Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Vanessa Newcombe.

The notes of the meeting held on 29 October 2008 were agreed as a correct record.

At the last meeting it was reported that a working party would be set up to look at the incidents over the summer period.  John Leech advised that Councillor Winterbottom, officers, Bob Ratcliffe and managers from J L Thomas had met to talk through a series of improvements which would be reported under the process update part of the agenda.

Terry Green reported that the new drier was installed last September, but it was not until early February that trials and commissioning was fully completed, and from this time an improved rate of throughput had been achieved.  They are now regularly achieving an increased throughput rate of around four tonnes per hour compared with the previous drier.  They are hopeful that this can be further improved to an increase of around six tonnes per hour.  This will be subject to DEFRA approval following recent validation trials.  The benefits of increased throughput are:

§         Reduced raw material stock levels and improved stock rotation

§         A reduced processing week – from early February they have regularly been able to complete weekly processing by 6pm on Saturdays and sometimes earlier.  This remains the target unless abnormal circumstances occur.

Alongside the drier, the new press scrubbing system was providing much improvement compared with the old system.  The concentrated odours from the drier and pressors are now much cooler and less moist, resulting in improved incineration efficiency by No. 2 boiler.  The room air of both the drier and press rooms is now normally visibly clear compared to the sometimes visible plume that was sometimes noticeable previously.

New state of the art electrical control panels were installed to the large flakt and small flakt towers in November, including a new build switchroom for the small flakt.  This is providing improved reliability of both odour control systems with more infinite control of the equipment and enhanced information feedback to the process computer system.  The overall cost of these works was around £65,000.  This is in addition to the £1 million invested in the new drier and press scrubbing system earlier in the year.

Recently, a fuel supply ring main had been installed to the boilers which provides a constant fuel supply pressure.  This results in improved reliability of the boilers in terms of flame failure and also reduces the risk of chimney smoke which has sometimes briefly occurred on previous occasions.

A summary of routine and capital expenditure for the previous five months was circulated to the Group and Terry Green advised that he would produce this for future meetings also.

It is expected that current volumes of raw material will decline in the coming months to around 60-70% of current levels.  This is due to seasonal fallen stock/knacker material reduction, and losses to competitors as a result of the severe price war the Company has been facing since last August and is likely to continue for another 12 months.  This in itself is likely to reduce the processing week (currently 1,750-1,800 tonnes per week, expected to fall to 1,200 – 1,400 tonnes per week).  They would be changing from operating a four shift system to a three shift system.

In August 2008 a meeting was held with Rob Ratcliffe, Liz Taberer, Councillor Winterbottom, John Leech and Alex Bulleid to identify a programme of possible odour improvement works for consideration by the Company with a means  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Mr Henthorne referred to vehicle complaints and asked whether there could be occasions where vehicle odours emanated from the factory, and also asked where vehicles are sprayed outside the city.  Terry Green advised that there was a greater risk of odour if vehicles stand on the yard.  Steve Cockram added all vehicles are fully enclosed and trailers are fully sheeted, and that they do insist that every vehicle uses the scent and they are all supplied with this.  Unfortunately odour can escape from the natural airflow around moving vehicles

There are no controls as such outside the factory, but there are controls in terms of use of vehicle regulations and animal by-products regulations by DEFRA.  The Council did carry out a lengthy process some time ago to monitor vehicles in Haven Road, in conjunction with representatives from the Company.

The scent is used to try to mask any odours and they do periodically remind drivers of set procedures regarding the use of scent.  Certain types of materials are more at risk to odours than others.  They make every attempt to arrange vehicles ‘at risk’  to come into the city outside of normal hours so they are not caught in traffic.  Alex Bulleid added that if there were any odour complaints from vehicles, complainants were  encouraged  to call as soon as possible, with the registration number if possible, so she can call the factory to investigate immediately.

Councillor Winterbottom advised that he had placed an article in the local St Leonards newsletter but had received no contact since that time.

Alex advised that they had received another two complaints since the report was produced from Marsh Green Road on 15 April and today.

Apart from four occasions when odours were as a result of either boiler failure, a fault with the drier, flakt tower or raw material on the yard due to abnormal circumstances, the complaints had been due to mainly residual odours.

It was noted that there had been no complaints between 21 January and 1 April.  This could have been due to weather conditions and wind direction.

Reference was made to three complaints on 27 November 2008 where comments in the report stated the odour as ‘not offensive’.  It was noted that this term was used as it was not in breach of the permit condition and comes within the regulations.

Councillor Winterbottom advised that this would be his last meeting as he would become Lord Mayor in May.  He expressed his thanks to J L Thomas for their cooperation and good working relationship since he had been a member of this Group.  Terry Green added that he welcomed the interest Councillor Winterbottom had expressed in the factory both at and outside of this meeting.

The next meeting was arranged to be held on Wednesday 21 October 2009 at 5.30pm in the Bad Homburg Room, Civic Centre.