Issue - meetings

The Chairman of the Task Group informed Members that two meetings had been held since the last update to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.  The first meeting on 9th January had been an update on the Air Quality Report from December 2007 presented by Mark Cox – Senior Practitioner, Pollution Team Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) and David Balme –Transport Planning Department, Worcestershire County Council (WCC).  The information provided by these witnesses had actually concentrated on the work that both WRS and WCC were currently carrying out in respect of Air Quality in the District and had not unfortunately cover all the recommendations which had been raised in the initial report.

The Climate Change Manager had also been present and provided some information on several recommendations which related to such things as the Council’s travel and home working policy.  The Climate Change Manager had also discussed with the Task Group the inclusion of CO2 emissions within its terms of reference.  After discussion the Task Group Members had agreed that Air Quality was a huge topic to cover in the timescale agreed and that they would not do either topic justice if CO2 emissions continued to be part of those terms of reference. 

At the following meeting of the task group, held on 15th January the Task Group had looked at the original Air Quality Report in detail and recognised that there were several areas which had not been covered in the discussions on 9th January.  Officers have therefore been asked to set up further meetings and to seek clarification and information from a number of Officers on the original recommendations. 

The Chairman informed the Board that a good response has been received to the Press Release and these would be considered at the next meeting of the Task Group to be held on 5th March.

The Chairman of the Task Group informed Members that he had also held discussions with the Democratic Services Manager and had agreed that the final report of the Task Group should be deferred until the first meeting of the Board in the new municipal year.