The Health, Wellbeing & Environment Scrutiny Committee of Newcastle-under-Lyme Council met on 15 September 2025 to discuss several topics, including odour issues at Walleys Quarry, the Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) Strategy, and a review of parks. The committee was also scheduled to receive updates on the Community Safety Partnership and the Animal Welfare Charter.

Walleys Quarry Odour Issues

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the ongoing odour issues related to Walleys Quarry, a landfill site in Silverdale. A report to the cabinet on 2 September 2025 noted that parts of the borough had been affected by foul odours from the site for a number of years. The Environment Agency is the lead regulator for permitted landfill sites, and the council also has a role in influencing the operation and performance of such sites.

The report included data on complaints received by the council and the Environment Agency over the previous three months, as well as data from air quality monitoring stations. It also provided updates on regulatory and enforcement action taken by the Environment Agency, and progress with on-site works.

The report noted that Walleys Quarry Ltd had entered voluntary liquidation in February 2025.

Upon the liquidation of Walleys Quarry Ltd, the abatement notice and the legal requirements in respect of odours, will cease to be enforceable. As a result, those legal proceedings will not continue. The council will keep this under review.

The report also included a letter from Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, which stated that the agency's powers are limited to those set out in legislation, and do not extend to site restoration.

Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) Strategy

The committee was scheduled to discuss the draft Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) Strategy 2025 – 28. The council launched its Civic Pride campaign in October 2024, aiming to boost pride across the borough and strengthen its reputation as a place which is clean, safe and friendly.

The draft strategy sets out the areas the council will focus on as it makes progress, responds to feedback, and continues to listen to communities. The priorities mirror those in the Staffordshire County Council's Communities Strategy and focus on:

• Great Places Where We Live
• Connected Communities
• The Way the Council Listens, Talks and Acts

The strategy is intended to guide how Newcastle Borough Council works with its communities, how its communities can be involved in decision-making and local service delivery, and to support the council's workforce and partners.

Review of Parks Task & Finish Working Group Final Report

The committee was scheduled to review the final report from the Parks Task & Finish Working Group. The group was established in February 2025 to review the borough's parks and open spaces and the role these played in achieving National Standards for Play, reviewing Local Areas for Play (LAP's), Local Equipped Areas for Play (LEAP's) and Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play (NEAP's).

The report recommended that the council adopt a revised policy for unsupervised children's playgrounds, and that a programme of playground painting refurbishment is developed. It also acknowledged the procurement of EzyAsset to enable the enhanced management of playground facilities, and suggested that future consideration is given for adult exercise equipment in a prime location as a pilot initiative.

Community Safety Partnership

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of successful work that has been delivered by the Community Safety Partnership in 2024/25, and planned actions for 2025/26 in the Local Police and Crime Plan and the Community Safety Action Plan, in response to the Strategic Assessment priorities for 2025/2026.

The strategic priorities for 2024/2025 were:

• Anti-social behaviour
• Community Cohesion and Tackling Extremism
• Domestic Abuse
• Drugs and County Lines
• Fraud
• Serious Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons

The Local Crime and Police Plan sets out the Community Safety Partnership commitment in delivering on the strategic priorities.

Review of Animal Welfare Charter

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update on the review of the Animal Welfare Charter.