Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The Committee is advised that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have recently commenced a consultation exercise, in the form of a public discussion document, into a new Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland.

1.2       DAERA have stated that the purpose of the public discussion document is to provoke discussion towards policy options that could contribute to meeting the challenges associated with achieving outcomes 2, 4 and 12 of the Northern Ireland Civil Service ‘Outcomes Delivery Plan’, ‘we live and work sustainably - protecting the environment’, ‘we enjoy long, healthy, active lives’; and ‘we give our children and young people the best start in life’ respectively.

1.3       This report therefore serves to provide to Committee for consideration, proposed responses to the 29 questions that DAERA have posed throughout the seven thematic chapters of the Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland Public Discussion document.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1      

·        The Committee is requested to consider proposed responses to the 29 questions posed by DAERA as part of the public discussion process, summarised in Appendix 1 to this report and detailed in full within Appendix 2.

·        The Committee is further requested to recommend that Appendix 1 and 2 responses be both submitted to DAERA by the Belfast City Council consultation deadline of 15th March 2021.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

3.1       In commencing a public discussion exercise into options for a new Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland, DAERA have advised that clean air is vital for human health and for our natural environment but increasingly, research is showing that the effects of ambient air pollution on human health are more complex and widespread than previously thought.

3.2       To that end, DAERA have advised that within Northern Ireland, we face similar issues with ambient air pollution to the rest of the UK and Europe; most notably, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) found in urban areas, arising principally from road traffic and particularly from diesel engined vehicles.

3.3       The Committee will be aware that the Council has declared four Air Quality Management Areas across the city encompassing major arterial road transport routes for exceedences of Air Quality Strategy objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The AQMAs cover the M1 Motorway / A12 Westlink corridor, the Ormeau Road, the Upper Newtownards Road and Cromac Street to the junction with East Bridge Street and then from East Bridge Street to the junction with the Ravenhill and Albertbridge Roads and Short Strand.

3.4       The Committee will also be aware that the Council has developed a series of Air Quality Action Plans for the city, in pursuit of the  nitrogen dioxide air quality objectives, incorporating actions from our competent authority transport partners including the Department for Infrastructure, Translink, Northern Ireland Railways, Sustrans, the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association, etc. The Council has also included information on the actions that it can take to address transport emissions, including introduction of the Belfast Bikes public cycle hire scheme and ‘greening‘ its own vehicle fleet, etc.           

3.5       In addition to nitrogen dioxide issues in urban areas, DAERA have also highlighted that issues persist around emissions from household heating and from agriculture.

3.6       DAERA have advised that Northern Ireland has not had its own dedicated Clean Air Strategy before now and that the public discussion document has set forth a wide range of policy options that are based on research, examples of best practice elsewhere, and on the basis of the air quality problems that are facing Northern Ireland.

3.7       The public discussion document therefore incorporates a comprehensive review of current ambient air quality policy and legislation within Northern Ireland and invites views on possible solutions to take forward further improvements in ambient air quality.

3.8       Accordingly, the public discussion document incorporates 7 chapters and 29 specific questions covering the background to ambient air pollution issues, including; (i) the sources and effects of ambient air pollution; (ii) transport; (iii) household emissions; (iv) agriculture emissions; (v) industrial emissions; (vi) local air quality management and; (vii) communication.

3.9       The Committee is therefore advised that the public discussion document raises issues around the introduction of legally binding WHO targets for particulate matter, about further expanding the Northern Ireland air quality monitoring network, about discouraging the uptake of biomass and about linking noise, climate change and air quality action plans. In addition, the public discussion document asks about the introduction of low emission zones, vehicle charging cordons and the uptake of electric vehicles. With regard to domestic emissions, the discussion document asks about extending smoke control areas and controlling the fuels that can be supplied. The discussion document also asks about controlling ammonia emissions and emissions from industry. Finally, the public discussion document poses questions around revising the local air quality management regime for Northern Ireland and about the creation of a Northern Ireland Air Quality Forum and better raising awareness of ambient air quality issues.

3.10     In developing responses to the various questions posed throughout the public discussion document, the Committee is advised that the views of relevant Council Departments and Operational Units have been sought and where obtained, those views have been incorporated into the responses provided at Appendices 1 and 2 to this report.

3.11     The Committee is advised that Appendix 1 provides an overview of proposed responses to the public discussion document to assist in Committee consideration of this matter, whereas Appendix 2 provides detailed responses to the public discussion document.   

3.12     Financial and Resource Implications.

            None

3.13     Equality or Good Relations Implications /

            Rural Needs Assessments.

            None.”

            During discussion, Councillor Smyth tabled the following additions to the consultation response for consideration:

Q1

There should be legally binding targets for particulate matter, this has been detailed in previous motions to Council.

Q5

Whilst using the population figure of 10k as a threshold to trigger the requirement to monitor air quality might be more pertinent to other areas, there is a worry that unless there is monitoring outside if the 10k population then there is a risk of not capturing the impact and pollution caused by ammonia.

Q9

Note that Councils should be able to introduce Clean Air Zones and charge if necessary. Reflect a bolder vision for Belfast and the move toward pedestrianisation and reallocation of road space. Refer to the Programme For Government (PFG) outcome re Modal shift as progressing this is key to addressing air pollution.

Q13

Highlight that they are parts of the City that are not under Smoke Control Orders and reinforce that there needs to be an understanding of legislation in relation to the enforcement of Smoke Control Orders. In terms of fuel poverty, note that support needs to be given to those residents wishing to move to alternative clean energy efficient fuels without exacerbating fuel poverty.

            Following the proposed amendments to aforementioned questions, the Committee agreed to the following:

·        to review the draft consultation response and proposed changes raised and to incorporate the points raised;

·        to circulate the amended summary of the proposed Belfast City Council responses (Appendix 1) to all Committee Members in advance of the March Council meeting for final approval and agree that these amendments then be incorporated into the detailed response to DAERA (Appendix 2); and 

·        following ratification at the March Council meeting, both responses (Appendix 1 and 2), as amended, be submitted to DAERA by the consultation deadline of 15th March, 2021.