Issue - meetings

Air Quality Strategy Review and Action Plan

 

 

Meeting: 17/09/2013 - Executive (Item 85)

85 Local Air Quality Management Air Quality Action Plan 2011-2016 & Air Quality Progress Report pdf icon PDF 25 KB

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 3 September 2013 and its comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

 

Decision:

(Minute 85)

 

The report of the Assistant Director Environment was submitted, updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to local air quality management and work being conducted on a Low Emissions Strategy.

 

Members were updated on the four key objectives in this Second Air Quality Action Plan and the development of a Low Emissions Strategy Plan. The Council had been successful in obtaining a DEFRA grant of £60,000 to establish a Low Emissions Strategy.

 

Councillor Leadbetter spoke on this item under Standing Order no.44. He stated that  there had not been any improvement  within the Air Quality within the last seven years. In response to the Leader regarding Devon County Council input as transport authority, he said he would look to move the issue forward with Devon County Council through Exeter HATOC.

 

The Assistant Director Environment advised that the funding from DEFRA was ring- fenced and would be used to develop the Low Emissions Strategy. More recently the air quality within Exeter had not worsened, and in fact had improved slightly in the short-term, despite the city’s growth. He also advised that the Council’s work on Air Quality and Low Emission strategies, together with respective action plans were instrumental in influencing partners to take account of the importance of air quality in such issues as transport management.

 

The Leader highlighted the need to take forward the proposal for the park and ride site at Alphington.

 

The Portfolio Holder for City Development emphasised the need to work closely with the County Council to improve air quality within the City and proposed an additional recommendation seeking high level meetings with the County Council to move forward improvements in Air Quality. This was agreed.

 

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 3 September 2013 and the comments of Members were noted.

 

Executive resolved that:-

 

(1)          the progress on the Air Quality Action Plan be noted;

 

(2)          the development of a Low Emissions Strategy to fulfil air quality objectives be agreed; and

 

(3)          discussions take place with Devon County Council as a matter of priority to take forward issue of the Air Quality in the City.

 

Minutes:

The report of the Assistant Director Environment was submitted, updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to local air quality management and work being conducted on a Low Emissions Strategy.

 

Members were updated on the four key objectives in this Second Air Quality Action Plan and the development of a Low Emissions Strategy Plan. The Council had been successful in obtaining a DEFRA grant of £60,000 to establish a Low Emissions Strategy.

 

Councillor Leadbetter spoke on this item under Standing Order no.44. He stated that  there had not been any improvement  within the Air Quality within the last seven years. In response to the Leader regarding Devon County Council input as transport authority, he said he would look to move the issue forward with Devon County Council through Exeter HATOC.

 

The Assistant Director Environment advised that the funding from DEFRA was ring- fenced and would be used to develop the Low Emissions Strategy. More recently the air quality within Exeter had not worsened, and in fact had improved slightly in the short-term, despite the city’s growth. He also advised that the Council’s work on Air Quality and Low Emission strategies, together with respective action plans were instrumental in influencing partners to take account of the importance of air quality in such issues as transport management.

 

The Leader highlighted the need to take forward the proposal for the park and ride site at Alphington.

 

The Portfolio Holder for City Development emphasised the need to work closely with the County Council to improve air quality within the City and proposed an additional recommendation seeking high level meetings with the County Council to move forward improvements in Air Quality. This was agreed.

 

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 3 September 2013 and the comments of Members were noted.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

(1)          the progress on the Air Quality Action Plan be noted;

 

(2)          the development of a Low Emissions Strategy to fulfil air quality objectives be agreed; and

 

(3)          discussions take place with Devon County Council as a matter of priority to take forward issue of the Air Quality in the City.

 

(Report circulated)

 

Meeting: 03/09/2013 - Scrutiny Committee - Community (Item 47)

47 Local Air Quality Management Air Quality Action Plan 2011-2016 and 2013 Air Quality Progress Report pdf icon PDF 25 KB

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment – report circulated

 

Minutes:

The Assistant Director Environment presented the report updating Members on the Council’s duties relating to local air quality management and work being conducted on Low Emissions Strategy. The report set out the four objectives of the Second Air Quality Action Plan and the three strategic objectives of the Low Emission Strategy which had been funded by DEFRA in the sum of £60,000 to identify and implement measures to reduce emissions and contribute towards the EU limit values, the project to be completed within 18 months. The engagement of a consultant would be funded from the above budget.

 

The Chief Executive & Growth Director emphasised the importance of a balanced approach to encouraging the economic growth of the City as well as maintaining air quality standards. He referred to the many transport initiatives in Exeter in recent years as part of Devon County Council’s Transport Plans which had successfully led to the growth in patronage of public transport and stopped growth in car usage. Transport policy in the City reflected the City’s importance as the economic hub of the area as well as the increasing number of homes that had to be built, both in the City and on the outskirts.

 

In addition to inward commuter/shopper journeys, a Member suggested that movements within and out of the City, such as to shopping centres, were also significant.

 

Scrutiny Committee - Community noted the report and requested Executive to note the progress on the Air Quality Action Plan and to support the development of a Low Emissions Strategy to fulfil air quality objectives.

 

(Report circulated)