Agenda item - White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor Yeadon)

White Paper Motion (in the name of Councillor Yeadon) - Air Quality

Meeting of Council, Wednesday, 29th March, 2017 1.00 pm (Item 110.)

This Council believes that air pollution in the UK is a public health crisis, with the World Health Organisation and Public Health England describing it as the largest environmental risk to public health, contributing to around 350 premature deaths in Leeds per year.

This Council also notes that air pollution disproportionately affects some of the most vulnerable groups in our community: the elderly, those with existing health conditions, children, and people in our most deprived inner city areas.

This Council will continue to work closely with DEFRA and the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) on proposals for a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Leeds, but calls for a nationally-funded implementation framework to help support businesses and SMEs affected by a CAZ. This Council also calls for a 21^st Century Clean Air Act to address the major air quality challenges we face today and encourages all Members to get involved in the National Clean Air Day on 15 June 2017.

This Council will continue its commitment to improving air quality and reducing these inequalities, making Leeds a fair, sustainable and compassionate city.

Minutes:

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.9 (a) leave of Council was given to Councillor Yeadon to alter the motion in her name by the inclusion of the amendment in the name of Councillor Finnigan.

The amended motion is set out below;

It was moved by Councillor Yeadon, seconded by Councillor D Blackburn that this Council believes that air pollution in the UK is a public health crisis, with the World Health Organisation and Public Health England describing it as the largest environmental risk to public health, contributing to around 350 premature deaths in Leeds per year.

This Council will continue its commitment to improving air quality and reducing these inequalities, making Leeds a fair, sustainable and compassionate city.

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2(d) and 14.10 and with the consent of the seconder leave of Council was given to Councillor Finnigan to withdraw the amendment in his name.

An amendment was moved by Councillor J Bentley seconded by Councillor Downes

To insert after paragraph 2:

“This Council regrets the Labour administration’s record of inaction on this issue, that it is only as a result of Government intervention following a threat of a £300 million EU fine that this issue is now being taken seriously, and that no action was taken on a Liberal Democrat white paper in favour of low emissions zones passed with Labour support by full council in April 2011.”

To insert at the end of the motion:

“Council further instructs the Executive Board member for Environment to bring a paper to Executive Board at the earliest opportunity setting out practical measures the council will take to improve air quality without the need for government support, including but not limited to:

A supplementary planning document to require medium and large scale developers to show how they will mitigate the air pollution impacts of their developments.
Parking related incentives to discourage diesel vehicles
Workplace parking levies
Removing diesel vehicles from the council’s own salary sacrifice car purchase scheme
Using the council’s licensing powers to reduce the level of air pollution contributed by the taxi and private hire sector.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor B Anderson seconded by Councillor Lamb

Delete all after ‘This Council’ and replace with:

‘supports the thrust of central Government policy and believes that air pollution poses a significant risk to Leeds residents and is a significant contributory factor to premature deaths in communities throughout Leeds each year.

Council notes the ongoing work being carried out by the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Housing) into air quality and is particularly interested in ensuring that data quality associated with air pollution readings is accurate and reflects the true picture in Leeds before further action is taken.

Council believes that the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Housing) should play a key role in the development of policy on this issue, and that recommendations from their inquiry should form part of any proposals that come forward.

Traffic management plays a key role in air pollution and this Council calls for a coherent strategy to ensure that standing traffic does not continue to contribute towards poor air quality in areas of Leeds both in the inner city and in areas such as Pool, Garforth, Pudsey and Morley.

This Council will continue to work closely with DEFRA and the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to address air pollution and the introduction of a Clean Air Zone in Leeds. Council remains concerned about the introduction of any additional congestion charge scheme.

Finally, Council notes that in order for this policy to be successful, the Council will need to revisit both its Transport Strategy and its Planning Policies, to ensure problems are not compounded by policies that are not to the benefit of the residents of this city, and to prevent unintended consequences arising that would be to the detriment of local businesses.’

The amendments in the name of Councillors J Bentley and B Anderson were declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council believes that air pollution in the UK is a public health crisis, with the World Health Organisation and Public Health England describing it as the largest environmental risk to public health, contributing to around 350 premature deaths in Leeds per year.

This Council will continue its commitment to improving air quality and reducing these inequalities, making Leeds a fair, sustainable and compassionate city.

Supporting documents: