Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To seek approval to commence consultation on the revision and revocation of the Council’s existing Air Quality Management Areas.

Decision

That the Executive:

(1)          Approves the commencement of consultation on the revision and revocation of the Council’s existing Air Quality Management Areas.

(2)          Grants delegated power to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Assistant Director of Health and Environment, to authorise any subsequent amendment or revocation orders in relation to the existing Air Quality Management Areas, subject to any consultation responses.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reasons for Decision

The City of Lincoln Council currently had two Air Quality Management Areas which had been declared by the Council due to historical non-compliance with the national air quality objectives for two road traffic related pollutants, namely nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter smaller than 10 microns.

The Council’s latest detailed air quality assessment, undertaken in March 2017, confirmed that there had been a significant air quality improvement in many areas of the city. As a result, the report concluded that the Air Quality Management Area for nitrogen dioxide could be reduced in size and the Management Area for particulate matter smaller than 10 microns revoked due to these improvements.

Prior to amending or revoking Air Quality Management Areas, the Council is obliged to consult with a number of statutory consultees.

The proposed amended boundary for the nitrogen dioxide Air Quality Management Area, to include only those areas that were likely to exceed or be within 10% of the national air quality objectives for this pollutant, was illustrated in figure 2 of Appendix 2 of the report.

It was agreed that this was a good news story for the city and should be publicised. Members were informed that the consultation, although for statutory consultees, would be uploaded onto the Council’s website for anyone to respond to. Publicity via the Council’s Communications Team would take place upon publication of the consultation.