This Council notes;

·       The importance of clean air to the health of local residents in Trafford.

·       That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

·       The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

·       That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make peoples asthma worse.

·       That the British Heart Foundation states that evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks amongst vulnerable people.

·      That according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

This Council further notes the DEFRA consultation on the future of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) carried out in July and August 2013 which offered four options for consideration, including the Governments preferred option which would remove the requirement for local authorities to monitor air quality.

This Council further believes that the effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air quality issues.

Therefore, in light of the above this Council agrees to write to the Government condemning their preferred option and urge them to maintain the legal obligation for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes;

•       The importance of clean air to the health of local residents in Trafford.

•       That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

•       The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

•       That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make peoples asthma worse.

•       That the British Heart Foundation states that evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks amongst vulnerable people.

•      That according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

This Council further notes the DEFRA consultation on the future of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) carried out in July and August 2013 which offered four options for consideration, including the Governments preferred option which would remove the requirement for local authorities to monitor air quality.

This Council further believes that the effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air quality issues.

Therefore, in light of the above this Council agrees to write to the Government condemning their preferred option and urge them to maintain the legal obligation for Local Authorities to monitor air quality.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes;

•       The importance of clean air to the health of local residents in Trafford.

•       That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

•       The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

•       That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make peoples asthma worse.

•       That the British Heart Foundation states that evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks amongst vulnerable people.

•      That according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

This Council further notes the DEFRA consultation on the future of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) carried out in July and August 2013 which offered four options for consideration, including the Governments preferred option which would remove the requirement for local authorities to monitor air quality. The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities responded on behalf of all ten Authorities rejecting the preferred option and supporting Trafford’s view that continued monitoring is essential. This Council further believes that the effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air quality issues.

In the light of the above this Council agrees to write to the Minister urging him to accept the response of the majority of respondents to the consultation document in December 2013 on Air Quality Monitoring, which was in favour of retaining the current monitoring system.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was agreed with the general consent of the Council and consequently, the substantive Motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes;

•       The importance of clean air to the health of local residents in Trafford.

•       That the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that up to 29,000 deaths per year are linked to poor air quality and a loss of life expectancy from birth of 6 months.

•       The recent decision of the World Health Organisation to classify outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans.

•       That Asthma UK believes that pollution plays a role in causing asthma in children and adults, as well as being a trigger that can make peoples asthma worse.

•       That the British Heart Foundation states that evidence shows that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse and can affect our cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks amongst vulnerable people.

•      That according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Greater Manchester will not be in compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide levels until 2020.

This Council further notes the DEFRA consultation on the future of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) carried out in July and August 2013 which offered four options for consideration, including the Governments preferred option which would remove the requirement for local authorities to monitor air quality. The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities responded on behalf of all ten Authorities rejecting the preferred option and supporting Trafford’s view that continued monitoring is essential. This Council further believes that the effective monitoring of air quality is an important part of creating evidence-based policies to address air quality issues.

In the light of the above this Council agrees to write to the Minister urging him to accept the response of the majority of respondents to the consultation document in December 2013 on Air Quality Monitoring, which was in favour of retaining the current monitoring system.