The following motion has been received:

There is growing acknowledgement on this Council from all sides about the issue of air quality across Swale, together with the need for focussed air quality monitoring, so as to gauge an accurate picture of the current situation facing our residents now and in to the future.

The A2, in particular in the area surrounding the Key Street roundabout, is of prime concern. 

With significant development coming forward, such as that at Wises Lane in Borden, increased vehicle movements undoubtedly will adversely impact air quality further.

We believe the Council has a duty of care to its residents and ensure existing levels do not deteriorate further. 

It is difficult, therefore, to conclude no adverse impact on air quality will occur from developments when the Council does not have adequate, if any, air quality monitoring systems in place at key potential development sites.

This cannot continue.

This is even more pressing following the Supreme High Court ruling in Newington.  This judgement indicated that “both applicant and council need to demonstrate that mitigation measures actually work.”

Additionally, we were shocked to learn from a public meeting held on Saturday 9 December 2017 at Borden Parish Hall, that independent spot checks in the Key Street area showed air quality levels to be considerably worse than those put forward by the developer in their planning application for Wises Lane.

We kindly ask, therefore, that this Council increases the budget for air quality monitoring in the Borough in its Budget for 2018/19 and, as a starter, immediately reviews the air quality monitoring equipment along the A2 and at the Key Street/Chestnut Street/Wises Lane area without undue hesitation.

Proposed by Councillor Nicholas Hampshire and seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock.

Councillor Nicholas Hampshire proposed that:

“There is growing acknowledgement on this Council from all sides about the issue of air quality across Swale, together with the need for focused air quality monitoring, so as to gauge an accurate picture of the current situation facing our residents now and into the future.

The A2, in particular in the area surrounding the Key Street roundabout, is of prime concern.

With significant development coming forward, such as that at Wises Lane in Borden, increased vehicle movements undoubtedly will adversely impact air quality further.

We believe the Council has a duty of care to its residents and ensure existing levels do not deteriorate further.

It is difficult, therefore, to conclude no adverse impact on air quality will occur from development when the Council does not have adequate, if any, air quality monitoring systems in place at key potential development sites.

This cannot continue.

This is even more pressing following the Supreme High Court ruling in Newington.  This judgement indicated that “both applicant and council need to demonstrate that mitigation measures actually work”.

Additionally, we were shocked to learn from a public meeting held on Saturday 9 December 2017 at Borden Parish Hall, that independent spot checks in the Key Street area showed air quality levels to be considerably worse that those put forward by the developer in their planning application for Wises Lane.

We kindly ask, therefore, that this Council increases the budget for air quality monitoring in the Borough in its Budget for 2018/19 and, as a starter, immediately reviews the air quality monitoring equipment along the A2 and at the Key Street/Chestnut Street/Wises Lane area without undue hesitation.”

The Motion was seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock who reserved his right to speak.

In proposing the motion, Councillor Nicholas Hampshire proposed an amendment to include the word “potential” after “With significant…..” on the first line of the third paragraph of the motion.  He referred to the Newington case and the defence of data sets put forward by developers and said that the Council needed its own data sets.  He highlighted the cross-party backing and support already received from the Leader.

The Leader of the Labour Group agreed that Air Quality was a critical issue but said that it was a Borough-wide issue, not just the Key Street area.  He added that the proposal was too vague and specific borrowing costs had not been included in the motion.

In the debate that followed the following points were made:

·         monitoring equipment should be placed at pinch points;

·         the whole of the A2 should be included;

·         the motion was a good starting point;

·         air quality had been measured for many years but no action taken;

·         some measuring equipment was inaccurate;

·         monitoring stations were expensive;

·         all areas were affected and the motion included monitoring for the whole Borough;

·         there had been no feedback from the Air Quality Management Plan; and

·         the measuring of particulates was misrepresented.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Rural Affairs explained that the five separate Air Quality areas in the Borough had been combined and an Air Quality Strategy for 2018 – 21 was being worked on.  He added that there were 72 Nox Air Quality Monitoring Tubes in the Borough and Swale Borough Council (SBC) did more in Kent to address Air Quality issues than any other Borough.

In summing up, Councillor Nicholas Hampshire clarified that the motion covered the whole of the Borough and included key potential development sites.  He added that the motion would determine an action plan going forward

On being put to the vote, the amendment was agreed.  There was no further debate on the amendment.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19(5), a recorded vote was taken and voting was as follows:

For:  Councillors Sarah Aldridge, Mike Baldock, Cameron Beart, Bobbin, Monique Bonney, Andy Booth, Lloyd Bowen, Roger Clark, Derek Conway, Mike Cosgrove, Mike Dendor, Duncan Dewar-Whalley, Paul Fleming, Mick Galvin, James Hall, Nicholas Hampshire, Mike Henderson, Alan Horton, James Hunt, Ken Ingleton, Nigel Kay, Samuel Koffie-Williams, Gerry Lewin, Peter Marchington, Padmini Nissanga, Prescott, Ken Pugh, George Samuel, David Simmons, Ben Stokes, Anita Walker, Ghlin Whelan, Mike Whiting, Ted Wilcox and John Wright. Total equals: 35

Against:  0

Abstained:  Councillors Harrison, Roger Truelove and Tony Winckless. Total equals: 3.

The motion was agreed.

Resolved:

That the Council increases the budget for air quality monitoring in the Borough in its Budget for 2018/19 and, as a starter, immediately reviews the air quality monitoring equipment along the A2 and at the Key Street/Chestnut Street/Wises Lane area without undue hesitation.