Issue - meetings

1.     Cabinet agreed the content of the Air Quality Action Plan2019-24 be noted.

2.     Cabinet gave agreement to begin the revocation process for the Northchurch Air Quality Management Area.

3.     Cabinet gave agreement to widening air quality monitoring to include PM 2.5 using portable units.

Decision

1.     Cabinet agreed the content of the Air Quality Action Plan2019-24 be noted.

2.     Cabinet gave agreement to begin the revocation process for the Northchurch Air Quality Management Area.

3.     Cabinet gave agreement to widening air quality monitoring to include PM 2.5 using portable units.

Corporate Priorities

A clean, safe and enjoyable environment

Ensuring economic growth and prosperity

Ensuring efficient, effective and modern service delivery

Climate and ecological emergency

Statutory Officer Comments:

Monitoring Officer:

The evidence submitted in the report makes it clear that the Northchurch AQMA is consistently below the objective levels and it is therefore appropriate that the AQMA be revoked.

S151 Officer:

The actions outlined in this report can be undertaken utilising existing approved budgets.

Advice

Cllr Banks introduced the report and invited questions.

Cllr Elliot referred to the fact that levels of nitrous oxide in UK are lowest they have been since the 1970’s.  He then queried; the report refers to 30k electric cars in Dacorum by 2023, asking where did that figure come from?  How did we come to that?

TPugh responded to advise that it was a projection taken from a in a recent strategy paper.

Cllr Anderson advised that he attended the scrutiny committee where this was considered, where a lot of comments were made about the Air Strategy that the council has.  Cllr Anderson expressed he felt it important to note that we do not have a problem with air quality in Dacorum, but we do have a couple of areas that we are focusing on in partnership with other authorities, we are acting proactively.

Cllr Griffiths commented that she is pleased to see that the action in Northchurch has worked and asked that her thanks are passed on to those involved, adding that we now need to work with partners in Apsley to bring that area to the same situation.

RECOMMENDATIONS AGREED.