Agenda item

The minutes of the meeting of the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board held on 27^th June 2024, were submitted.

Councillor J. Desayrah speaking on behalf of Councillor A. Scott, who was in attendance at the meeting, had asked for the following amendment, to the last paragraph of Minute No. 9/24, to be considered by Members, as follows: -

“The Principal Environmental Health Officer, WRS was asked about the impacts of wood burning stoves and said that early research into wood burning stoves and fine particulate matter was not yet conclusive about the impacts, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not recognise a safe level of fine particulate matter. Whilst traffic sources of particular matter (tyre and brake wear) were difficult to tackle, given wood burning stoves were perhaps, often but not always, more of an aesthetic addition to most homes rather than a primary source of heating, they were one of the sources of pollutants that people could do something about for themselves. The Principal Environmental Health Officer, WRS finished by saying that officers were in discussion with academic colleagues, about working with them to look at the impact of wood burners on air quality which would also need input from other professionals in due course, and that this may include work on the impacts on air quality inside the home”.

Councillor A. Scott would also like it noted that he had on-going concerns about the impact of wood burning on health and the quality of the environment for the wider society.

Following a brief discussion whereby Councillor K. Taylor, Bromsgrove District Council, questioned the amendment which stated, “more of an aesthetic addition to most homes rather than a primary source of heating.”  Questioned was this not in the officers ‘opinion;’ as occasionally some houses / boats relied on wood burners as a primary source of heating, rather than it being an ‘aesthetic addition.’

With this in mind, Members agreed with the following amendment: -

“The Principal Environmental Health Officer, WRS was asked about the impacts of wood burning stoves and said that early research into wood burning stoves and fine particulate matter was not yet conclusive about the impacts, however, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not recognise a safe level of fine particulate matter. Whilst traffic sources of particular matter (tyre and brake wear) were difficult to tackle, given wood burning stoves were perhaps, often but not always, in the officer’s opinion, more of an aesthetic addition to most homes rather than a primary source of heating, they were one of the sources of pollutants that people could do something about for themselves. The Principal Environmental Health Officer, WRS finished by saying that officers were in discussion with academic colleagues, about working with them to look at the impact of wood burners on air quality which would also need input from other professionals in due course, and that this may include work on the impacts on air quality inside the home”.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board meeting held on 27^th June 2024, be amended as detailed in the preamble above, and approved as a correct record.