Agenda item

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Munro, Burke, Lawson, A Pinnock, K Pinnock, Iredale, Eastwood, P A Davies, A Smith and Marchington;

“This Council notes:

1.    That clean air is one of the most fundamental requirements for a healthy environment;

2.    That, according to Defra, the inhalation of particulate pollution can have adverse health impacts and there is ‘understood to be no safe threshold below which no adverse effects would be anticipated’.

3.    That polluted air is a silent killer, with an estimated 28,000 – 36,000 deaths in the UK attributed to long-term exposure to air pollution. It also costs our health system between £8.5bn and £18.6 billion each year and has been linked to the development of a range of medical issues, including respiratory disease, coronary heart disease, lung cancer and dementia;

4.    That road transport is the principal source of both particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide pollution;

5.    That Kirklees Council has an Air Quality Action Plan which outlines the need to improve the physical infrastructure across the district to ensure that

walking and cycling is easier. The Council has also declared a ‘climate emergency’ and established a councillor-led working party to identify practical measures to reduce emissions, take environmental considerations in mind when developing new policies and to propose targets for future action;

6.    Public Health England’s Review of Interventions to Improve Outdoor Air Quality and Public Health (2019) report, which outlines measures to tackle air pollution, including improving air quality at schools;

7.    Some schools in Kirklees have expressed concern about the impact of air pollution on pupils and would be supportive of measures and initiatives to improve air quality. 

This Council believes that:

Air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society. It poses a serious threat to the health of children, whose lungs are still developing;

1.    Local authorities, including Kirklees Council, have a hugely important role in tackling air pollution and improving air quality across the district. Children need to be a priority in improving air quality and the Council need to do more to tackle air pollution at schools across Kirklees to ensure that our children are healthy; 

2.    The Government’s Clean Air Strategy (2019) has failed to show adequate leadership in tackling air pollution at a national level. Local authorities, including Kirklees Council, need to respond and shift their focus towards preventative measures in tackling air pollution, rather than being reactive;

3.    The Council needs to develop a dialogue and work more closely with local schools and parents to discuss air quality issues. The Council understands that tackling air pollution can require a holistic approach;

4.    It is important that the Council promotes sustainable active travel, including walking and cycling to schools;

5.    There are opportunities for the Council to work with local schools to devise and implement new initiatives to tackle air pollution, including conducting school air quality audits; creating ‘no idling zones’ for motor vehicles outside schools; promoting ‘School Streets’ and ‘Street Play’. It is also vital to regularly monitor air quality outside all schools across the district.

This Council, therefore, resolves to:

1.    Ask Cabinet to engage with local schools to prepare school air quality audits in order to help identify bespoke and tailored local measures to tackle toxic air pollution;

2.    Ask Cabinet to engage with schools to design and deliver air pollution campaigns that engage with and encourage pupils to learn about air pollution in their area;

3.    Ask Cabinet to consider pilot schemes to tackle air pollution at schools across Kirklees. This might include ‘Street Play’ and ‘Car Free School Streets’, which enables local authorities to use existing powers to allow temporary road closures outside schools. These types of initiatives cut down on traffic and parking pressures outside schools, provide greater opportunities for children to play outdoors, improve road safety and promote a healthy environment;

4.    Promote vehicle ‘no idling’ zones outside schools and ask Cabinet to investigate the possibility of implementing a programme of work to educate pupils and parents about the dangers of vehicle engine idling on health;

5.    Actively encourage local businesses to sponsor green walls and pollution-absorbing trees near schools”

Motion approved.