Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations with the first line of recommendation (3) being amended to read: Note the contents of the North Wales combined regional Air Quality Report.

Councillor Bithell introduced the Air Quality in Flintshire report which provided an overview and findings from the regional Air Quality Report, and recommended how the Council could do more to promote air quality considerations when key strategic and operational decisions were taken.

            The main source of air pollution in Flintshire was road traffic emissions from major roads linking England to the rest of North Wales such as the A55 and the A494.  Air quality management was a public health priority and integrated action to improve the air people breathed must be taken internationally, nationally, regionally and locally.

            The Chief Officer (Planning, Environment and Economy) said the report had been submitted to a recent Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee where it had received full support.  Members welcomed the report, citing areas of high air pollution as the A494, Broughton Shopping Park and the surrounding area and outside schools.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That all Flintshire County Council decisions and policies be encouraged, where appropriate, to proactively consider the impact on air quality;

(b)       That the Council work with the Public Services Board, a part of their environmental theme, to promote a multi-agency approach to addressing air quality; and

(c)        That the contents of the North Wales combined regional Air Quality report be noted.  As a consequence of the assessment it is also noted that there is no need to escalate action, and that continued monitoring will be sufficient to meet our legal obligations.