Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mr Cockram and Mr Henthorne.

The notes of the meeting held on 21 April 2010 were agreed as a correct record.

Terry Green reported that there had been no significant changes to the processing plant since the last meeting.

Atomising spray equipment to spray an odour neutralising agent in the vicinity of the external effluent tanks had been installed to help neutralise any localised odour, particularly when north and north easterly winds were predominant.

The total cost of environmental control from March 2010 to the end of August 2010 (6 months) was £199,830; £66,672 spent on odour control and £133,158 on effluent treatment. The combined average monthly spend being £33,305 which represented typical expenditure for the summer period.  A summary of individual costs was supplied to Members of the group. In response to a Member, Terry Green advised that greater expenditure applied at some of the company’s sister plants as they were larger in scale

A summary of the quarterly complaints was distributed to members of the group covering the period from 21 April 2010, the date of the previous meeting.

The number of complaints received were down on 2009 and 2008. The statistics showed that complaints were often received on the same day. There were also groupings of complaints over three or four consecutive days. It was not uncommon for complaints to be received from a number of different streets. Reference was made too a business premises in Marsh Green Road and Mr Green confirmed that their location was in a particularly sensitive location.

The manner of complainants varied to the reasonable to those who were “livid”. On one occasion an officer visiting an area from which a complaint had been received had been met by a quite large and vociferous crowd. Notifying officers and/or the plant was of value in providing early warnings of any possible problems. Mr Green suggested that on occasions the source of odours resulting in complaints may have been in part attributable to the Exeter City Council green waste re-cycling depot which was adjacent to the factory. Officers confirmed that they would identify in the report complaints which were not attributable to the factory.

The Chair stated that he had only received one complaint since the last meeting. He advised that he had cycled to the complainant’s house in Bagshot Avenue and had not felt that the smell had been particularly onerous.

It was anticipated that the factory would be shut down for the four day period commencing on 25 December.

It was agreed to move to afternoon meetings in future. The date of the next meeting was noted - 20 April 2011 at 2.00pm.