Ann Osola, the Assistant Director for Highways and Transportation, presented the report that was endorsed by Cabinet in December 2016 and explained that the Strategy framed the authority’s approach to improving the air quality and reducing air pollution exposure to safe levels for human health across the borough. Ann Osola updated Members on the following approaches that the Council would be delivering:

•           The implementation of measures for managing air quality throughout the borough to prevent new Air Quality Management Areas from arising.

•           Implement measures contained within the action plan for existing Air Quality Management Areas.

•           Collaboration with external bodies to reduce background pollution from inside and outside the borough.

Beau Stanford-Francis and Navtej Tung briefly summarised the actions from the Health Strategy which covered:

•           Monitoring and reducing the air quality in new developments by promoting public transport.

•           Working closely with schools to promote walking and cycling and improve those infrastructures.

•           Landscaping and tree planning programmes working alongside the Highways Scheme.

•           Looking at actions specific to Air Quality Management.

•           Promoting heavy goods vehicles management schemes.

•           Providing appropriate signage.

A summary of the progress made so far on borough wide actions and those specific to Air Quality Management Areas were provided to Members.

Ann Osola explained that the Air Quality Steering Group had meet for the first time this week to look at actions and identify issues and address any additional work on air quality being commissioned as part of the work of the Lower Thames Crossing Task Force. That future prediction of air pollution from traffic was crucially dependent on understanding how traffic would use the borough’s local networks and the knowing and planning would be key to mitigating those impacts.

Councillor Jones thanked Officers for the report and that the measures being undertaken would be good for Thurrock.

Councillor Jones asked for further information on the General Practitioner Scorecard. Officers agreed to supply this.

Councillor Jones questioned whether any cycle routes in East Stanford were being proposed. Officers confirmed that plans to create a cycle route to connect from the east to the west of Stanford Le Hope were under consideration working alongside Network Rail.

Councillor Allen questioned that with 140,000 vehicles using the Dartford Crossing daily what impact would the Lower Thames Crossing have on the borough. Ann Osola stated that at the moment the Council did not know and that a lot of work had to be done for this to be understood. Ann Osola stated that the Council had to understand the situation that Thurrock was in at the moment, to prepare baseline information which can be monitored and accessed and to look at predictions for the future. That Highways England had their own models and that these would need to be scrutinised thoroughly. An Independent Technical Advisor on Environmental Issues with a PHD in atmospheric chemistry had been brought in to fight Thurrock’s case and that the Lower Thames Crossing Task Force Group were meeting again next Monday.

Councillor Allen questioned how traffic movements would be predicted based on the Lower Thames Crossing going ahead. Ann Osola stated that future scenarios had been based on models that the Highway England had commissioned and the Council would be watching very closely for further information and results so that extracts from this model could be used by the Council. Ann Osola explained that the “Ground Truth” model would be used which was the model predicted verses what could be seen to ensure that comparisons between the model and what was there could be undertake to ensure this was used properly.

Councillor Piccolo stated that areas with poor public transport connections and areas with high omissions should be investigated and addressed.

Councillor Jones stated that any proposed plans should be looked into to ensure that they were not being built in already congested areas which would make air pollution even worse.

Ann Osola thanked Members for their comments which could be fed into the Local Plan to ensure a good quality of life for the future of Thurrock residents.

Councillor Allen asked Officers where the bus lane provision would be in Calcutta Road in Tilbury as identified as an action specific to air quality management areas. Officers would report back to Councillor Allen outside of the Committee.

Councillor Collins stated that housing estates should be built near places of work so no transport would be required and asked Officers what air quality was monitored at present. Ann Osola stated that air quality was monitored on a regular basis compared to data from existing sites and could be used for comparisons. Those baselines were still being developed and shared with discussions taking place using very robust methodology and would be shared with Members through the Lower Thames Crossing Task Force.

Councillor Collins asked what gases where being monitored. Gavin Dennett stated that carbon dioxide and nitrogen sulphate where being monitored but particle pollution PM10 was a considerable problem as particles were very small and invisible.

Councillor Jones asked Officers whether diffusion tubes where being monitored. Gavin Dennett stated that they were monitored weekly and analysed to give an annual average, with spikes and dips in levels tended to average the exposure over the year.

Councillor C Kent stated that this was a big subject and asked whether comparisons with other areas had been made and had any confirmation from Government been received to support to reduce omissions. Officers thanked Councillor C Kent for her comments and take away and report back.

Councillor Allen questioned whether data collected from areas in the borough was published. Gavin Dennett stated that all data was submitted to DEFRA nationally and would be compared with other areas.

Councillor Jones stated that residents did not have faith in Highway England’s data which required to be continually monitored to ensure figures were true and accurate.

RESOLVED

That the Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee commented on the progress of implication of the Air Quality and Health Strategy.