Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Interim Joint Direct – Environment, Waste and Operations.

NB this report went to the Executive on 1 October 2024

Information on this topic can also be found on the Council website at any time and can be found here: Air quality monitoring - Exeter City Council

The Interim Joint Director for Environment, Waste and Operations presented the report which had previously been heard by the Executive and Council, making the following points:

·         there was a statutory duty to measure nitrogen dioxide concentration and report to central government on a set template;

·         there were 85 diffusion tubes mainly on arterial routes looking for issues and giving monthly data;

·         there were two fixed stations on the national network, at the RAMM and Alphington Street;

·         the lead officer vacancy was an issue as an expert of twenty years had been lost;

·         the annual status report would be presented to Executive once the appraisal letter from Defra was received; and

·         Defra had now advised that waiting for a year to revise the Air Quality Management Area and subsequently the action plan would be preferable to allow there to be data three years out of COVID.

The Portfolio Holder for City Management and Interim Joint Director for Environment, Waste and Operations answered Members’ questions making the following points:

·         the primary objective was to look at exceedances of which there was one area in East Wonford Hill;

·         this was a sealed order of Council but Defra had a say in it;

·         air quality knew no boundaries, local, national or international;

·         there had been a change for the better in the last ten or eleven years due to improvements in technology;

·         every petrol or diesel car replaced by electric had a positive impact however behaviour change out of vehicles would still be needed;

·         mapping of placement of diffusion tubes was available in the public domain, on the council website, there were a number near schools and they were placed in areas where dispersal was difficult with buildings close to the roadside, with some in parks to give background levels;

·         the team were not resourced to provide education but DCC active travel have done and the team had input, this is funding dependent;

·         reasons for the rise in particulate matter in recent years on page 138 were unclear;

·         they had already written to the Director of Public Health with regard to the there being no mention of air quality in the Devon and Torbay Transport Plan;

·         all 17 actions would be reviewed

·         4.1 of the Action plan on the website showed significant consultation (Air quality action plan - Exeter City Council) and a similar level of involvement would be intended upon revision;

·         there would be different measures as some such as Co-bikes/Co-cars would no longer be relevant; and

·         the Chair of HATOC had agreed to add Air Quality to their agenda.

Councillor Moore proposed a recommendation which was subsequently withdrawn following debate and additional information from the Portfolio Holder.