Issue - meetings

The Panel will receive a presentation from the Team Manager for Environmental Protection and Licensing and the Environmental Protection Manager regarding this item.

The Senior Public Protection Officer and the Environmental Protection Manager gave the Panel a presentation on this matter, a brief summary of which is set out below.

National Requirements

·  Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 sets provisions for protecting air quality in the UK (Air Quality (Standards) Regulations 2010.

·  Air Quality (Standards) Regulations 2010 transpose into English law the requirements of Directives 2008/50/EC and 2004/107/EC (Ambient Air Quality) and sets limits for key pollutants that impact upon public health e.g. particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.

·  UK has failed to meet the requirements of the Directive.

·  European Emission standards sets limits on the maximum emissions from new vehicles.

The 2008 Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) sets limits for key pollutants in the air we breathe outdoors. These legally binding limit values are for concentrations of major air pollutants that impact public health, such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The directive also sets limit values for a range of other pollutants, such as ozone, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The limits set in the Ambient Air Quality Directive are closely aligned to the UK air quality objectives, with similar metrics and levels.

In addition to the limit values, the Ambient Air Quality Directive contains requirements on Member States to address exposure reduction for PM2.5. This is currently the responsibility of central government, and local authorities are not required to act on this, although many local measures to address PM10 would have an impact on PM2.5 too (as diesel vehicles are a major source of PM2.5 emissions).

The UK is currently in breach of the European Ambient Air Quality Directive for PM10 and NO2. The European Commission have the right to fine them for breaching this directive, a fine which could cost millions of pounds. The UK Government have been challenged through the UK courts over this breach. Environmental Protection UK are pressurising the government for further national action, and additional support for local action, to improve air quality and protect human health. This includes our recent response to the consultation on the draft NO2 National Plans.

B&NES Council – Statutory Duty

Bath and North East Somerset Council is legally required to review air quality and designate air quality management areas, if improvements are necessary under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and the Air Quality (Standards) regulations.  B&NES must be in pursuit of the objectives and work towards achieving them but is not charged with meeting them.

Where an air quality management area is designated (Bath, Keynsham & Saltford), an air quality action plan describing the pollution reduction measures must then be put in place in pursuit of the achievement of the Air Quality Strategy and Objectives in the designated area. 

Councillor Lin Patterson asked if the Council had enough machines to measure the levels of particulate matter.

The Environmental Protection Manager replied that he would be able to inform the Panel of the number of monitors the Council has later in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64