Issue - meetings

This report before Members outlined the progress made on the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) - a 5 year strategic programme to improve air quality within Havering under the 4 themes of:

·        Modelling and monitoring

• Public Health & awareness raising to encourage smarter travel

·        Emissions from Buildings and development

·        Emissions from transport.

During the debate Members noted that detailed air quality modelling had been undertaken for three locations in 2017: Marsh Way, Gallows Corner, and Roneo Corner comparing estimated pollution levels for 2013 and 2020. Public Protection hadalso recently commissioned Kings College London to develop an interactive map which shows predicted NO2, and particulate matter (PM) for 2013 and 2020 and enables selection of any area / location in the borough to obtain an image of the local air quality.

Modelling for major schemes was also undertaken by developers as part of the air quality assessments which were required for major developments as part of the planning process, which was an ongoing requirement.

Members were advised that monitoring had taken place around schools and the report detailed NO_x levels that had been found.

The Council continued to promote greener transport methods. These included promotion of cycling to both children and members of staff.

 Miles the Mole the Council’s Air Quality Champion had visited 40 schools so far this year covering topics such as anti-idling, planting and walking to school. Officers were also looking at other educational performance artists for senior schools.

To combat pollution from construction sites (particularly smaller sites where the air quality neutral conditions were not applied), Havering would be part of a London wide bid to the Mayors Air Quality Fund (MAQF) to support enforcement of the non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). This will reduce dust and emissions from sites.

Road Transport was the greatest contributor to NO_x emissions in Havering. A high level feasibility study had been commissioned by Transport Planning to identify a light rail link route between the north and south of the borough to support the two housing zones and across further north to Harold Hill to help reduce emissions by offering an alternative mode of transport.

Transport for London (TfL) had advised that buses they run in the geographical area of Havering, such as routes 66, 86 and N86 had been retrofitted to comply with Euro VI emission standards. The remaining routes would be retrofitted by September 2020. However, TfL had advised that they were working to deliver ahead of this date.

Members agreed that an update in future would be useful to monitor progress of the Air Quality Action Plan

The Sub-Committee noted the report.