The Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways introduced the report and stated that in 2015, a decision was taken by Thurrock Council to develop an integrated Health and Air Quality Strategy through which to tackle the health problems associated with and exacerbated by air pollution within the borough.

He continued by stating the overall strategic aim of the Strategy was to improve air quality in the borough and to reduce the health impacts of air pollution.  Members were advised the strategy would be delivered through three main approaches: 

·         By implementing measures for managing air quality throughout the borough to prevent new Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) from arising;

·         By implementing measures contained within the action plans for existing AQMAs; and

·         By working with external bodies to reduce background pollution from inside and outside the borough.

Councillor B Little further advised that the strategy had been through the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee and their comments had been included.

The Portfolio Holder for Education and Health mentioned that there was only so much the Council could do on their own. He further mentioned that the GP Scorecard was improving provision, along with the health hubs the process in place was robust.

Councillor Hebb commented that the report was responding to need and not just desire and welcomed working with different partnerships. He continued to enquire what the Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways was doing in relation to idle parking and traffic emissions in the borough.

Councillor B Little, Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, explained that work had been untaken into looking at no idle parking zones and the use of yellow box junctions. 

He continued by commenting that landscaping would also be looked into and that he welcomed comments from his follow Members.

The Leader mentioned it was good to see that the Council was going the extra mile and not just ticking the boxes.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approved the Air Quality & Health Strategy and the associated delivery approaches (Appendix 1)

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in