Issue - meetings

Motion: Air Quality

Proposer: Cllr Lynn Wetenhall

Seconder: Cllr Diana Moore

Councillor Wetenhall moved, and Councillor Moore seconded a Notice of Motion under Standing Order No.6 in the following terms:

“This Council resolves that:

• full and transparent information about air pollution levels on specific roads and health impacts of living on or regularly using those roads whether as a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist.
• information on alternative walking and cycling routes or travel modes for known regular commuter and school run routes, avoiding the most polluted roads.
• Fuller information on the health impacts of air pollution from all sources, both inside the home (for wood burners, open fires, mould and damp) and outside and actions to take to reduce these impacts.”

In presenting the motion, Councillor Wetenhall made the following points:

• there was currently misleading information and information that was difficult for lay people to understand;
• 92% of nitrogen dioxide monitoring sites did not meet WHO guidelines;
• there was a simple solution, and it would not be very expensive; and
• she had attended the Exeter Futures Walk put on by the University and it was clear that there needed to be a simpler way to communicate scientific information in way that could be understood by everyone.

The Lord Mayor advised that an amendment had been proposed and invited Councillor R Williams to speak. Councillor R Williams moved, seconded by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk, an amendment that under Standing Order 7 (4) that his motion be referred to the Strategic Scrutiny Committee.

In proposing her amendment, Councillor R Williams informed Members that the Air Quality Report was going to the Strategic Scrutiny Committee as an item at the November meeting.

During debate on the amendment, Members made the following points:

Councillor Palmer:

• this amendment essentially squashed the motion; and
• vulnerable people could not wait for this to be deferred.

Councillor Read:

• she appreciated that scrutiny was able to look at things in depth;
• reports were often only noted at scrutiny;
• it would be helpful for Council to make a decision now, that would support scrutiny regarding air quality;
• the original motion enabled communication with residents and provided solutions residents on how they can solve their problem; and
• if this amendment was approved it would be a vote to not provide transparency.

Councillor Ketchin:

• the Strategic Scrutiny Committee would be assessing the reporting of air pollution in the city;
• the original motion was about simple measure to update information for the public; and
• this brought forward wood burners which had not previously been addressed.

Councillor Atkinson:

• Devon County Council were responsible for devising and putting into place an Air Quality Plan, the role of Exeter City Council was to put up monitoring equipment and collect data;
• Exeter City Council was creating plans to deal with mould and damp and that would be an issue for Customer Focus Scrutiny; and
• this motion should go to Scrutiny for an informed debate on these issues as they had a valuable role and informed policies.

Councillor Wetenhall:

• this was not about tackling air pollution, but about providing more  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98