Agenda item

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel gave a presentation which covered the following:

·  Bath Air Quality Action Plan Update

·  Background

·  Differences between Local Air Quality Management Framework and Local NO2 plan initiative

·  Map – Bath Air Quality Management Area 2013

·  Revised AQAP

·  Source Apportionment

·  Key Actions

·  Consultation feedback

·  Future Actions

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Heijltjes asked why particulate matter is not included in the action plan. The Cabinet Member explained that this related to a different piece of legislation. The officer explained that there are particulate monitors across the city and we meet the standards. We will include particulate matter in the wider strategy. In response to a query from Councillor Leach, the officer explained that the hourly objective is 200 and we are unlikely to exceed this.

Councillor Halsall asked if the Council could be penalised for having the AQMA. The officer explained that there is a duty to declare an AQMA and to have a plan. If all is ok for 3 years, it is revoked but we continue to monitor.

Councillor Box explained that she works in respiratory physiotherapy and that evidence is piling up around connections between pollution and preventable diseases. She asked what impact we are having on our residents specifically. The officer explained that the public health team has been focusing on monitoring and that through the strategy, the local effect will be monitored.

Councillor Heijltjes asked about the KPIs in the table of measures. The officer explained that these will be filled in as we get the information.

Councillor Wait asked about the 35% (reference to the pie chart in the slides) diesel car fumes and how we can stop this effecting poorer members of the community. He mentioned that Bristol Council had stopped diesel cars in the city centre. The Cabinet Member explained that the Bath CAZ (Clean Air Zone) was funded by the Government. She stated that measures would continue to be taken on sustainable travel.

Councillor Leach referred to the pie chart and 0% against motorcycles. He asked if we are encouraging motorcycles in terms of parking. The Cabinet Member stated that this was maybe something to look at. Councillor Heijltjes stated that it would be better to enable more people to cycle and stated that a lot of cities are now banning motorcycles/scooters. The Cabinet Member stated that the Active Travel Plan has now been adopted and published.

Councillor Leach asked about other sources of background pollution, the Cabinet Member stated that a factor is domestic heating. The officer explained that we do not have much control over the regional background pollution but have more control over the local issue in terms of gas heating/wood burners.

Councillor MacFie asked about the E Scooter/bike trial and if there is a safety comparison to bicycles. The Cabinet Member stated that she would enquire what information exists on this. She stated that any expansion in this scheme would depend on WECA and DOT.

Councillor Box asked if there was a plan for clean air monitors in North East Somerset. The Cabinet Member explained that a diffusion tube can be placed anywhere that residents raise a concern. She stated that the Air Quality Action Plan covers the whole district. She stated that all monitoring is reported on the website.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and officer.