The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting.

To approve the minutes from the meeting of 26 April 2024.

Led by: Chair

The minutes of the previous meeting, dated 26 April 2024, were approved.

To provide the opportunity to members of the public attending the meeting to ask questions of the statutory partners.

HOW TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS: The deadline for the submission of questions for this meeting is 5 pm on Thursday 25 July 2024. Questions must be submitted to NutrientManagementBoard@herefordshire.gov.uk. Questions sent to any other address may not be accepted. Accepted questions and the responses will be published as a supplement to the agenda papers prior to the meeting.

Led by: All

No public questions were received.

To receive updates on activity from Nutrient Management Board members (papers to follow where applicable).

The key updates from Nutrient Management Board members included:

1. It was noted that at the Royal Welsh Summit, on farming, Farm Cymru were invited to speak alongside NFU, FUW, the Future Generations Commissioner, and the Nature Friendly Farming Network.

2. It was added that Welsh Government had been asked to do a review of anaerobic digestion through Wales which has been since signed off for completion in the next six months.

To receive an update report of the SOG (papers to follow).

The key points made included:

1. There will not be a further progress update of the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) at the next NMB meeting, but this was to give board members a picture of the actions and where they are at currently.

2. Moving forward the focus of the Nutrient Management Plan will be set out measures and actions to restore the river to favourable conservation status. All plans and projects likely to impact upon the River Wye SAC are the subject of Habitats Regulations Assessment. Within the Lugg catchment where the river is failing to meet its conservation targets Nutrient Neutrality is applied on development proposals.

3. It was noted that Herefordshire Council link up with all the local authorities who received funding from DLUHC.

4. The SOG have agreed that the primary spend will be on updating the Welsh evidence feeding into the NMP.

5. The Chair argued that the Phosphate Action Plan forms a useful baseline to have within the agenda papers of the NMB so that the board can refer to it and change things included in it.

6. The Chair asked about actions that sit with DEFRA.

7. Martin Quine responded that evaluations will be made on where the DWPP is at before the next NMB meeting and an update can be provided on that.

8. It was asked if it was possible for a summary on what progress has taken place regarding the plans in place.

9. The Chair asked who would be willing to produce a summary.

10. It was noted that the Wye Catchment Partnership are trying to create a plan for the river that deals with the defined problems and slots in the elements of the DWPP and the Upper Wye SAC Restoration Plan in order to work in a more coordinated way.

11. It was asked what timescale is expected for the Welsh Government funded work in Wales of the NMP to be done by.

12. It was asked if there are any outcomes from TAG groups.

1. Claire Minett noted that the key outcome from the Farmscoper update is that 50% of phosphates come from soil loss. Natural England work closely with catchment sensitive farming programme and have initiated extra targeted activity on the Wye to encourage the voluntary measures in place to provide buffers, cover crops, and that work is ongoing.

2. Merry Albright asked in relation to the APHA numbers whether the 30 million poultry figure in the catchment is correct.

3. Claire Minett added that this is one piece of evidence feeding into the DWPP that will add to the evidence-based understanding and options appraisal.

The Chair introduced Tom Powell to speak on the item.

Tom Powell noted that he would provide a brief overview on how biosolids work and answer questions from members. The key points included:

1. The Biosolids Assurance Scheme (BAS) exists to ensure that the biosolids works are tested every three months and is tested every day for nitrogen and phosphate. There are different criteria as to whether it can be exported to land. Welsh Water are not prohibited to recycle to land with elevated levels of nutrients.

2. The Chair asked in relation to nutrients what controls are in place not to apply or sell to land that is full of phosphate.

3. It was asked that Welsh Water apply according to the ADHB Nutrient Management Guide ‘RB209’ guidance.

4. Concern was noted that if the soil is tested only every five years, how is it known what has happened the following year, for example.

5. Tom Powell added that Welsh Water can provide copies of the paperwork which shows the different mapping risks including distances from water courses, for example.

6. Martin Quine mentioned that Project TARA is focusing on the transport of digestate from anaerobic digesters. Once the section on anaerobic digestion is complete, the project will examine sludge from water companies across the catchment area. Records of where the sludge is currently being spread can then be requested, helping to identify specific localities that need to be targeted.

7. It was asked whether the five-year test is a standard cycle of testing for water companies in general.

8. The Chair asked in relation to phosphate through land drains whether the drains are tested by Welsh Water.

9. It was asked whether the testing is done unannounced or whether it is done on a regular basis every five years.

The date of the next meeting is 16^th October 2024, 14:00.

The date of the next meeting is 16^th October 2024, 14:00.