Agenda item
Air Quality Scrutiny Task Group
To establish a Scrutiny Task Group to consider the issue of air quality in Brent.
Minutes:
The Chair introduced the item, proposing that Councillor Thomas Stephens be appointed to lead on this investigation. Councillor Stephens provided a brief outline of the report which detailed proposals for the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee to establish a Task Group on Air Quality. Referencing the broad remit of the task group’s terms of reference, Councillor Stephens proposed that the group would focus on five strategic areas, encompassing both Brent as a whole but also other communities and neighbourhoods concerned about air quality. Adopting an evidence based approach, the group would seek to review examples of best practice, engage with a range of stakeholders and carry out analysis on the level of air quality in the borough. The group would have a wide membership, consisting of elected and co-opted members (including individuals from the wider Brent community) to ensure adequate representation and sharing of expertise on air quality. In particular, the group would be seeking to engage with young people and schools to ensure that their concerns were given sufficient prominence and acted upon.
Members unanimously welcomed the establishment of the air quality task group and pledged offers of support and contributions to the work of the task group by sharing information, providing evidence and facilitating visits in their respective wards. In the ensued discussion, they emphasised the overarching role of regeneration plans in this project, alongside strong leadership and accountability in order to ensure there was adequate structure in place to spearhead the implementation of any subsequent actions/recommendations to the Council. Members commended the idea for a wider membership composition and in particular the proposals to include the voice of residents on air quality, as set out in the task groups’ terms of reference.
The Committee was particularly mindful of the fact that whilst overall air quality was improving, issues remained about the pace of change, inequality and compliance around where improvements were taking place. In noting the important function task groups performed in general, the Committee expressed the view that, given the likely cross-cutting approach required covering areas beyond just environment, the work of the Air Quality Task Group in particular be prioritised from an early stage and an agreement for cooperation from the Local Authority be sought. Despite assurance given by officers that the project had already been discussed with the leadership team and some work had been done on exploring ways for embedding it within the relevant strategies, Members reiterated that significant consideration should be given on how wider Council plans such as the Council’s Air Quality Plan 2017-2022, fit within the work of the task group to ensure that impact of the task group’s work was maximised and that any actions resulting from the report were implemented in a timely manner.
RESOLVED:
i. That an Air Quality Task Group be established in accordance with the terms of reference set out in the report and the following membership:
· Cllr Thomas Stephens (Chair)
· Cllr Elliot Chappell
· Cllr Lia Colaccio
· Cllr Janice Long
· Cllr Michael Maurice
· Cllr Neil Nerva
· Fiona Mulaisho – co-opted Member (Clean Air for Brent)
· Sue Caro – co-opted Member
· Sylvia Gauthereau - co-opted Member (Campaign Coordinator, Brent Cycling Campaign).
ii. That the senior leadership of the Council be asked to publicly buy into the work of the Task Group and see the Air Quality Task Group as a top priority and that, to this end, the Chief Executive of the Council emails all departments and partners to let them know that the work is happening and their full cooperation is expected.
Supporting documents: