Agenda item - 2020 Review of Air Quality Management

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That the Committee:-

1)             Approves the proposed boundaries of the city’s Air Quality Management Areas as set out in Appendix 2;

2)             Requests that the Executive Director takes all necessary steps to vary the 2013 Air Quality Management Area Order in accordance with Appendix 2;

3)             Requests that the Executive Director undertakes the necessary work to develop and consult on a revised, draft Air Quality Action Plan;

4)             Requests that officers bring a report to a future Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee which includes the results of the consultation on the draft Air Quality Action Plan and a final document for consideration and approval. 

23.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the outcomes of a technical, Detailed Air Quality Assessment based on calendar year evidence up to and including 2019, and proposes amendments to the city’s two existing Air Quality Management Areas [AQMA] which were declared in 2013.

23.2      Councillor Wares moved a motion on behalf of the Conservative Group to amend the recommendations as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:

That the Committee:-

2.1      Notes Approve the proposed boundaries of the city’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) as set out in Appendix 2;

2.2      Request that the Executive Director consults the Citizen Assembly on Climate Change on the proposed AQMAs in 2.1 together with the comments expressed by this Committee takes all necessary steps to vary the 2013 Air Quality Management Area Order in accordance with Appendix 2;

2.3      Request that the Executive Director undertakes the necessary work to develop and consult on the revised, draft Air Quality Action Plan;

2.4 3   Request that officers bring a report to a future Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee which includes the results of the consultation on the draft Air Quality Action Plan with the Citizen Assembly on Climate Change for further and a final document for consideration and approval.

23.3      Councillor Brown formally seconded the motion.

23.4      The Chair stated that the Green Group would not be supporting the motion as it misunderstood the purpose of the report and the remit of the Climate Assembly. The Chair explained that purpose of the Climate Assembly was to consider the future decarbonisation of the city and not deal with technical council policy documents.

23.5      Councillor Appich asked when the next review would take place and what would trigger that review.

23.6      The Senior Technical Officer explained that the consultation would take place between March and May 2021 and the monitoring review took place in July of every year.

23.7                Councillor Wares stated that there was no misunderstanding of the role of the Climate Assembly, the motion detailed a suggestion and it was up to the committee to determine that. Councillor Wares encouraged the committee members to read the 2020 Detailed Assessment of Air Quality in Brighton & Hove that was listed as a background document but was very thorough and informative.

23.8      The Chair then put the Conservative Group motion to the vote that failed.

23.9      The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote that were agreed.

23.10   RESOLVED- That the Committee:-

1)             Approves the proposed boundaries of the city’s Air Quality Management Areas as set out in Appendix 2;

2)             Requests that the Executive Director takes all necessary steps to vary the 2013 Air Quality Management Area Order in accordance with Appendix 2;

3)             Requests that the Executive Director undertakes the necessary work to develop and consult on a revised, draft Air Quality Action Plan;

4)             Requests that officers bring a report to a future Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee which includes the results of the consultation on the draft Air Quality Action Plan and a final document for consideration and approval.