Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Housing and Environment in relation to the adoption of the council’s new joint Air Quality Action Plan.

The Environmental Services Manager introduced the report to the committee. He advised that the Joint Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) represented a significant step forward for communities and included a number of measures to improve air quality. The plan was the result of successful engagement with air quality partners (Oxfordshire County Council and Highways England) and encompassed a wide range of key areas including the promotion of public transport, the review of options to reduce freight emissions, the promotion of cycling and the development of options to reduce traffic emissions within specific Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA). The Environmental Services Manager advised that the plan had been compiled in line with strict technical guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and sought to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels in the council’s declared AQMA’s, those being Abingdon, Botley and Marcham.

The committee enquired as to whether there had been any discussions around a freight centre further to what was contained in the plan. The Environmental Services Manager confirmed there were as yet no details and that this would form part of the broader transport plan being developed by the County Council.

The committee asked how low emissions zones worked. Officers confirmed these were designed primarily for larger cities and were not viable in smaller market towns. They confirmed that in Marcham, Oxfordshire County Council was carrying out some optioneering to relieve air quality issues in the village’s pinch point on Packhorse Lane, linked to the Frilford Junction work.

The committee enquired as to when the Annual Status Report (ASR) would be produced and who the audience was. The Team Leader (Environmental Protection) confirmed that the reports were sent to DEFRA at the end of June each year. The report was then published on our website in September or October (after being approved by DEFRA). Members asked that there was a raised awareness of these reports and officers agreed to provide a link to the relevant webpage.

https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/SODC-VOWH-ASR-2023.pdf

Further AQ information was also available on the relatively new County wide AQ website: www.oxonair.uk

The committee asked officers to explain the consultation responses received, particularly those from residents of Abingdon who seemed concerned about no longer being in an AQMA. The Team Leader (Environmental Protection) informed the committee that being in an AQMA was not a positive thing but that monitoring continued regardless of being within one of the AQMA’s or not.

The committee then went on to ask what specific actions were being taken in relation to Botley and Marcham. Officers advised that details of actions could be found on page 65 - 69 of the agenda pack. Officers noted the actions as set out and advised that Botley was a difficult area to tackle and they were liaising with National Highways on their potential solutions.

Members asked how the Vale compared to other districts. Officers advised that the Vale was clean in comparison to others and there were only a couple of hotspot areas. Air quality had been improving over recent years with the increased use of electric vehicles, cleaner petrol/diesel vehicles and the paradigm shift impact Covid had had, with more people working from home.

Members went on to ask if the Covid shift in reduction in rush hour traffic had continued. The Team Leader (Environmental Protection) advised that it appeared to be the case, but that the data from the previous year was still being assessed.

The committee then asked if there was a relationship between poverty and clean air. Officers advised that there was a link and work was being explored with public health colleagues at Oxfordshire County Council around this issue. Officers went on to advise there had been a shift in the field and links between the two were being looked at nationally. They advised that the air quality issues in Vale of White Horse stemmed from traffic in the historic market town layouts (narrow streets limiting air flow).

Members asked officers if they were confident in the working relationships with air quality partners. The Team Leader (Environmental Protection) confirmed that the working relationship with Oxfordshire County Council had made massive leaps forward on the back of agreeing actions for the AQAP and they were now holding bi-monthly meetings with colleagues working in Air Quality across the County (including OCC). Once the AQAP had been adopted officers, would liaise with OCC and National Highways to encourage the delivery of their specific actions.

The committee reflected on how good the report was and that a lot of work had clearly gone into it. Specifically, it was noted that the section on actions which would not be taken forward, was useful and this should be considered for the council’s Corporate Plan. 

RESOLVED: to formally adopt the council’s new joint Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP).