Agenda item

 

(A)  Air Quality

 

The following motion was moved by Cllr Julie Ireland and seconded by Councillor Chloe-Jane Ross -

 

“New research has linked air pollution to lung cancer - with particulate matter (PM2.5) being found to trigger cell mutations that turn dormant cells cancerous. This goes some way to explaining why people who have never smoked get lung cancer.

 

The research was by the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, who presented the findings on 10 September 2022.

 

This discovery underlines the importance of monitoring PM2.5 as well as NO2. It adds to the weight of evidence about just how much long term damage is being done to the health of all of us, but particularly to our children who are breathing in these particulates that will stay in their bodies for the rest of their life.

 

We ask Bromley Council to take these urgent steps:

 

·  Make a formal commitment to improving air quality in the whole Borough, whether urban or rural, and to contribute to the national efforts to improve air quality for everyone in the UK

 

·  Extend current air quality monitoring in the borough to include formal reporting on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)

 

·  Make impact on air quality a material consideration when making changes to highways, road layouts and junctions

 

·  Make impact on air quality a material consideration for all planning applications.”

 

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Aisha Cuthbert and seconded by Cllr Thomas Turrell –

 

Remove full stop after ‘presented the findings on 10 September 2022’ and insert “via press release”.

 

Delete all after ‘rest of their life’ in paragraph 3.

 

Insert after ‘rest of their life’ -

 

“The Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee is asked to scrutinise the findings of PM2.5 once new data becomes available.

 

Bromley Council is monitoring PM2.5 levels at five different locations across the borough. The data we have collected so far indicates that PM2.5 is not a pollutant of concern locally. We are happy to report that Bromley meets all the national government guidelines, and we will continue seek improvements to our air quality to meet all future government guidelines.

 

The Council's commitment to being the greenest and cleanest borough in London extends to the quality of our air as well as the visible environment.

 

The Council is committed to having the cleanest air in London through the measures set out in our ambitious Air Quality Action Plan also sets out clear ways we will monitor pollution and improve air quality such as: anti idling campaigns, promoting walking to school initiatives, monitoring air quality at construction sites and seeking out new funding opportunities. Our ambition is to continue to improve our air quality, so we continue to have some of the cleanest air in London. Our air quality data is a positive indication that our air quality is improving and are committed to continuing this positive trajectory.

 

The Council also welcomes the commitment to protect and enhance the open and green spaces across the borough, with additional street trees, new woodlands, continued rollout of LED lights, our innovative domestic street parking EV charger pilot in addition to rolling out more EV charging points across the borough.”

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was CARRIED.

 

The substantive motion therefore read:

 

“New research has linked air pollution to lung cancer - with particulate matter (PM2.5) being found to trigger cell mutations that turn dormant cells cancerous. This goes some way to explaining why people who have never smoked get lung cancer.

 

The research was by the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, who presented the findings on 10 September 2022 via press release.

 

This discovery underlines the importance of monitoring PM2.5 as well as NO2. It adds to the weight of evidence about just how much long term damage is being done to the health of all of us, but particularly to our children who are breathing in these particulates that will stay in their bodies for the rest of their life. The Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee is asked to scrutinise the findings of PM2.5 once new data becomes available.

 

Bromley Council is monitoring PM2.5 levels at five different locations across the borough. The data we have collected so far indicates that PM2.5 is not a pollutant of concern locally. We are happy to report that Bromley meets all the national government guidelines, and we will continue seek improvements to our air quality to meet all future government guidelines.

 

The Council's commitment to being the greenest and cleanest borough in London extends to the quality of our air as well as the visible environment.

 

The Council is committed to having the cleanest air in London through the measures set out in our ambitious Air Quality Action Plan also sets out clear ways we will monitor pollution and improve air quality such as: anti idling campaigns, promoting walking to school initiatives, monitoring air quality at construction sites and seeking out new funding opportunities. Our ambition is to continue to improve our air quality, so we continue to have some of the cleanest air in London. Our air quality data is a positive indication that our air quality is improving and are committed to continuing this positive trajectory.

 

The Council also welcomes the commitment to protect and enhance the open and green spaces across the borough, with additional street trees, new woodlands, continued rollout of LED lights, our innovative domestic street parking EV charger pilot in addition to rolling out more EV charging points across the borough.”

 

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was CARRIED.

 

(B) Supporting Bromley Food Banks and Warm Banks this Winter

 

The following motion was moved by Cllr Simon Jeal and seconded by Cllr Chris Price:

 

“Food banks within the borough of Bromley are reporting a significant continued rise in demand. At the same time they are suffering drop offs in donated items and rising costs in purchasing food. There is severe concern that this will get worse as more households struggle with continued food price increases and big rises in energy costs to cook and heat their homes this winter.

