Agenda item

5.1

The Policy Committee received two petitions from members of the public. Both members of the public did not attend to present their petitions, a written response would be provided.

5.2

The Policy Committee received two questions from members of the public. One member of the public did not attend to ask their question, a written response would be provided.

Question from Roy Morris

SCC has introduced measures to improve air quality in the city centre. Is the council planning to publicise improvements in air quality? Also, is SCC prepared to give a breakdown of charges received and of what will be done with those funds?

The Chair explained that the latest Annual Status Report, containing 2022 data, would be published on the council’s website once national government had completed their review process on the document.

Following UK legislative requirements and process, Air quality concentrations were not assessed in real-time, this had to be based on annual average concentrations using 12-months of data gathered across a full Calendar year.

Air quality is subject to varying external factors such as weather, seasonal travel behaviour and heating use, therefore, air pollution concentrations vary day-by-day year-on-year. This was why it was necessary to gather and assess data over a 12-month period to provide a more accurate picture over an extended period.  The Council would be working with Government to review the performance of the Clean Air Zone and the air quality levels across the full 2023 calendar year. This process would commence in Spring 2024 once all data from 2023 was available and it was expected that it would be completed in Summer 2024.

With regard to questions raised about income from the Clean Air Zone; to the end of September 2023, the payments received totalled £3,285,600 and the expenditure incurred in running the scheme and committed costs, such as decommissioning the scheme, equated to £4,258,746. 

This meant that there was at that stage no surplus income. However, this may not be the case in the future and that is why Clean Air Investment Plan for Sheffield was necessary, utilising any surplus CAZ income that may be generated, as well as other potential funding streams, in order to implement measures that would help improve air quality in Sheffield.

As a committee, measures like School Streets, that both protect young people on their way to school and encourage active travel should be the priority. As a committee, a discussion regarding plans for any surplus that may be generated was scheduled for the next meeting, the questioner was advised that they would be welcome to attend.