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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change |
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Date |
8 June 2022 |
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Present |
Councillors Widdowson |
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1. Declarations of Interest
The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests she might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.
2. Public Participation
It was reported that there had been three registrations to speak at the session under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. However, one speaker was unable to attend the meeting and gave their apologies.
Katherine Crocker raised concerns about levels of pollution in Fishergate Ward and across the city. She asked that the Council focus on continued improvements to air quality even above objectives set by government. She also asked that the Council set its ambitions beyond proposing residents move to electric vehicles as these had an environmental and air pollution cost, to a less traffic intensive city.
Geoff Beacon discussed the health problems created or exacerbated by pollution levels in the city, he noted concerns that respiratory issues as a result of Covid-19 would increase the risk of effects from air pollution on individuals. He asked that the Council reconsider some of the locations of air quality monitoring as they were not in his opinion, representative of the pollution breathed by the population.
3. Minutes
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 11 May 2022 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
4. Air Quality Annual Status Report and Air Quality Monitoring Review
The Executive Member considered the report on York’s air quality annual status and air quality monitoring. It was confirmed with officers that the Council was not awaiting the creation of an action plan to deliver on a program of work to improve air quality, which would include the increase of electric vehicle usage in the city.
It was noted that air quality in the city continued to improve and the promotion of active travel should have a continued positive impact on air quality. It was confirmed that the city had 3 areas currently exceeding the health based annual mean NO2 objective of 40μg/m, however, Fishergate ward it was confirmed did not exceed these levels and had not for several years. The importance of continual air quality monitoring within the city was noted by the Executive Member who agreed to refurbish three air quality monitoring stations using existing DEFRA grant funding and following DEFRA guidance for their placement and use.
Resolved:
i. Noted the content of the report and approved submission of the Annual Status Report to DEFRA. Noted the generally improving trend in air pollution in recent years, progress made with AQAP3 and plans to commence the work to update the current plan in line with the Environment Act 2021, to complement other key CYC strategies.
Reason: To ensure that the Executive Member is aware of current air quality position in the city including exceedances of objectives in some areas, progress made with air quality improvement measures, and revised national air quality targets expected through the Environment Act 2021.
ii. Approved the refurbishment to three air quality monitoring stations using existing DEFRA grant funding as outlined in this report.
Reason: To ensure air quality monitoring equipment remains compliant with DEFRA guidance and suitable for ongoing monitoring in relation to current standards and new targets being introduced through the Environment Act 2021.
5. Household Waste Recycling Centre and treatment of ‘DIY waste’ Consultation
Officers introduced the report on the DEFRA consultation on the disposal of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres and the proposed response from the Council outlined in appendix A.
Concerns were discussed with the Executive Member regarding the proposed changes to the disposal of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres Officers deemed the proposed changes would be hard to implement and would likely prove less cost effective to implement for the Council. It was also noted that the changes could encourage traders push the burden of building waste removal onto households. The Executive Member agreed with the concerns of officers and added that they could lead to more fly tipping and a larger environmental impact with more journeys in smaller vehicles transporting DIY waste. Therefore the Executive Member approved the proposed response at appendix A to the consultation.
Resolved:
i. Approved the City of York Council response to the
DEFRA consultation (as set out in Appendix A).
Reason: In order to provide a response to the DEFRA Consultation on Disposal of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres.
Cllr Widdowson, Executive Member
[The meeting started at 3.00 pm and finished at 3.23 pm].