Decision details

Purpose of Report: To update the Executive Member on the status of air quality in York and actions to improve it.

The Executive Member will be asked to note the contents of the report and:
• Approve an amendment to the boundary of the City Centre AQMA (Order No.4) to include Coppergate and the buildings either side of the road.
• Approve an amendment to the boundary of the City Centre AQMA (Order No.4) to reflect that breaches of the hourly mean objective are no longer considered likely.
• Approve the decision to retain the Fulford Road AQMA (Order No. 2) for a further 12 months whilst the potential traffic and air quality implications of developments both within York and neighbouring local authority areas are considered.

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.