Agenda item

This Council notes;

 

·           The importance of clean air to the health of local residents and wildlife in Stockport.

·           That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

·           The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

·           That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make people’s asthma symptoms worse.

·           That the British Heart Foundation states that ‘evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks and strokes amongst vulnerable people’. 

·           The commitment of the Stockport Plan for 2013-2015, which states that a key priority for the Council is to be ‘Green - leading the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and our economy.’

·           That Stockport MBC is part of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network which co-ordinates the monitoring of air quality and which works with Local Authorities to implement the Air Quality Action Plan.

·           That according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

 

This Council further notes;

 

·           The Government’s proposals to remove the requirement for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·           The response to the Government’s consultation from the AGMA Public Protection Managers Steering Group, which states that the Government’s preferred option proposed within the consultation is ‘unlikely to achieve the air quality improvements required’.

 

This Council believes that tackling air pollution and the damaging effects it can have on public health should be a key focus for the Council and local partners.

 

This Council further believes that effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air pollution.

 

This Council therefore requests that;

 

·           The Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging him to maintain the legal obligation for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·           That the Council commits to support the work of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network, recognising that tackling air pollution is a key public health issue.

 

Moved by:                 Councillor Philip Harding

Seconded by:           Councillor Sheila Bailey

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes;

 

·         The importance of clean air to the health of local residents and wildlife in Stockport.

·         That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

·         The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

·         That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make people’s asthma symptoms worse.

·         That the British Heart Foundation states that ‘evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks and strokes amongst vulnerable people’.

·         The commitment of the Stockport Plan for 2013-2015, which states that a key priority for the Council is to be ‘Green - leading the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and our economy.’

·         That Stockport MBC is part of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network which co-ordinates the monitoring of air quality and which works with Local Authorities to implement the Air Quality Action Plan.

·         That according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

 

This Council further notes;

 

·         The Government’s proposals to remove the requirement for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·         The response to the Government’s consultation from the AGMA Public Protection Managers Steering Group, which states that the Government’s preferred option proposed within the consultation is ‘unlikely to achieve the air quality improvements required’.

 

This Council believes that tackling air pollution and the damaging effects it can have on public health should be a key focus for the Council and local partners.

 

This Council further believes that effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air pollution.

 

This Council therefore requests that;

 

·         The Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging him to maintain the legal obligation for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·         That the Council commits to support the work of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network, recognising that tackling air pollution is a key public health issue.

 

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED – That the Motion be amended to read:-

 

“This Council notes;

 

·         The importance of clean air to the health of local residents and wildlife in Stockport.

·         That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

·         The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

·         That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make people’s asthma symptoms worse.

·         That the British Heart Foundation states that ‘evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks and strokes amongst vulnerable people’.

·         The commitment of the Stockport Plan for 2013-2015, which states that a key priority for the Council is to be ‘Green - leading the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and our economy.’

·         That Stockport MBC is part of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network which co-ordinates the monitoring of air quality and which works with Local Authorities to implement the Air Quality Action Plan.

·         That according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

 

“This Council further notes;

 

·         The Government’s proposals to remove the requirement for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·         The response to the Government’s consultation from the AGMA Public Protection Managers Steering Group, which states that the Government’s preferred option proposed within the consultation is ‘unlikely to achieve the air quality improvements required’.

 

“This Council believes that tackling air pollution and the damaging effects it can have on public health should be a key focus for the Council and local partners.

 

“This Council further believes that effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air pollution.

 

“This Council therefore requests that;

 

·         The Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging him to maintain the legal obligation for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·         That the Council commits to support the work of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network, recognising that tackling air pollution is a key public health issue.”

 

AMENDMENT CARRIED

 

It was then

 

RESOLVED - This Council notes;

 

·         The importance of clean air to the health of local residents and wildlife in Stockport.

·         That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

·         The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

·         That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make people’s asthma symptoms worse.

·         That the British Heart Foundation states that ‘evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks and strokes amongst vulnerable people’.

·         The commitment of the Stockport Plan for 2013-2015, which states that a key priority for the Council is to be ‘Green - leading the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and our economy.’

·         That Stockport MBC is part of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network which co-ordinates the monitoring of air quality and which works with Local Authorities to implement the Air Quality Action Plan.

·         That according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

 

This Council further notes;

 

·         The Government’s proposals to remove the requirement for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·         The response to the Government’s consultation from the AGMA Public Protection Managers Steering Group, which states that the Government’s preferred option proposed within the consultation is ‘unlikely to achieve the air quality improvements required’.

 

This Council believes that tackling air pollution and the damaging effects it can have on public health should be a key focus for the Council and local partners.

 

“This Council further believes that effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air pollution.

 

This Council therefore requests that;

 

·         The Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging him to maintain the legal obligation for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

·         That the Council commits to support the work of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Network, recognising that tackling air pollution is a key public health issue.