Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the report and its appendices and make the following resolutions:

1.    That Cabinet notes the public consultation responses and approves the revised Air Quality Action Plan for adoption.

2.    That Cabinet approves the revocation of the Stockbridge and Orchard Street Air Quality Management Areas and the decommissioning of the Lodsworth air quality monitoring station.

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet notes the public consultation responses and approves the revised Air Quality Action Plan for adoption.

2.    That Cabinet approves the revocation of the Stockbridge and Orchard Street Air Quality Management Areas and the decommissioning of the Lodsworth air quality monitoring station and Orchard Street Air Quality Monitoring Station once the equipment fails.

Cllr Plant introduced the item.

Mr Ballard provided an update to members. He explained that since the Cabinet report was published the Orchard Street air quality monitoring station stopped working, though it is currently being ‘propped up’ by equipment on loan from the council’s service and maintenance contractor. The cost of repair is £2,200.  Statutory guidance indicates that ‘diffusion tube’ monitoring gives adequate data in the circumstances of Orchard Street where air quality is highly compliant and predicted to continue to be so. As such it is proposed that the station is decommissioned once the loan equipment is returned.

Mr Ballard also provided the following updates to Appendix 1 to the report:

·         Page 201, Point 15 – Orchard St Air Quality Management Area, third paragraph replaced with:

·         Given the length of time that air quality at Orchard Street has been compliant and the margin of compliance currently and predicted for the future then this AQMA will be undeclared.

·         Page 202, Point 15 – Stockbridge A27 Roundabout AQMA, third paragraph to be replaced with:

·         Given the length of time that air quality at Stockbridge has been compliant and the comfortable degree of compliance currently and predicted for the future then this AQMA will be undeclared. 

·         Update point 17 from conclusions and recommendations from the Monitoring and Modelling and add to the bullet point list: Keep Orchard St monitoring station until such time its equipment fails and then it will be decommissioned.

Cllr Dignum with reference to section 3.7 of the report regarding increasing air quality standards asked if there were a requirement of reinstallation of air quality management areas or new AQMA would grants available to cover the cost. Mr Ballard explained that in the past there have been funding opportunities but that cannot be guaranteed in the future.

Cllr Lintill requested clarification of whether there will still be monitoring where equipment is decommissioned. Mr Ballard explained that Orchard Street would continue to be monitored using the diffusion tube method. At Stockbridge the Stockbridge Monitoring Station will remain functional as it monitors particulates and nitrogen dioxide and will allow for fine particulates to be monitored should the Council be required to do so under the Environment Act 2021.

Cllr Briscoe asked why air quality has improved in some places. Mr Ballard explained that the improvements are through international and national improving background air quality schemes and improvements in engine and fuel technology and the increasing penetration of zero emission vehicles into the fleet.

Cllr Plant drew attention to the graph on page 188 which showed a decline in the nitrogen dioxide levels.

In a vote the following resolutions were agreed:

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet notes the public consultation responses and approves the revised Air Quality Action Plan for adoption.

2.    That Cabinet approves the revocation of the Stockbridge and Orchard Street Air Quality Management Areas and the decommissioning of the Lodsworth air quality monitoring station and Orchard Street Air Quality Monitoring Station once the equipment fails.