Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report on the possibility of designating locations at Redditch Road, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster Road, Hagley as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA).

It was reported that under the Environment Act 1995 all Local Authorities were required to undertake an Air Quality Assessment in order to determine whether air quality objectives set by Central Government were likely to be met. Where the results of the assessment and review process indicated the likelihood that there would be difficulties in attaining the objectives, the Local Authority was under a statutory obligation to declare an AQMA. The detailed assessments undertaken at the two locations referred to had indicated that the air quality objective for nitrogen oxide was being exceeded.

It was noted that following designation of the AQMAs there was a requirement to prepare an action plan setting out measures to ensure that the air quality objectives within the areas covered by the AQMA were not exceeded.

Following discussion it was

RESOLVED:  

(a)       that an AQMA be declared in Redditch Road, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove in respect of nitrogen dioxide because the air quality objectives are unlikely to be met;

(b)       that an AQMA be declared in Kidderminster Road, Hagley in respect of nitrogen dioxide because the air quality objectives are unlikely to be met;

(c)        that the AQMA be designated within the relevant areas under section 83(1) of the Environment Act 1995 by means of an official order;

(d)       that the AQMAs include as a minimum, all those areas identified as having exceedences of air quality objectives as shown in figures 1 and 2 of the Detailed Assessment report and that the boundary be set at the 36g/m3 contour line;

(e)       that an Air Quality Steering Group be established, to include relevant officers from District and County Councils and local members, together with representatives from outside bodies and local community groups, to develop and implement an Air Quality Action Plan to address the relevant air quality objectives;

(f)         that the Air Quality Steering Group be chaired by a senior officer from Bromsgrove District Council;

(g)       that a provisional Air Quality Action Plan be completed within 18 months of declaration of the AQMAs; and

(h)        that a further assessment of existing and likely future air quality in the AQMAs  be undertaken within 12 months of designation.