HEALTH & WELLBEING BOARD

Agenda Item 19(b) Brighton and Hove City Council

WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC        

A period of not more than fifteen minutes shall be allowed for questions submitted by a member of the public who either lives or works in the area of the authority at each ordinary meeting of the Board.

Every question shall be put and answered without discussion by the Chair. The person who asked the question may ask one relevant supplementary question, which shall be put and answered without discussion.

The following written questions have been received from members of the public.

(a) Pollution Caused by Wood Burning Stoves - Question(s) received from Mr Chris Todd

“The WHO recently announced there are no safe levels for certain air pollutants as it lowered emission guidelines for PM2.5s and nitrogen dioxide, now far below UK legal limits. At the same time there has been a rise in people installing wood burning stoves for recreational purposes, increasing localised air pollution across the city. Given the impact on public health what plans are in hand to inform the public of the dangers of burning wood in the home (both for the household and neighbours), to urge people to minimise wood burning and where possible to stop doing it altogether?”

Supplementary Question

“If there are no plans, why is this the case given that wood smoke is more toxic than cigarette smoke and the significant impact it can have on neighbours? Urging people to use cleaner fuels makes little difference, especially when so-called ‘eco’ stoves emit at least 465 times the particulate matter that a gas boiler does (per MWh). Wood burning is also fuelling climate change which has its own negative health impacts ?”

(b) Support for Plan to Build Social Homes - Question received from Mr Jim Deans

“Recent commissioned reports and guidance from government are showing the need for Social Housing, the lack of is featuring high as a cause of many physical and mental illness . Can the Health and Well-being Board support a plan to build Social Homes and reduce the burden on local services including the NHS?”

Mr Jim Deans

Sussex Homeless Support