Bristol City Council cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) asked for an update on the Clean Air Zone for their meeting on 5 October 2020. The cursory report they received, rather late in the day and much too late for the public to ask any meaningful questions, is below.
“The Mayor made various commitments in his June 2019 speech on Clean Air Day. The actions below respond to those commitments.
- Two reports were commissioned on NRMM (Non Road Mobile Machinery) and domestic solid fuel to characterise particulate emissions and identify possible policy measures to mitigate. These reports have been received.
- Potential policy actions in these areas will be identified and included in the overarching Clean Air Plan to come to cabinet in February 2021 along with the Final Business Case for CAZ.
- A new continuous NOx monitoring site is being installed at Marlborough Street to support CAZ monitoring along with 93 new diffusion tube monitors which will be placed in early 2021.
- A campaign is planned on solid fuel burning: launch date TBC.
- We are bidding for funding from the Air Quality Grant for additional PM2.5 monitoring and a citizen focussed campaign in a specific area (TBC) on solid fuel burning and PM2.5. The amount is not yet known as the bid is being formulated and will be submitted before 14th October 2020.
The Council will shortly commence consultation on the two Clean Air Zone proposals.”
[https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/documents/s53109/CAZ%20Update%20OSMB%205%20October%202020.pdf]
Members of OSMB questioned the relevant officer who said the key decision for signing off Bristol’s clean air plans will be made at the Cabinet meeting in February 2021. OSMB were informed that they will have an opportunity to see a more comprehensive report before then.