and request a formal response from the EA.

In response to a query on when the Granville Landfill site was set to close, how many depositories were left, and when completion should be expected, the Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement advised that the site operators had permission to continue operating until 2030. He confirmed that the remaining questions would need to be raised with the EA separately.

Responding to questions regarding a landfill site which, according to the report, was declassified last year and was no longer regarded as contaminated, Members sought clarification on the site's location, the reasons for its declassification and whether it could be confirmed that the land no longer posed a contamination risk.

The Director: Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services advised that the review and declassification of sites formed part of the work undertaken through the Contaminated Land Strategy, which had been presented to the Committee in February 2025. He explained that the strategy included the reassessment of sites against current evidence and risk criteria, enabling those that no longer met the statutory definition of contaminated land to be declassified.

The Environmental Protection Team Leader confirmed that the site was Agropharm, near Wellington. Updated investigations and groundwater monitoring were commissioned by the landowner, with the site regulated by the Environment Agency following its designation as a Special Site. All investigation and monitoring reports were reviewed by both the Environment Agency and the Council. The evidence demonstrated that the site no longer met the current statutory definition of contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Consequently, the contaminated land designation was revoked.

The Director: Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services added that, under the Environmental Protection Act, the site must remain on the contaminated land register but was no longer considered to fall within the scope of Part 2A of the Act.

Members noted the update on the management of landfill operations across the borough and thanked the Director: Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services, the Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement, the Environmental Protection Team Leader and the Cabinet Member: Safer Streets and Better Housing for their attendance.

The Chair expressed the Committee's disappointment that no representative from the EA had been able to attend the meeting. He noted that the information currently available to the Committee did not always provide sufficient detail to enable effective scrutiny of the Agency's regulatory role and activities. He advised that he would write to the EA as the Chair of the Committee to encourage improved engagement with the Committee, including the attendance of a senior representative at future scrutiny meetings and briefings.