Agenda item

The review scope for the proposed scrutiny review on this topic is attached.

An officer report on Air Quality has been provided and a presentation is enclosed.

The following organizations have been invited to present:

•  Dr Ian Mudway, senior lecture at the School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences at King's College London (presentation enclosed)

•  Mums for Lungs 

•  Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School

•  London Living Streets: (report provided and additional submission enclosed)

•  Fossil Free Southwark

•  The Zero Emissions Network (presentation enclosed)

The chair invited Casper and Ella, Eco School Councillors at Judith Kerr Primary, to present. They gave their top priorities for tackling air quality and improving the environment. These include ending single use plastic in school. They are also working to understand air pollution and educating their classmates. Monitors have been put up at school to measure nitrogen dioxide. They are looking at journeys to school, most of which are by walking. Once the results of the monitoring are back they intend to look at more ways to lower pollution, and this will include  stopping cars and tracks going past, planting more trees and plants, and teaching parents about the dangers of air pollution. 

Dr Ian Mudway, senior lecture at the School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences at King's College London provided a presentation. The Commission was then invited to ask questions. Points raised included:

-  The impact on major highways of‘ Low Traffic neighbourhoods’ and how much traffic moves elsewhere or evaporates

-  The extent of internal air pollution

-  The success of regulation to tackle air pollution versus behaviour change. California chose regulation with scrappage schemes, taxations and banning substances. It now no longer has a diesel problem

Southwark Council officers Sarah Newman, Business Unit Manger Environmental Health & Trading Standards, and Jin Lin, Deputy Director of Public Health, then provided a presentation on Southwark Air Quality action plan.

This was followed by verbal and written presentations and reports from:

•  Mums for Lungs 

•  Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School

•  London Living Streets: (report provided and additional written submission)

•   Fossil Free Southwark

•  The Zero Emissions Network (presentation)