A report will be presented by the Strategic Director – Health and Wellbeing in relation to air quality in the district (Document “S”).

In March 2018, the Council was required by Defra to carry out a feasibility study to identify solutions to air quality issues. Further to this a Ministerial Direction has been served on the Council to carry out a more detailed study and develop a plan to bring forward legal compliance, in respect of levels of nitrogen dioxide, in the shortest possible time.  The plan is required to be finalised by 31 October 2018.

The report explains that similar requirements have been imposed on fifty other towns and cities including Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Rotherham.

Recommended –

That the Strategic Director – Health and Wellbeing undertake a detailed study and develop a plan to bring forward legal compliance for levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Bradford district, as required by the Ministerial Direction, and submit a further report to this Committee in due course.

                                                (Ralph Saunders – 01274 434782)

A report was presented by the Strategic Director – Health and Wellbeing in relation to air quality in the district (Document “S”) which was recognised as an important issue for public health, particularly for the elderly and very young.

The report explained that the Council had been proactive in addressing this issue, and had been commended on its good practice, but it had not proved possible to reduce the levels as quickly as anticipated by Government projections. In March 2018, the Council had been required by Defra (the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to carry out a feasibility study, over a 3 month period, to identify solutions to air quality issues. Further to this a Ministerial Direction had been served on the Council to carry out a more detailed study and develop a plan to bring forward legal compliance, in respect of levels of nitrogen dioxide, in the shortest possible time.  The plan was required to be finalised by 31 October 2019.

The report explained that similar requirements had been imposed on fifty other towns and cities including Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Rotherham and Defra had expressed an expectation that the authority would work closely with the Leeds district. It was anticipated that the Ministerial Direction would lead to significant funding and support.

The Strategic Director answered questions as follows:

·         The legal limit of NO₂ was 40 ug/m³. The levels at any particular location could vary significantly throughout a 24 hour period and the levels quoted in the report were an annual mean.

·         If a particular road/section of road would achieve compliance before 2020 it was not included.

·         The Council now had its own monitoring equipment on Tong Street to gather data.

·         At this point it was understood that Defra wished the focus to be on the road links that were of particular concern but in the context of the whole district ie the problem should not simply be moved elsewhere.

·         Defra had indicated the road links it wished to be addressed in this case.

·         There were currently 77 diffusion tubes and 10 full size monitoring stations throughout the district.  The placement of monitoring equipment was influenced by factors including the volume and flow of traffic, numbers of buses and HGVs and whether there were buildings in close proximity to the road.

·         It was hoped that this project would help to address issues such as those caused by difficulties in using public transport and the impact of the introduction of fines in surrounding areas and older bus stock being used in the district.

·         The provision of electric vehicle charging points would be considered but it would require a significant switch to use of electric vehicles to have an impact on air quality. One of the issues with provision of these charging points outside private curtilage was the question of maintenance and liability for the Council in the future. In terms of provision on the public footway, in most cases the electric supply was located at the back and there were therefore issues with trailing cables.

·         Defra had now factored in the issues in respect of manufacturers that had underestimated the emissions generated by their vehicles; this had caused a significant problem in meeting targets.

·         These specific routes being specified did not mean that other roads in the district were not considered to be an issue; even below the permitted levels there could be health impacts and officers were mindful of this across the district.

·         Annual reports on air quality had been submitted to the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the current monitoring data was published on the Council’s website.

·         Monitoring equipment was placed in accordance with the relevant guidance and criteria taking account of where there was most likely to be a problem and whether or not people would be exposed to it at that location.

·         Monitoring equipment was in place on Leeds Road and gave a picture of the situation in respect of nitrogen dioxide at this location.

·         The initiative aimed to improve air quality across the district not just at these locations and would include a whole package of measures to achieve this. This was viewed as an excellent opportunity to gain access to significant funding to invest and make improvements.

·         The Council had taken a very active role and done what it could to address the levels of nitrogen dioxide in the district within the available resources but significant investment was needed into infrastructure.

·         Compliance would be achieved by 2027 at the latest; this piece of work was about how quickly this could be moved forward.

·         There were a number of sites throughout the district where there were concerns about peaks in levels.

·         At this stage the level of resources that might be forthcoming was not known. A comprehensive feasibility study, specific to Bradford, would be undertaken and there would then be a need to develop a detailed business case.

Members commented as follows:

·         This was a very important issue as it represented a health risk for residents of the district.

·         Constituents with no off-street parking had been told that they could not have electric vehicle charging points. There needed to be some proactive work in relation to the provision of these facilities if it was wished to encourage the use of electric vehicles.

·         The West Yorkshire Combined Authority was reviewing all buses to give them a star rating. The age of a bus did not necessarily reflect the level of its emissions.

·         It was considered surprising that Rooley Lane was on the list as it had 3 or 4 lanes that were quite open, and Mayo Avenue was not when it had significant congestion with a school alongside.

·         It was hoped that Church Bank would be addressed as a priority; there was a need for a safe route for walking and cycling.

·         It would be useful to have the data for previous years to enable Members to get a broader picture.

·         Air quality was a problem and this initiative and the associated funding should be welcomed.

Resolved –

(1)       That officers undertake a detailed study and develop a plan to bring forward legal compliance for levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Bradford district, as required by the Ministerial Direction, and submit a further report to this Committee in due course.

(2)       That, in light of the Ministerial Direction, the Committee’s proposed Scrutiny of Air Quality in the District be deferred until the impact of this work is established.

ACTION:       Strategic Director – Health and Wellbeing