8. Will the Minister make a statement on the Natural Resources Wales investigation into the fire at South Wales Wood Recycling’s site near Heol y Cyw? OAQ(5)0039(ERA)

Natural Resources Wales await the outcome of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and police investigation into the cause of the fire. They are reviewing the site’s management systems including those for stockpiling waste and will be increasing inspections of the facility.

Thank you for the answer. I’m afraid I missed the short debate by Huw Irranca-Davies on this issue, because I was chairing a cross-party group, but I’d like to put on record that I support all of his proposals, particularly those regarding directors and restricting legal challenges to stop notices, not least because it may be of benefit in other ways, such as in opencast mining. So, I was heartened by the Cabinet Secretary’s response when she said she would be considering at least some of those proposals in one form or another.

The issue that I personally have from constituents in that particular area is that one of the senior members of Bridgend County Borough Council, in the cabinet, is also a company secretary to this particular firm. So, is there an argument that, if there is any refresh of regulations, that they should prevent those responsible for enforcement from being involved in any business that may have enforcement action taken against it? Will you look into this please?

We did have a very good short debate brought forward by my colleague Huw Irranca-Davies, and other Assembly Members also contributed to it. I am going to meet with Huw Irranca-Davies. I came forward with some proposals, as did he, and I’m going to look at all options going forward.

Having spoken to residents in the area and Natural Resources Wales to discuss the ongoing situation, I think it’s clear that change is needed and I thank you for your response to the short debate last week. In the meantime, though, have you considered using your powers under section 61 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 to issue a direction to Natural Resources Wales to use its own powers in a specified manner? Those powers do include the power to suspend a licence.

I haven’t specifically looked at that, but I absolutely agree with you that change is needed and, as I say, those discussions will start now. I’ve asked officials to make this a priority, because, clearly, the short debate, I think, threw up a lot of issues that we need to address. But you have my assurance that we will be looking to change things going forward.

Thank you for the answers, Cabinet Secretary, and I also endorse the issues and the need to change regulations. But let’s look beyond the issue of the stockpile at Heol y Cyw, because there are many biomass plants that operate similar stockpiles—I’ve got two in my constituency, and a third one is proposed, one of the biggest in Wales. We want to also ensure that the planning regulations look very carefully at these proposals to ensure that, as planning development takes place, these conditions are placed upon any developer to ensure that this doesn’t happen within a situation like that.

Yes, absolutely. I’m very happy to do that. It’s really important that the proposals we bring forward are appropriate and pertinent.

Cabinet Secretary, given the number of incidents that have occurred at similar sites across Wales and concerns over the health implications of the large amounts of particulate matter generated in this type of facility, will the Welsh Government now consider introducing a moratorium on this type of plant? Will you also consider introducing tougher monitoring on existing licence holders and more stringent penalties for licence breaches in future?

As I said in my answer to Suzy Davies, I absolutely accept change is needed. I know you participated in the short debate, so you will have heard my answers. So, we’re looking at all options going forward.