Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Community Services.

The Engineering Manager presented the report which provided an update on the current position in relation to disused spoil tips within Blaenau Gwent, and detailed the implementation of key actions and tasks in line with Coal Tip Safety Policy Taskforce.  The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.

A discussion ensued regarding the landslide incident in the Rhondda last year and the Officer explained that in Blaenau Gwent there was a number of small tips, and many had been reclaimed or built upon.  He was unaware that there were any tips in Blaenau Gwent on a mountainside or on the side of a river, and nothing significant like the type seen in the Rhondda.

A Member said an Officer should be assigned to inspect the tips in the Borough on a regular basis.

In response the Officer said there was new legislation coming into force in May/June 2021 that may require that work to be undertaken.

A Member asked how it was intended to categorise tips on unstable land, and the Officer pointed out that unstable ground was different from coal tips and identified on a different register.

A Member said following the Aberfan disaster the NCB undertook extensive inspections of all the tips throughout South Wales, and he expressed concern that over time those records had been lost, and he felt that LA’s were now being asked to pick up that task.  He said there were also a number of tips in the area as a result of iron ore mining and asked whether the new legislation would be extended to cover those.

In response the Officer explained that any mining adits were still the responsibility of the Coal Authority.  However, in terms of the new legislation he was unaware of the content until it was received for comment.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and the key actions and tasks set out in paragraphs 2.8 to 2.9 be noted (Option 1).