Some industrial or trade process must be authorised by the council in respect of the control of ommissions into the atmosphere.

Obtaining authorisations can sometimes be confusing do the council seeks to work in partnership with businesses to ensure that this process is a simple as possible and that it is completed with the minimum of delay.

What sort of processes may need to be authorised?

Combustion processes - including boilers, gas turbines, compression ignition engines, waste oil burners and other combustion processes.

Incinerators - used for general waste, sewage sludge, clinical waste, animal carcasses, and crematoria.

Timber processes - timber or chipboard manufacture and chemical treatment of timber

Maggot breeding

Asbestos – industrial finishing and use of specified asbestos products.

Mineral processes – including size reduction , screening, grading, blending, crushing and quarrying of minerals, bricks, tiles, glass or concrete.

Animal and plant treatment processes – animal rendering, fish meal and fish oil, skins and hides, by product dealers, animal feed drying, animal feed compounding, sausage casing and tripe, pet food, composting / fertilizer manufacture, blood processing, manure drying, fat/oil refining, vegetable oil extraction.

Solvent and oil recovery processes – organic solvent and oil recovery not by distillation.

Di-isocynate processes.

Coating processes – metal containers, respraying, vehicles, printing, coil, adhesive, paper, film, powder, coating with metal, hide and skin finishing and wall paper manufacture. 

Coating manufacture – paint, adhesives, powder, resin and ink.

How do I find out whether my process needs to be authorised?

Contact us by ringing 01483 444501

What public information do I have to supply?

Once you have made your application you will need to advertise it in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality of the process.  (This does not apply to applications for waste oil burners less that 0.4mw, for mobile phone plant of storage loading and unloading of petrol).

Details of the process will be included in a public register which is held at the Council Offices and can be inspect by the public.  Only matters of national security or commercial confidentiality may be omitted.  If you wish any information to be treated in commercial confidentiality you should make this clear on your application.

How is the application determined?

Stage 1

Collection of information relevant to the application

When we receive you application we aim to determine whether sufficient information has been supplied (i.e. that the application has been ‘ duly made’).

In most cases a specialist officer will arrange to inspect the premises, process and relevant documentation.  In many cases we are also required to consult with one or more other organisations or statutory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Petroleum Officer and Councillors.

Stage 2

Consideration

When sufficient information has been supplied the Council will either grant authorisation subject to conditions ore refuse the application. (You have the right of appeal in both cases).

The authorisation will have reference to the relevant guidance document which is process specific, these are available The Stationery Office.

What can I do if my application is refused or if I think the conditions are unreasonable?

You may appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment.  You may also appeal against any variation, enforcement and prohibition notices which may be served. 

Further information on how to appeal is contained within the General Guidance Note 5 (GG5) ‘Secretary of State’s Guidance – Appeals’ which is available again from t he Stationery Office.

What if I wish to alter my process?

Once you have received an authorisation you can request that the conditions be changed of varied in order to accommodate a change in the process.

The application must be made in writing and include the name, address and telephone number of the person making the application.  It should also contain the address of the premises where the process is carried on and a statement of any changes to the information provided in the original application for authorisation.  Other information may be required depending upon the nature of the change.

If the Council determines that the action will involve a ‘substantial change’ it will be necessary to repeat the process of advertisement and statutory consultation as for the original authorisation.  A fee is payable for such changes.

What will happen after the process is authorised?

Periodically you will receive a visit from an officer who will review the process authorisation and may request to see documentation relating to monitoring, sampling and measurement results, equipment maintenance or anything relating to the authorisation conditions,  Usually the officer will contact you to make an appointment.

An annual subsistence fee is payable in advance under the charging scheme, and this will be invoices each April.

How should I apply?

If you need to apply for an authorisation it is advisable to discuss the details with us.   This helps to prevent you carrying out unnecessary work and avoids problems and delays that could otherwise arise.

An application form will be sent to you for completion together with a guidance note advising you of the number of copies of the completed form you need to send back and how much the application fee will be.  You will also be advised of the name and ‘phone number of the officer who will deal with you enquiry.

The completed application forms(s) should be returned together with:

• The correct application fee
• Description of all stages of the process indicating techniques to prevent or minimise air pollution.
• Appropriate drawing and process diagrams
• Techniques for monitoring, sampling and measurement of air emissions including an assessment of the likely environmental consequences of any emissions to air.
• A statement of how your proposal will meet the ‘Best Available Techniques, not entailing excessive cost’ (BATNEEC) objectives.

You should also supply any other information which you wish to be taken into account or which has been requested by the offic