Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the outcome of the recent Air Quality Support Grant (AQSG) applications made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), provides an overview of the planned expenditure of the AQSG and also a general update on local air quality management in York

Advice of the Advisory Panel

(i)         That the Executive Member be advised that Option (a), as outlined at paragraph 28, to accept air quality grants from DEFRA totalling£15,000, be approved and allow the air quality projects outlined in paragraphs 6 to 11 to proceed.

(ii)        That a letter be sent to DEFRA advising them that the Council was dissatisfied with the level of Air Quality Support Grant allocated to them for 2008/2009.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            It represents the most appropriate way of funding the continuation of LAQM in the city.  This is a statutory undertaking that contributes towards the corporate priorities on improving the health of residents and encouraging the use of public, and other environmentally friendly, modes of transport.

Members received a report updating them of the outcome of the recent Air Quality Support Grant (AQSG) applications made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  Three AQSG bids were made in relation to the council’s ongoing Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) work.  The report provided an overview of the planned expenditure of the AQSG and required a decision to be taken on the amount of AQSG to be accepted from DEFRA.   The report also provided a general update on local air quality management in York.

The report presented the following options for consideration:

(a) To accept air quality grants from DEFRA totalling£15,000 and allow the air quality projects outlined in paragraphs 6 to 11 to proceed.

(b) To reject some or all of the air quality grants from DEFRA and revise the planned air quality projects for 2008/2009 accordingly.

The Assistant Director (Neighbourhoods and Community Safety) advised Members that in previous years City of York  had been very successful in their bids and attracted some of the highest grants outside London. However this year, due to a national shortfall in the amount of grant available, the Council had provisionally been allocated an award well below the amount it had bid for.

Members expressed their concerns over the level of grant allocated stating that it would impinge on their ability to monitor air quality in the City of York area. They asked that a letter of complaint be sent to DEFRA to this effect.

Officers answered Members queries in relation to specific air quality issues and on work which was required on air quality monitoring, air quality modelling and air quality action planning. They explained how the low level of grant would impact on the planned work.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

(i)         That the Executive Member be advised that Option (a), as outlined at paragraph 28, to accept air quality grants from DEFRA totalling£15,000, be approved and allow the air quality projects outlined in paragraphs 6 to 11 to proceed. ¹

(ii)        That a letter be sent to DEFRA advising them that the Council is not happy with the level of grant received as it impinges on their legal duty to monitor air quality. ²

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            It represents the most appropriate way of funding the continuation of LAQM in the city.  This is a statutory undertaking that contributes towards the corporate priorities on improving the health of residents and encouraging the use of public, and other environmentally friendly, modes of transport.