Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing)

This report provides an update on work to improve air quality in Stockport and Greater Manchester including:

·         The current air quality action plan progress report and actions, which need to be undertaken, to progress the delivery of the action plan including the creation of an Air Quality Steering Group for Stockport.

·         The outcomes and proposed actions in Stockport of the air quality monitoring review carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester.

·         The forthcoming Manchester Air Quality Day and plans to have events in Stockport.

The Executive is recommended to:-

·         support the improvements to the Air Quality Monitoring Network in the Borough as set out in this report.

·         authorise the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration to establish a steering group and to settle the group’s terms of reference in accordance with this report.

·         request regular updates to the Environment and Economy Committee in regard to the progress made by the Air Quality Steering Group.

·         approve the delivery of National Clean Air Day in Stockport as part of the Greater Manchester participation.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161-474-4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Housing) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Executive on the development of an air quality action plan for Greater Manchester; the outcome of a review of air quality monitoring in Stockport undertaken by Transport for Greater Manchester; and plans for marking National Air Quality Day in Stockport.

RESOLVED – That in relation to air quality:-

·           the improvements to the Air Quality Monitoring Network in the Borough set out in this report be supported;

·           the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be authorised to establish a steering group and to settle the group’s terms of reference in accordance with this report;

·           regular updates be provided to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee in regard to the progress made by the Air Quality Steering Group; and

·           approval be given to the delivery of National Clean Air Day in Stockport as part of the Greater Manchester participation.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on work regarding Air Quality in Stockport and Greater Manchester including:

·              The current air quality action plan progress report and actions, which need to be undertaken, to progress the delivery of the action plan including the creation of an Air Quality Steering Group for Stockport.

·              The outcomes and proposed actions in Stockport of the air quality monitoring review carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester.

·              The forthcoming Manchester Air Quality Day and plans to have events in Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to recommend that :-

·         the Executive Meeting supports the improvements to the Air Quality Monitoring Network in the Borough set out in this report.

·         the Executive Meeting authorises the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration to establish a steering group and to settle the group’s terms of reference in accordance with this report.

·         regular updates are submitted to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee in regard to the progress made by the Air Quality Steering Group.

·         the Executive  Meeting supports the delivery of National Clean Air Day in Stockport as part of the Greater Manchester participation.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on work regarding air quality in Stockport and Greater Manchester including:-

• the current air quality action plan progress report and actions which needed to be undertaken to progress the delivery of the action plan, including the creation of an Air Quality Steering Group for Stockport;
• the outcomes and proposed actions in Stockport of the air quality monitoring review carried out by Transport for Greater Manchester;
• the forthcoming Manchester Air Quality Day and plans to have events in Stockport.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Housing) (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions. She also advised the meeting that it was proposed that a student from Manchester Metropolitan University would be undertaking a study of air quality in Stockport. The student’s findings would be presented to a future meeting of the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting to be held on 25 April 2017.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• support was given to the forthcoming Manchester Air Quality Day and plans to have events in Stockport.
• Air quality problems and the effect small particulates had on people’s health was under estimated to a significant extent.
• A Member enquired whether there were any indicators in place to measure actions which had already been taken to reduce air quality. The effect of increased cycle routes and school travel plans on improving air quality would be difficult to measure.
• Monitoring of air quality had taken place before the start of the construction of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road and the Town Centre Access Plan, and would take place again after the works were completed. Monitoring had also taken place on the A34 at the junction with Gatley Road.
• People should be encouraged to change from diesel to petrol vehicles because of the worse effect of diesel vehicles on air pollution.
• The problem with electric or hybrid vehicles was that although they were environmentally friendly, they also very expensive. The Council and Solutions SK should be setting the lead in using low emission vehicles.
• Public transport in the country was significantly more expensive than in other countries in Europe.
• The problems of poor air quality would compound the ‘knock on’ effect of the new houses being built in the borough. Increased car usage would put more pressure on the borough’s roads and increase pollution.
• The problems of air pollution caused, for example, by companies using generators also had to be considered.
• The latest studies showed that private vehicles caused more pollution than heavy goods vehicles.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Executive Meeting be recommended to support the improvements to the Air Quality Monitoring Network in the borough, as set out in the report.

(2) That the Executive Meeting be recommended to authorise the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration to establish a steering group and to agree the group’s terms of reference in accordance with this report.

(3) That the appropriate Scrutiny Committee be provided with regular updates in regard to the progress made by the Air Quality Steering Group,

(4) That the Executive Meeting be recommended to support the delivery of aNational Clean Air Day in Stockport as part of Greater Manchester’s participation in the event.