Agenda item

To consider a joint report by Councillors Win Mullen-James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning and Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport (copy enclosed) regarding formation of the Nutrient Management Board, and seeking lead member representation on the Board.

RESOLVED that Cabinet agrees –

(a)       that Denbighshire County Council joins the Nutrient Management Board and works collaboratively with its partners to tackle phosphorus pollution in the River Dee catchment area, and

(b)       that the Council is represented by the Lead Member for Environment and Transport with the Lead Member for Local Development and Planning being the substitute.

Councillor Barry Mellor presented a joint report with Councillor Win Mullen-James on the formation of the Nutrient Management Board to tackle phosphorus pollution in the River Dee catchment area, and for lead member representation on the Board.

Cabinet was advised that new phosphorous standards for the Welsh Riverine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) had been set with around 38% of surveyed waterbodies in the “River Dee and Bala Lake SAC” compliance areas having failed to achieve the targets.  Wrexham County Borough Council and Flintshire County Council had committed to form a Nutrient Management Board (NMB) and it was recommended that Denbighshire County Council join the partnership to enable a catchment-wide approach to improving water quality in the River Dee, and ensure the Council could deliver local community projects and an efficient Planning Service under consideration of the Habitats Regulations 2017.  The report set out the legal framework, structure, potential resource requirements and early workload.

The Strategic Planning and Housing Manager, Senior Planning Officer and Planning Officer attended for this item.  Cabinet was advised of the environmental damage caused by too much phosphorous in the river and the implications that the new targets would have on planning applications and delivery of new housing, employment land, etc.  Reference was made to the map accompanying the report showing the River Dee catchment area which covered a significant part of southern Denbighshire, including Llangollen and Corwen as the main towns and the villages in between.  The NMB provided a partnership approach to tackling water quality and approval was sought to join the Board and confirm Councillor Barry Mellor as the Council’s representative and Councillor Win Mullen-James as substitute.

The following points were raised during the ensuing debate –

·         Councillor Win Mullen-James highlighted the devastating impact of algae blooms caused by raised phosphate levels on river ecology and wildlife and the importance of joining the NMB with a view to tacking the issue of phosphate pollution and the implications on future planning applications

·         Councillor Emrys Wynne raised questions regarding the lack of reference in the report to the River Alyn as a tributary of the River Dee and the known problem with phosphates in the Llanarmon yn Ial area.  Officers advised that the River Alyn itself and Llanarmon yn Ial area were not part of the SAC which focused on the area specifically around the River Dee.  However, the wider catchment area still fell under the Habitats Regulations 2017 because increases in phosphates in those areas had a pathway into the River Dee.  Attention was drawn to the map attached to the report highlighting the distinction between SAC phosphate compliance areas and SAC phosphate sensitive areas

·         Welsh Government designates riverine Special Areas of Conservation in light of recommendations made by Natural Resources Wales (previously Countryside Council for Wales) through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee

·         Councillor Barry Mellor stressed the need to consider all phosphate sources entering the River Dee, including those from outside the SAC, and the issue would best be raised at the NMB.  He added that the Welsh Government had provided funding to support the work of the NMBs, with up to £415k available across Wales in 2022-23 and additional provision in 2023-24 and 2024-25

·         Councillor Rhys Thomas referred to survey work he had undertaken on the River Dee and he fully understood the problems associated with phosphate levels.  He emphasised the need to work across the whole catchment area taking into account all causes of phosphate pollution with a view to resolving the problem and therefore was fully supportive of the work of the NMB.

Cabinet recognised the importance of tacking phosphate pollution both for environmental reasons and impact on planning applications, including future housing provision, and were fully supportive of the Council joining the NMB.

RESOLVED that Cabinet agrees –

(a)       that Denbighshire County Council joins the Nutrient Management Board and works collaboratively with its partners to tackle phosphorus pollution in the River Dee catchment area, and

(b)       that the Council is represented by the Lead Member for Environment and Transport with the Lead Member for Local Development and Planning being the substitute.