Issue - meetings

To give consideration to a report on the Air Quality management work within the Borough.

Rebecca Pointon and Phil Mason, Enforcement officers in the Safer and Stronger Communities Directorate attended the meeting and introduced a report outlining air quality management work in the Borough.

The Committee was informed that poor air quality reduced life expectancy in the UK by an average of 7-8 months, with health costs estimated at £20billion a year. The national UK air quality strategy aimed to reduce this to 5 months by 2020. Local Authorities would be instrumental in delivering this national target at the local level.

Specifically, Nitrogen Oxide could irritate lungs, and lower resistance to respiratory infections.

Air quality objectives were based on health evidence. However, it was reported that for some pollutants such as fine particles and benzene, there were currently no known safe levels.

When an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was identified, the Council had to produce an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) which was a basket of measures aimed at improving air quality. Action plans were then linked to the Local transport Plan, which ensured that the plan was acknowledged at a strategic level.

Appendix 2 of the report, listed current activities within the Air quality Action plan.

The Council had been informed yesterday (Wednesday) that it had been successful in securing a bid for £10,000 towards air quality schemes.

The Chairman commented about the business process outlined at appendix 1 and the need to ensure that any matters that are crossed reference in the Sustainable Community Strategy and Corporate Plan should be worded in the same fashion.

The enforcement team worked closely with other Council departments for example Highways, in relation to the location of pedestrian crossings, where these were located near to management areas, as the levels of traffic stopping at such crossings could have an impact on readings. In response to a members question regarding what influence the enforcement team had on the Council’s own fleet, the Committee was informed that measures were in place to strengthen the link, through the Local transport Plan.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.