Issue - meetings

B Report of Head of Customer and Communities (Copy herewith)

2.1      Cabinet acknowledged that that there is a persisting air quality issue in the town centre attributable to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) related vehicle emissions.

2.2      Cabinet noted that the Council is legally required to take actions to address newly identified exceedances of the annual mean Air Quality Objective for NO2 around the Northgate Bus Station and The Drapery, Abington Square/Wellingborough Road area and the White Elephant Junction on Kettering Road.

2.3      Cabinet reaffirmed the principle of declaration of a single town centre Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) to cover the inner ring road which would encompass existing AQMA’s and other exceedance areas and main arterial routes into the town centre. This would be achieved by extending one existing AQMA and revoking 4 to form one.

2.4      Cabinet authorised a 6 week public consultation exercise with both internal and external stakeholders, businesses and local residents whom reside within the proposed single AQMA and other relevant community groups to comply with relevant policy guidelines.

2.5      Cabinet noted that a further report will be produced in due course to summarise the outcome of the consultation and to seek formal approval of the amendment and revocation of appropriate AQMA(s) within the required time scale.

Councillor Hallam, as the relevant Cabinet Member submitted a report elaborated thereon. He explained that it was an extremely complex issue and noted that he would welcome any expert advice on the matter as it was clearly an issue that needed to be addressed.

Mr Miller spoke as a resident of Kingsthorpe and noted that he had supported all attempts to improve air quality. He noted that there were numerous external factors that influenced air quality in Northampton such as a potential increase due to the development at Buckton Fields; whilst there may be some improvements to the environmental considerations, there was a need for charging points for electric cars and cycle paths for a significant difference to be made.

Councillor Hallam noted that with regards to the vehicle charging network there was a need for the County Council to be on board as providers of charging points and highways responsibility.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager explained that there was a proposal to have supercharging points in the Borough, but noted that this was currently unable to be explored as an option due to the County Councils inability to release funding.

Councillor Stone commented that whilst she welcomed the recommendations, she did not consider them as going far enough. She considered that it was critical that testing be carried out around schools and suggested that the Council purchase air testing kits and issue them to schools in the Borough.

Councillor Hallam explained that they had taken on board comments about monitoring the air quality around schools and this information had been gathered, the results of which would be likely to be issued in early 2019.

RESOLVED:

2.1      That the persisting air quality issue in the town centre attributable to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) related vehicle emissions be acknowledged.

2.2      That it be noted that the Council was legally required to take actions to address newly identified exceedances of the annual mean Air Quality Objective for NO2 around the Northgate Bus Station and The Drapery, Abington Square/Wellingborough Road area and the White Elephant Junction on Kettering Road.

2.3      That the principle of declaration of a single town centre Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) to cover the inner ring road which would encompass existing AQMA’s and other exceedance areas and main arterial routes into the town centre be reaffirmed. That would be achieved by extending one existing AQMA and revoking 4 to form one.

2.4      That a 6 week public consultation exercise with both internal and external stakeholders, businesses and local residents whom reside within the proposed single AQMA and other relevant community groups to comply with relevant policy guidelines be authorised.

2.5      That a further report be produced in due course to summarise the outcome of the consultation and to seek formal approval of the amendment and revocation of appropriate AQMA(s) within the required time scale.