Agenda item

7.59pm – Councillor Larry Culhane moved, seconded by Adam Connell, the special motion in their names:

“The Council notes that London’s air is the filthiest in the UK with the 50 top worst black-spots in the country and that according to a study commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London air pollution in London resulted in nearly 9,500 deaths last year.

The Council is concerned that every day Londoners breathe in unhealthy levels of the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and that such air pollution is linked to lung and heart conditions, breast cancer and diabetes which is  estimated to cost the UK up to £20 billion a year to treat.

The Council welcomes the fact that the UK signed up to the European Union’s limit of 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic metre on average per year but is deeply concerned that people living, working or simply passing by Hammersmith Flyover are breathing in air that has 114 micrograms of NO2 in it and that other spots around the Westway were also well over EU safe limits.

The Council notes the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s view  when he stated "The air quality in London, you can go outside and breathe in great gulfs of virtually alpine air".

This Council calls on the Mayor of London and Government to take a serious and determined approach to improving air quality in London.

The Council resolves to combat air pollution in the borough and supports the work of the independent H&F Air Quality Commission. The Council agrees to bring forward measures to improve air quality and to lobby others in regional and national government and the EU to take measures to improve air quality and reduce the silent killer of air pollution.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Larry Culhane, Adam Connell, Caroline Needham, and Vivienne Lukey (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Steve Hamilton moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Brown, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete from “The Council notes…” and replace with:

This Council notes the work of the Mayor of London and the Government to improve air quality in London through schemes such as:

1.         Introducing the ULEZ in Central London;

2.         Requiring all new tenders for bus routes to be ULEZ-compliant;

3.         The introduction of the world’s first double decker electric bus, and;

4.         Electrification of the Great Western Mainline.

This Council resolves to combat air pollution in the borough and supports the work of the independent H&F Air Quality Commission. The Council agrees to bring forward measures to improve air quality and to lobby others in regional and national government and the EU to take measures to improve air quality and reduce the silent killer of air pollution.

The Council regrets that it has not introduced any real measures to support and promote plug-in electric vehicle ownership in the borough and commits to introduce on-street charging points.”

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Steve Hamilton, Andrew Brown, and Mark Loveday (for the Opposition) and Councillors Wesley Harcourt and Andrew Jones (for the Administration), before it was put to the vote.

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillors Max Schmid and Andrew Jones (for the Administration) and Councillors Steve Hamilton and Andrew Brown (for the Opposition). Councillor Larry Culhane made a speech winding up the debate. The substantive motion was then put to the vote:

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9:00pm – RESOLVED

The Council notes that London’s air is the filthiest in the UK with the 50 top worst black-spots in the country and that according to a study commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London air pollution in London resulted in nearly 9,500 deaths last year.

The Council is concerned that every day Londoners breathe in unhealthy levels of the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and that such air pollution is linked to lung and heart conditions, breast cancer and diabetes which is  estimated to cost the UK up to £20 billion a year to treat.

The Council welcomes the fact that the UK signed up to the European Union’s limit of 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic metre on average per year but is deeply concerned that people living, working or simply passing by Hammersmith Flyover are breathing in air that has 114 micrograms of NO2 in it and that other spots around the Westway were also well over EU safe limits.

The Council notes the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s view  when he stated "The air quality in London, you can go outside and breathe in great gulfs of virtually alpine air".

This Council calls on the Mayor of London and Government to take a serious and determined approach to improving air quality in London.

The Council resolves to combat air pollution in the borough and supports the work of the independent H&F Air Quality Commission. The Council agrees to bring forward measures to improve air quality and to lobby others in regional and national government and the EU to take measures to improve air quality and reduce the silent killer of air pollution.