Issue - meetings

Cabinet AGREED to adopt the joint Air Quality Action Plan as prepared by South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council for submission to DEFRA by January 2010.

A copy of the Action Plan (144 pages) is available on the Council’s website, www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings and in the Members’ lounge.  Chapter 1, sections 2.3, 2.3.1, 3.3, 4.3 and 6.3, and all of chapters 7, 8 and 11 are particularly appropriate to South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Cabinet AGREED to adopt the joint Air Quality Action Plan as prepared by South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council for submission to DEFRA by January 2010.

The joint Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) sought to bring about the changes required to achieve the health-based national air quality objectives and improve local air quality and quality of life for local residents.

It was noted that measuring stations at Impington and Milton had indicated that the national air quality objectives were not being met along this stretch of the A14.  It was understood that, whilst the economic downturn had resulted in a decrease in the amount of Heavy Goods Vehicles on the A14, the traffic volume was expected to increase due to improvements to the road and the new development in the area.

Cabinet AGREED to adopt the joint Air Quality Action Plan as prepared by South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council for submission to DEFRA by January 2010.

The Action Plan is enclosed as a separate document 

The Portfolio Holder ENDORSED the five priority actions and content of the Air Quality Action Plan for wider public consultation. 

The Portfolio Holder considered the Action Plan jointly compiled between SCDC, Hunts DC and Cambridge City Council and in particular the 5 main priority actions detailed at paragraph 16 of the agenda report.

Reference was made to the appendix accompanying the report and in particular item 12 regarding quality of guided bus services and the European specification relating to engines. It was reported that, in this instance, confirmation of the specification for the guided busway had not yet been given and that SCDC did not have any control over the specification of buses to be used.

Clarification was sought on the phasing of the A14 improvements, para 16 of the report refers. SW undertook to check the wording. SW to action

In conclusion, the Portfolio Holder requested that the aspect relating to Enhance Quality of Life in para 24 of the report be publicised in a future edition of the South Cambs magazine. SW to action

The Portfolio Holder,

(a)               ENDORSED the five priority actions and content of the Air Quality Action Plan for wider public consultation, and

(b)               NOTED

(i)                 the joint approach to the Air Quality Action Plan currently under development,

(ii)                the actions that were proposed to improve air quality along the A14

(iii)              the statutory requirements of Part 4 of the Environment Act 1995