Bromley Council recognises the incredible work of charities in supporting our most vulnerable residents, and the increased challenges they face. The Council agrees to provide support by:

1. Asking the Public Affairs team to run a high-profile winter communication campaign, explaining how food banks operate and what support they provide, with the aim of encouraging residents and businesses in a position to do so to support them over the winter. This can leverage investment already made through the digital strategy and realignment of communications to the benefit of residents.

2. Setting up a one-off fund of £400,000,utilising unallocated earmarked reserves which are no longer required for their original purpose, to allow charities and communities operating ‘warm banks’ (venues for those who cannot afford to heat their homes to go and access heating, often with food and volunteer provided support) to apply for grants towards the cost of their energy bills. This sum will allow 100 warm venues across Bromley to apply for heating bill grants of up to £2,500 each (depending on their availability to residents) and a further reserve fund £150,000 for use towards food and further support highlighted in point 3.

3. Actively engaging with food banks and other charities supporting vulnerable residents, to identify other ways the council can most effectively assist them over the winter period.”

 

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Sam Webber and seconded by Councillor Graeme Casey:

 

Add an additional paragraph to the motion, as follows:

 

“4.  Implement a borough wide public information campaign to encourage and help people to reduce their energy consumption by

 

  (a)  setting up a dedicated section on the council website offering advice to Bromley residents from energy companies and accredited experts on how to minimise energy use, the financial support available plus a list of websites and phone numbers with further advice;

 

  (b)  include an information section about reducing energy consumption in the next copy of “Environment Matters” that gets delivered to Bromley households.”

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

 

The following Members voted in favour of the motion as originally moved -

 

Councillors Jeremy Adams, Jessica Arnold, Kathy Bance, Graeme Casey, Will Connolly, Alisa Igoe, Julie Ireland, Mike Jack, Simon Jeal, Kevin Kennedy-Brooks, Josh King, Tony McPartlan, Chris Price, Chloe-Jane Ross, Mark Smith, Alison Stammers, Sam Webber and Rebecca Wiffen.

 

The following Members voted against the motion - 

 

Councillors Jonathan Andrews, Felicity Bainbridge, Yvonne Bear, Nicholas Bennett, Kim Botting, Mike Botting, Mark Brock, David Cartwright, Aisha Cuthbert, Peter Dean, Sophie Dunbar, Robert Evans, Simon Fawthrop, Kira Gabbert, Adam Grant, Dr Sunil Gupta, Christine Harris, Colin Hitchins, David Jefferys,  Charles Joel, Jonathan Laidlaw, Kate Lymer, Alexa Michael, Keith Onslow, Tony Owen, Angela Page, Will Rowlands, Shaun Slator, Colin Smith, Diane Smith, Melanie Stevens, Harry Stranger, Michael Tickner, Pauline Tunnicliffe and Thomas Turrell.

 

The following Member abstained -

 

The Mayor, Cllr Hannah Gray.

 

The motion was LOST.

 

 

 

(C)  Rail Services

 

(Councillor Simon Fawthrop declared an interest as a user of services on the Hayes Line to Cannon Street.)

 

The following motion was moved by Cllr Alexa Michael and seconded by Cllr Michael Tickner:

 

“This Council is opposed to the decision taken by Southeastern Railway to remove the services between Hayes and Cannon Street, as well reducing services on the Sidcup line affecting residents of Mottingham and Chislehurst.

 

We are extremely disappointed that this decision, which will greatly impact local journeys, was taken with no prior consultation of local rail users.

 

We commit to working with local Members of Parliament to lobby Southeastern for the reversal of this decision. 

 

Of the timetable change, we welcome the reinstatement of the Beckenham Junction to Blackfriars service and congratulate all involved in the successful campaign to achieve this.”

 

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Tony McPartlan and seconded by Councillor Kevin Kennedy-Brooks:

 

“1. To add the following words to the end of the first paragraph –

 

“And the decision by Southern operator Govia to cut services to London Bridge stopping at Anerley and Penge West stations.”

 

2. Amend the third paragraph to: We commit to working with local Members of Parliament to lobby Southeastern, Govia and the Department of Transport for the reversal of this decision.”

 

On being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED.

 

The substantive motion therefore read:

 

“This Council is opposed to the decision taken by Southeastern Railway to remove the services between Hayes and Cannon Street, as well reducing services on the Sidcup line affecting residents of Mottingham and Chislehurst and the decision by Southern operator Govia to cut services to London Bridge stopping at Anerley and Penge West stations.

 

We are extremely disappointed that this decision, which will greatly impact local journeys, was taken with no prior consultation of local rail users.

 

We commit to working with local Members of Parliament to lobby Southeastern, Govia and the Department for Transport for the reversal of this decision. 

 

Of the timetable change, we welcome the reinstatement of the Beckenham Junction to Blackfriars service and congratulate all involved in the successful campaign to achieve this.”

 

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was CARRIED.