Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Interim Joint Director – Environment, Waste and Operations (SL).

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1) note the statutory annual status report; and

(2) agree that an update be made to the Executive should the DEFRA clarification on the City Council timetable for future actions be different than that outlined in this report.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the statutory Annual Status report that had been submitted to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and contained monitoring data from 2023, a summary of air quality improvement actions taken and future plans.

Particular reference was made to the proposal which had been issued to DEFRA to review the air quality management area. DEFRA had requested the Council wait another 12 months to receive the 2024 data before making a decision. This was mainly concerned with discounting the 2020 data which was deemed unreliable due to the Covid lockdown.

The Leader advised that Councillor Haigh had submitted a question under Standing Order No. 44 but was unable to be in attendance. A response had been provided outside of the meeting and would be appended to the minutes.

Cllrs Mitchell and Moore as opposition group leaders spoke on the item and raised points and questions, which were responded to by Senior Officers, as detailed further in this minute.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and questions:-

·         like many places, there was still a way to go with the work to improve air quality, however, Exeter was one of the better areas for air quality in the country;

·         monitoring devices were placed in the areas with the most pollution so the NO² can be picked up with Devon County Council, but was not representative of air quality across the whole city;

·         air quality issues could be raised with Devon County Council as part of issues with buses and running a municipal bus service, to reduce the volume of cars;

·         Exeter was below the legal objective for air quality in all but one location in 2023;

·         continuing with current arrangements was important. The current air quality action plan covered the period of 2019-2024 and required 2024 data to make an evaluation on its success; and

·         in developing a new plan based on evidence up to 2024, work can be done with partners to define a new air quality plan to address areas with higher levels.

In response to questions and points raised by Members and opposition group leaders, the Interim Director – Environment, Waste and Operations (SL) advised that:-

·         Exeter City Council was the lead authority for measuring and collecting air quality data and coordinate with other organisations for developing an air quality action plan.

·         Air quality had no boundaries and was impacted by a number of factors including industrial, traffic, domestic and atmospheric issues.

·         The enquiries raised by Councillor Moore in regard to the Air Quality Action Plan, its actions and reducing air pollution would be considered and responded to outside of the meeting.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1) note the statutory annual status report; and

(2) agree that an update be made to the Executive should the DEFRA clarification on the City Council timetable for future actions be different than that outlined in this report.