Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to

declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of

Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which he might have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member confirmed that he had no personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, nor any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests, to declare in the business on the agenda.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 3 September 2018.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 3 September 2018 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 28 September 2018.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the Executive Member’s remit.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will  be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer in advance of the meeting. Contact details are at the foot of this agenda.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

It was reported that there had been two registrations to speak at the session under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, and one request to speak by a ward member.  Written comments had been submitted by another ward member.

Alasdair McIntosh, a resident of Heworth,  spoke on matters within the Executive Member’s remit, commenting on the lack of charging bays for electric vehicles in terraced areas.  He offered to pay to have a cable gulley installed outside his house, to enable him to switch from a diesel to an electric car.

Dave Merrett spoke on Agenda Item 4 (Air Quality – Annual Status Report), on behalf of CleanAirYork.  He voiced concerns about the reduced decline in NO₂ emissions since 2013 and delays in implementing measures such as cleaner buses and stressed the need for action on particulates, for which there was no safe limit.

Cllr D’Agorne, Member for Fishergate Ward, also spoke on Agenda Item 4.  He was concerned that developments in the city could reverse the downward trend for emissions and queried the progress made on freight consolidation and anti-idling measures.

Cllr D Myers, member for Clifton ward, had submitted written comments on Agenda Item 4 on behalf of the Labour Group. These supported the recommendations in the report but commented on the slow progress on measures 1, 2, 5 and 6 in the AQAP3 and highlighted the need for a plan on HGV emissions.  

This report provides an update on air quality in York following submission of this year’s Annual Status Report to DEFRA in June 2018.  The report provides an update on levels of pollution monitored across the city and makes a series of recommendations regarding the current Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) boundaries.  An update on progress with measures in City of York Council’s third Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3) is also provided. 

Resolved:  (i)      That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)      That an amendment to the boundary of the City Centre AQMA (Order No.4), to include Coppergate and the buildings on either side of the road, be approved.

Reason:     Whilst evaluation has shown that changes affecting traffic movements along Coppergate have had a positive impact in terms of local air quality throughout 2017, the annual mean NO₂  objective is still exceeded at relevant locations on the street.

                   (iii)     That an amendment to the City Centre AQMA (Order No.4), to reflect the fact that breaches of the hourly mean objective are no longer considered likely, be approved.

Reason:     The City Centre AQMA is currently declared on the basis of both the annual mean and the hourly mean NO₂ objectives, and recent monitoring of the hourly mean has shown that breaches of this standard are no longer likely in the vicinity of Rougier Street / George Hudson Street / Bridge Street.

                   (iv)    That the option to retain the Fulford Road AQMA (Order No. 2) for a further 12 months, whilst the potential traffic and air quality implications of developments within both York and neighbouring local authority areas are considered, be approved.

Reason:     Although concentrations of NO₂ monitored in the Fulford AQMA remain below the health based objective in 2017, the council must consider the potential air quality implications of developments in neighbouring local authority areas likely to affect future traffic movements into York, and future developments within York itself, before revoking this AQMA.

                   (v)     That the monitoring of NO₂ continuein the former Salisbury Terrace AQMA, as indicated in paragraph 18 of the report.

Reason:     To ensure that any future deterioration in air quality in this area is detected.

                   (vi)    That information on the World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines continue to be included in the annual status reports.

Reason:     So that progress against these stricter guidelines can also be monitored.

                   (vii)    That reports on the following matters be brought to a future Decision Session:

a)   the effects of the Smart Travel Evolution Programme (STEP) on the reduction of traffic emissions in the city;

b)   progress on the enforcement of anti-idling measures, as approved by Executive on 25 January 2018;

Reason:     To ensure that progress is maintained on measures to reduce traffic pollution.

                   (viii)   That officers in the relevant department be asked to review the way in which charging points for electric vehicles can be provided in terraced areas.

Reason:     In response to matters raised under Public Participation.

The Executive Member considered a report which provided an update on air quality in York following submission of the Annual Status Report (ASR) to DEFRA in June 2018 and made a series of recommendations regarding the current Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) boundaries.

It was reported that, overall, air quality in York had continued to improve year on year and feedback from DEFRA on the ASR had been positive.  Concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) were currently meeting objectives in both existing AQMA areas and levels of PM₁₀ particulates were well within EU and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines as well as meeting national objectives.  Details were provided in the report, and progress against measures to improve air quality was set out in Annex A.

The recommended changes to AQMA no. 4 (City Centre) and AQMA no. 2 (Fulford Road) were outlined as Option A in paragraph 31 of the report, with further details in paragraphs 33-41.  The ‘Option B’ alternatives - not to amend AQMA 4 and to revoke AQMA 2 as soon as possible - were not recommended.

In response to questions from the Executive Member, the officer at the meeting confirmed that:

·        work to model emissions in traffic hotspots within the STEP programme was at an early stage;

·        the government was reviewing the appropriateness of adopting the WHO guidelines.

The Executive Member  expressed appreciation for those bus companies that had included electric vehicles in their fleet.  Taking into account the comments made under Public Participation, he

Resolved:  (i)      That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)      That an amendment to the boundary of the City Centre AQMA (Order No.4), to include Coppergate and the buildings on either side of the road, be approved.

Reason:     Whilst evaluation has shown that changes affecting traffic movements along Coppergate have had a positive impact in terms of local air quality throughout 2017, the annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) objective is still exceeded at relevant locations on the street.

                   (iii)     That an amendment to the City Centre AQMA (Order No.4), to reflect the fact that breaches of the hourly mean objective are no longer considered likely, be approved.

Reason:     The City Centre AQMA is currently declared on the basis of both the annual mean and the hourly mean NO₂ objectives, and recent monitoring of the hourly mean has shown that breaches of this standard are no longer likely in the vicinity of Rougier Street / George Hudson Street / Bridge Street.

                   (iv)    That the option to retain the Fulford Road AQMA (Order No. 2) for a further 12 months, whilst the potential traffic and air quality implications of developments within both York and neighbouring local authority areas are considered, be approved.

Reason:     Although concentrations of NO₂ monitored in the Fulford AQMA remain below the health based objective in 2017, the council must consider the potential air quality implications of developments in neighbouring local authority areas likely to affect future traffic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.