Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor Gordon France, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Decision: That the minutes of meeting held on 15 January 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Chair welcomed Carolyn Williams, Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-Ordinator, who attended to give an update on air quality issues.

The Council had declared a climate emergency in November 2019, as part of this declaration, the council committed to being carbon neutral by 2030, 20 years ahead of the UK target of 2050.

The Environment Bill will introduce a National Air Quality Strategy and all Local Authorities will need to adhere to this when exercising any function which could affect the quality of air. When enacted the Bill will introduce mandatory targets in relation to pollutant levels, including Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5).

The council currently monitor air quality across a number of different sites in Chorley. A report on this known as the ‘Air Quality Status Report (ASR)’, is produced annually, this is a requirement of the existing legislative framework set out in the Environment Act 1995.

The principle pollutants of concern within Chorley are those mainly associated with traffic, these being Nitrogen Dioxide, and Particulate Matter. The Council monitors Nitrogen Dioxide emissions via a network of passive diffusion tubes against National Air Quality Objectives. Currently there are no Air Quality Management Areas declared within the borough as the Air Quality Objectives are being met.

Air Quality has been identified as a Corporate Priority for the Council and in order to deliver change in this area, a capital budget has been allocated for improving air quality. This will allow for increased monitoring across the borough and enable production and delivery of an Air Quality Strategy (AQS).

The strategy also proposes the development of a detailed communications strategy to identify how we can effectively engage with residents and businesses, raising awareness and better educating people how toto reduce air pollution and in what way small actions can have a big impact.

The strategy will also ask the Council to lead by example and look at implementing measures affecting the way we operate our business that can have a direct impact on air quality, such as moving council fleet vehicles to electric and promoting use of sustainable travel by employees as well as looking at how we can make our buildings more energy efficient.

The Strategy will also look at ways to promote more sustainable development and incorporate air quality requirements into policy development for the council through the new Local Plan, as well as working with partners to identify how to ensure infrastructure requirements promote sustainable travel.

Members discussed the impact of lockdown on air pollution.  In response to a query regarding using data collected privately regarding air pollution it was noted that the Council need to ensure the veracity and accuracy of any data used and therefore the use of private individual’s data may not meet the standards required.

A Climate Change Working Group is due to be set up by the council to support the green agenda, including air pollution. 

A query was raised regarding a planning application at Botany Bay.  It was noted that the application has not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.12

Flooding has occurred in Lower Adlington around Crawford Avenue.  What can be done to support residents to prevent/mitigate against further flooding?

Officers from the council will attend to give an update. 

Kevin O'Donnell, Adlington Town Council, reported that flooding has occurred in Lower Adlington around Crawford Avenue a number of times this year as a result of surface run off from nearby land.  The issue is being investigated by a number of agencies. 

Kerry Maguire, Senior Risk and Insurance Officer, advised that Lancashire County Council (LCC) are the responsible agency for property level flooding. Chorley Council respond where they can, but flooding issues are dealt with by multiple agencies, including the Environment Agency, United Utilities and LCC.

Issues regarding flooding were highlighted in Coppull and Whins Lane. Funding has been available for flood resilience measures in certain circumstances and further information can be accessed by customer services.  

The Chair thanked the Kerry for her attendance.

The council currently has an overview and scrutiny task group looking into sustainable public transport. 

The plan for the inquiry is enclosed and written views are requested from Town and Parish Councils by 3 December to matthew.pawlyszyn@chorley.gov.uk

Councillor Kim Snape explained that a task group is currently ongoing regarding sustainable public transport.  She requested that Parishes contact Democratic Services with any relevant contributions. 

In order to allow members of the Liaison and members of the public to raise issues of local concern, a period of 20 minutes has been set aside.

A member of the public may speak for no more than 3 minutes.  Members of the public are not required to give notice of the issue they intend to raise, although it is expected in the case of service issues that the appropriate mechanisms for resolving the issue have been explored. 

Where a question is raised which cannot be answered at the meeting, a record will be kept by officers supporting the meeting and it will be responded to via the appropriate mechanism.

No questions were raised.

A schedule setting out deadlines for items to be requested on the agenda for the Chorley Liaison and dates for future meetings is enclosed. 

No future agenda items were requested. 

Chris Moister, Director of Governance, advised that the council are researching potential Covid-19 vaccination sites and requested that any suggested sites be forwarded to Democratic Services.