Agenda item

Val Beale (Environmental Specialist) introduced a report detailing the Council’s actions to address Air Quality following the Committee’s previous review. The report detailed how the Committee’s recommendations had been built into the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan, answers to questions submitted in advance, and the impact of the Covid19 pandemic.

Recent information received from the GLA had shown that before Covid19, air quality was improving, thanks to the instigation of ultra low emissions zones, though during the lockdown air quality had been seen to have improved dramatically. For example, of the 455 schools within London located within polluted areas in 2019, only 14 were now in such areas.

Members asked a number of questions, including:

Had schools been made aware of the available travel plans, and how was the Council incentivising uptake or engagement with the Council?

The school travel plan team work with all schools to ensure they were aware of the help that is available in regard to developing school travel plans, accessing pedestrian/bike training etc. In addition, the Council has been offering access to air quality education packages, to no idling assemblies and events, and for the planting of trees and pollution barriers. Schools with significant pollution issues have been targeted first. Post lockdown, no idling events and the air quality education packages will be offered either in virtual format or with attendance at schools, with social distancing in place if the schools prefer. In all instances, progress and uptake of these issues is dependent on having an air quality champion within the school to really drive the engagement forward. Officers will continue to find ways to work with the schools who do not currently engage.

Idling vehicles has been an offense, under the terms of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), in place across the Borough. The use of the PSPO allows for a higher instant fine than other legislation.

Had the Council considered setting up routes for heavy polluting vehicles to reroute them from schools, etc?

The London Low Emission Zone sets emission standards for heavy vehicles such as lorries, buses and coaches when they enter the GLA. These standards are due to be tightened next year. In regards to routes there are various mechanisms for controlling routes such as the London Councils’ Lorry Control Scheme. In addition, the Council can implement controls via traffic management orders on a case by case basis and recommendations can be made in regard to relevant planning application; in all cases the success will be dependent upon appropriate enforcement.

How was the Council ensuring that air quality monitors were being placed correctly?

Siting for monitors was, at times, difficult. It was recognised that roads were the source of most pollution but monitors had to be placed higher than ground level to be in accordance with relevant DEFRA guidance. It was understood that although the monitoring was carried out at elevated levels if the nearby road was a significant pollution source then the nearby users at ground level would be exposed to higher pollution levels. Actions to account for this were being used in neighbourhood schemes were applicable such as the use of road-side planting to increase the distance between the road source and any pedestrians/cyclists etc. GLA pollution modelling was also used to focus actions on certain areas within the borough to ensure measures were prioritised where the levels were the highest.

Did the Air Quality Action Plan include a strategy to upgrade the Council’s vehicle fleet to low/zero emission vehicles, or put pressure on the supply chain to do likewise?

A new Climate Action officer had recently been employed to review and deliver strategies relating to pollution and air quality. It is likely that this will include looking at all aspects of Council activity such as the Council fleet in terms of climate change

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.