Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 31 August 2010 and comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

Councillor R Hannaford declared a personal interest in this item as a resident within the Air Quality Management Area.

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted, updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to local air quality management, considering the findings of the 2010 Air Quality Progress Report and amending the Air Quality Area Management Order. The Director Community and Environment advised members that more detailed data was available on the Council’s website.

Members endorsed the great importance of good public transport as a significant factor in reducing air pollution caused by traffic emissions.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 31 August 2010 and the support and comments of Members were noted.

Executive resolved that:-

(1)        the conclusions of the 2010 Air Quality Progress Report be noted;

(2)        the amended Air Quality Management Area Order detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be approved; and

(3)        the Air Quality Management Area Order be sealed and a copy submitted to DEFRA.

Councillor R Hannaford declared a personal interest in this item as a resident within the Air Quality Management Area.

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted, updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to local air quality management, considering the findings of the 2010 Air Quality Progress Report and amending the Air Quality Area Management Order. The Director Community and Environment advised members that more detailed data was available on the Council’s website.

Members endorsed the great importance of good public transport as a significant factor in reducing air pollution caused by traffic emissions.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 31 August 2010 and the support and comments of Members were noted.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the conclusions of the 2010 Air Quality Progress Report be noted;

(2)        the amended Air Quality Management Area Order detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be approved; and

(3)        the Air Quality Management Area Order be sealed and a copy submitted to DEFRA.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services – report circulated

The Environmental Health Technician presented the report updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to local air quality management and seeking comments on the findings of the 2010 Air Quality Progress Report and proposed amendments to the Air Quality Area Management Order.

She responded as follows to Members’ queries:

·         measures set out in the Action Plan to tackle pollution were drawn from four strategies - the Local Transport Plan, Second Round, the Environmental Strategy, the Climate Change Strategy and the Local Plan;

·         responding to a Member who, given the cuts in the transport budget for Exeter, queried whether the Devon County Council approach was sufficiently joined up, she advised that the City Council’s role was to monitor Air Quality and to press the County for solutions where problems were apparent. Congestion reduction and health improvements were strands within the Local Transport Plan rather than a specific reduction in air pollution. There were no legal sanctions available to the City Council to combat problems of pollution, although the Government was liable to fines if it failed to meet EU standards;

·         air quality in the High Street was monitored. With modern technology public vehicles were now much improved and encouraging greater use of public transport was an important strand within the Local Transport Plan;

·         the County possessed a Freight Quality Partnership and Members expressed the hope that there would be greater control of heavy vehicles using the main arterial routes as there was an impact on both pollution levels and road conditions.

Members were advised of the location of monitoring stations along Topsham Road. They welcomed the report and recognised the City Council’s important role in contributing to the Local Transport Plan through air monitoring, recognising that the County, through its transport role, was ultimately responsible for ensuring that air quality remained of a high standard.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested Executive to recommend to Council:

(1)        the noting of the 2010 Air Quality Progress Report;

(2)        the approval of the amended Air Quality Management Area Order, as set out in the report; and

(3)        the sealing of the Air Quality Management Area Order with a copy submitted to DEFRA.

(Report circulated)