Agenda and decisions

The purpose of the report by the Director of Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services is to provide the Cabinet information on the:

•        Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process and the 2018 Review and Assessment (R&A) of air quality (AQ) in Portsmouth through the publication of the 2019 Annual Status Report (ASR)

•        Legal responsibilities placed upon Portsmouth City Council (PCC) in respect to AQ by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 

•        Actions undertaken and proposed by PCC which are likely to positively impact upon air pollution levels in Portsmouth.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet approves:

(1)  The submission of the 2019 ASR (as attached as Appendix 1) to DEFRA

(2)  The publication of the documentation set out in Section 9.4

The Cabinet approved:

(1)     The submission of the 2019 Annual Statement Report (as attached as Appendix 1 of the report) to DEFRA

(2)     The publication of the documentation set out in Section 9.4

(3)     That the relevant lead officers for Air Quality and Cabinet Members are given a copy of the deputation made by Mr Dobson; it is recognised that different models and modelling techniques are used by Local Authorities and Government for different purposes and inconsistencies can arise in the way that Government require the Council to assess, for example, traffic growth forecasts and the subsequent impacts upon Air Quality and other forecasts.  Where such inconsistencies arise, the Council will endeavour to provide an explanation in reports and decisions.

The Cabinet approved:

(1)   the appointment of the new designer,  Haskoning DHV to continue to develop the project in the detailed design stages.

(2)  Haskoning are internationally recognised design consultants with expertise in the delivery of coastal flood defence schemes both in the UK and abroad. This work is already fully funded through the Council approved Capital Programme, with £2m provided by way of Portsmouth City Council contribution and a further £3.5m of Capital Funding provided by the Environment Agency. Contract value is expected to out-turn at circa £3.6m.

Report from the Strategy Manager/Armed Forces Covenant Officer.

The Cabinet deferred making a decision, so that this report could be brought back with more detailed information on resource implications, to a forthcoming Cabinet meeting.