Agenda item

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager referred to the legal duty placed on the Council (and all district and county councils) in respect of local air quality by Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. He updated Members on the Council’s draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) which had been circulated with the report and would be released for public and stakeholder consultation and commented on an amendment to the consultation. The draft plan outlined the Council’s vision for air quality in the city and proposed measures that the Council would take during the period 2018 to 2023. The closing date for responses to the consultation is 11 April 2018. A review of all of the responses to the consultation will be made, and a final version of the AQAP will be produced to reflect these responses.

He emphasised that the consultation was a three month public engagement which provided residents with the opportunity to be involved and help to make changes. The final plan would be presented to the meeting of Place Scrutiny Committee in June 2018.

In response to Members’ questions, the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager and Senior Environment Technical Officer responded:-

·         All available information was in the public domain and the draft plan would address concentrated areas of high pollution in the City. Data and progress is also reported annually to Central Government;

·         Additional information on the impact of measures was not available at this stage, because of it cannot be estimated until full details of the proposed measures are available. At this stage the Council are seeking views from the public on the broad themes and outline measures in the draft action plan. Further information on the air quality impact of measures will be produced as the measured develop, and will be made available to the public;

·         There is no legislation available that bans bonfires, however the Council would continue to encourage residents to use composting and using alternative methods to burning;

·         The air quality plan focusses on NO² levels from traffic. The inclusion of other sources and types of pollution is open for contribution by residents during the consultation period;

·         The Council will utilise the Communications and Marketing team to provide support for public engagement and to provide plain English information;

·         Less than 10% of the PM^2.5 levels in Exeter arise from sources within the city. The majority is from regional, national and international sources such as agriculture and natural sources.

·         The smog levels from the motorway network are monitored by Highways England, who used their own monitoring sites. Exeter City Council monitors levels where people are more exposed;

·         Although the Portfolio Holder was involved with public engagement, it was the residents who had the real power to make changes to the city;

·         Devon County Council would be consulted with in regards to the congestion changes.

Councillor Musgrave attended the meeting under Standing Order 44 and welcomed the consultation and expressed his appreciation of the hard work of both the Portfolio Holder and Senior Environment Technical Officer. He expressed concern about the air quality in the city which he considered was not at a good level and that the consultation could distort results and impact on air quality control measures. Supported by Councillor Mitchell as a Member of Place Scrutiny Committee, he requested new recommendations to Executive as follows:-

(1)  Remove the suggestion that air quality in the City was generally good;

(2)  Provide clearer details about how and when specific measures could be adopted and what impact they would;

(3)  Provide details about how money was raised and parking charges would be spent to make alternatives and better public transport.

Councillor Denham requested to speak at the meeting under Standing Order 44 and expressed her thanks to the Senior Environment Technical Officer for the hard work done to report in a short period of time. She explained that she had requested to speak under Standing Order 44 to address any issues that may be raised.

She stated her concern regarding the amendment of the recommendations. Available air quality data showed that it was good and although she recognised the concerns of the public, it was important to use the existing data. She discussed how information could be explained in clearer way, how to identify where more work was needed and where money could be used for improvements. She stated that it would be better to wait until the consultation was completed.

Members agreed that it was the responsibility of all residents to reduce the impact of their travel choices, and that getting the consultation underway was important. Following a vote by Members, the recommendations made by Councillor Musgrave were not agreed.

Place Scrutiny Committee:-

(1)          noted the consultation draft of the Air Quality Action Plan;

(2)          supported the consultation process that Council officers will undertake;

(3)          supported and actively encouraged wider community engagement in the collective ambition to reduce transport emissions; and

(4)          requested a report be presented to the Place Scrutiny Committee on 14 June 2018 to summarise the outcomes of the consultation process and to seek approval by the Executive of the final Air Quality Action Plan.