Members of the Committee have requested an update on air quality across the Bradford District. The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing (Document “R”) provides information about the results of the routine monitoring which is carried out, the health impacts of air quality on the residents of Bradford, and steps which are being put in place to tackle this problem. The report also looks at possible future actions which can be taken.

Recommended –

That the contents of the report be considered and officers be supported in their continued measures to tackle poor air quality across the district.

(Ruth Lees – 01274 431349)

Members of the Committee had requested an update on air quality across the Bradford District. The report of the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing (Document “R”) provided information about the results of the routine monitoring which was carried out, the health impacts of air quality on the residents of Bradford, and detailed measures which were being put in place to tackle the problem. The report also looked at possible future actions which could be taken.

The report outlined the health impacts arising from man-made air pollution and air quality monitoring measures undertaken.  It was reported that four areas in the District were not achieving UK air quality objectives.  Members were aware that the Council had a statutory duty to designate those locations as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), which it had in September 2006.  An action plan setting out the measures that it would adopt to make progress towards the achievement of the air quality objectives had been developed.  The AQAP had taken account of the contributory factors leading to the air quality objective being exceeded and any limitations in Bradford Council’s ability to act on this issue. The air quality strategy and Low Emissions Strategy previously adopted were deemed to be part of that action plan.

Partnership working to understand and address issues arising from poor air quality and tangible actions to improve air quality in the District were presented. The report revealed that, in recognition of the fact that issues affecting poor air quality were cross boundary, Bradford had led on a successful bid to Defra to secure funding to develop a Low Emissions Strategy for the West Yorkshire Region.  The West Yorkshire Low Emissions Strategy had been adopted by Council on 6 December 2016 and the other West Yorkshire Authorities were going through the adoption process.

Document “R” reported the Government’s announcement, in December 2015, that Leeds would be one of five cities which would have a mandated Clean Air Zone (CAZ) imposed in order to improve air quality to meet legal limits.  There were an additional 23 cities likely to require CAZ and it was understood that Bradford could be one of them.

Members were pleased to note the good work which had been carried out and welcomed initiatives including the electronic vehicle charging points and conditions on new build properties.

The Authority’s response to the potential requirement for a mandated CAZ was questioned.  In response it was explained that positive steps to control air quality could be demonstrated.  The Authority had won awards in that arena and Defra were aware of progress and had started to request further information.  Members were informed of a grant bid which had been submitted to provide electric cars on trial for residents to test on new developments.

Statistics revealing a breakdown of the most significant exhaust emissions from traffic on the roads was questioned.  In response it was explained that the data had not been included in the report but was available and would be provided directly to Members. Members were advised that there was a great deal of freight vehicles but these generally were not as old as many of the buses and were, therefore, not as polluting. 

The report revealed that 25 bus retrofits (using Selective catalytic reduction technology, SCRT, and portable emissions monitoring) were in service and there had been a 60% decrease in particulate matter and 90% reduction in nitrogen oxides from the exhaust emissions of the buses retrofitted.  Members questioned the numbers of buses using the District’s highways to ascertain if 25 accounted for the majority or a minimal proportion of the bus fleet which had been refitted.   It was explained that the main bus companies which operated in Bradford had been advised of the air quality issues. Conflicting information had been provided from some operators who had original maintained that only 12 of their buses required retrofits but that figure had now been reported as 50% of the fleet. 

The pressure that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) could apply to require the older buses to change was questioned and the impact of the likely CAZ was discussed.  If the CAZ was mandated it would bring funding with it.  It was expected that information would be issued as a draft consultation in April with a response required by July 2017.

The Deputy Leader of Council explained that in her previous role (Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Regeneration, Planning and Transport) she had attended the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.  Leeds had the largest percentage of clean buses and she had lobbied for a larger share of those buses in Bradford.   The WYCA had few levers they could apply.  A bus quality contract would have provided more influence.   She expressed concern that a mandated CAZ would not provide all the answers as the Council was not responsible for a lot of the issues. 

The statistics outlined in the report regarding early deaths in the area were questioned and it was confirmed that the figure reported, from Public Health data, was calculated as a percentage of the UK statistics and was not a precise figure in that it was an average across the district, including rural and inner city areas next to busy roads, and that local figures would have a wide variation within them.     

It was questioned how many of the charging points conditioned under approved planning permissions had been installed but that information was not available.

In response to queries about a gas refuelling feasibility study it was explained that there had been no enthusiasm as it required the installation of a station located on the high pressure mains and it was felt that that capital costs could not be justified. 

Concern was expressed that whilst many measures had been undertaken to address air quality locally there was much more required at a national level. It was agreed that the electrification of railway lines and considerable investment in public transport was required to reduce the volume of traffic.

Resolved –

(1)  That measures to improve air quality across the Bradford District be welcomed and officers thanked for their work on that issue.

(2)  That the Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing, be requested to provide a progress report in six months time.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing