Agenda item

To consider the progress made in implementation of the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2020-25 and suggest any further courses of action for the Director of Public Health to consider with regards to improving air quality in the Borough.

Further to Minute No. 14/21 (of 29 March 2021) the Board noted the progress made in delivering the Air Quality Action Plan 2020-2025.

The Plan had been approved by the Council on 23 March 2021 and subsequently accepted by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Local Air Quality Management team.  However, it was a living document and members were therefore also invited to suggest how the Plan could be strengthened.

Seven priority actions were identified in the Plan - community work to reduce NO2; promoting and enabling sustainable and low emission transport; Council fleet; Taxiand PrivateHire Vehicleemissions; planning policies to support air quality improvements; publicity campaigns and engagement and impact of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone.  These priorities supported Sandwell’s aims to reduce the overall health impacts and burdens of poor air quality; achieve the national air quality NO2 annual mean objective in the shortest possible timeframe and reduce concentrations of particulate matter emissions to protect human health.

The impact of Birmingham City’s Clean Air Zone was not yet known. However, there was no data as yet to indicate a worsening of Sandwell’s air quality as a result of motorists re-routing to avoid Birmingham City Centre.

Annual monitoring of nitrogen dioxide levels was taking place at 123 sites across the borough.  The last dataset for 2020 showed a reduction of 20% or more in nitrogen dioxide levels across all sites. 2020 was also the first time since 2005 that there had been no exceedances in annual mean objectives for nitrogen dioxide. This was largely due to significant reductions in NO₂ levels noted during Covid-19 lockdowns in spring and December 2020.

Five continuous monitoring stations were maintained in the borough, four of which had been upgraded in 2021 to allow monitoring of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5 and PM10). 

Eight faith centres across the borough were taking part in a DEFRA funded project that had provided air quality monitors (powered by solar panels), that displayed live data on NO₂ levels in an online dashboard.  DEFRA had agreed to extend the project by a further six months.

The Council had received funding of £400,000 from Black Country Transport Group’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to deliver 37 on-street public electric vehicle charging points. This would provide 74 chargers in total with installation to be completed by March 2023.  The Board noted that the charging points would be located in residential streets where there was no off-road parking available.  It was noted that the Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board had received a report detailing the locations.

A Local Government Association (LGA) funded project with the University of Birmingham would establish a Net Zero Innovation Community Climate Champions programme, which would build on the Council’s similar projects in other areas of public health.

Pollution from central heating sources was still high in the borough and a campaign to educate people on the impacts of wood burning stoves would also offer people incentives to turn to cleaner fuel sources.  Members expressed concern that the formal consultation on establishing a boroughwide Smoke Control Area (SCA) had been delayed until May 2022. 

The Environment Act 2021 had set new national objective limits for particulate matter which were to be announced in autumn 2022, with public sector bodies expected to work together to meet short and long-term targets. 

The biggest challenge was in affecting behaviour change to encourage people to switch to more sustainable modes of transport. 

The following was noted in response to questions and comments:

·      There had been many projects with schools over the years, mainly focusing on sustainable travel (i.e. walking to school), however, it had been sporadic. A project by Birmingham City Council would see air quality monitors provided to a school in each ward in Birmingham and it was hoped that the same could be done in Sandwell

·      The Council’s vehicle fleet was around 500 vehicles (not including Serco) of which only four were electric. An electric vehicle for the mayor was being looked at. Affordability was however preventing most council departments from purchasing electric vehicles at the moment.

·      The Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board was looking at the Council’s fleet. Consideration would be given to holding a joint meeting of the two boards in the next municipal year to discuss these cross-cutting issues.

·      There had been difficulties obtaining the appropriate data from Serco to support the Council’s work with the Energy Saving Trust, so a report would be commissioned once all data had been received.

·      Members felt that planning the right trees in the right places could be a cost-effective way of reducing pollution by capturing particles.  It was noted that one of the Towns Fund projects would see an avenue of trees planted in West Bromwich. 

·      The Council would continue to apply annually for Air Quality Grants from DEFRA (which had funded the faith centres project).

·      There were ongoing initiatives at regional level through the West Midlands Combined Authority, including work on introducing cycle lanes and the expansion of the tram network.

·      Consultation was needed with taxi drivers on how they could contribute to improving air quality by switching to electric vehicles.

·      The day saver tickets offered by National Express West Midlands did not cover some parts of the borough.  The Chair undertook to write to the Council’s representative on Transport for the West Midlands to raise this.

Resolved that the Chair writes to the Council’s representative on Transport for the West Midlands to raise members ‘concerns about the coverage of day saver tickets in Sandwell.