Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report from the Service Development & Support Manager (Waste Management) that provided an update on a report received by the Sub-Committee at its meeting in January 2018.

That report clarified that the government had mandated 29 local authorities,

including 7 districts within Greater Manchester, to undertake comprehensive feasibility studies, assessing a wide range of options, to identify solutions to specific local issues as soon as possible. Oldham was not required to undertake this study, but it had been agreed that all 10 districts in Greater Manchester would be included.

This work had been progressed, led by Transport for Greater Manchester

(TfGM), and in April 2018 Oldham had been identified in a subsequent wave of local authorities at risk of not meeting the nitrogen dioxide pollution levels on specific road links by 2021. A ruling was made that each authority must produce a plan to achieve compliance as soon as possible.

In order to meet the timescales, Oldham’s feasibility study was be restricted to the stretch of road identified in the directive. A shortlist of measures had been drawn up and were being modelled to establish which, if any, would make that stretch of road compliant.

The deadline for submission was the end of July and the Sub-Committee would be updated on progress at its next meeting. An update would also be provided at that meeting on the wider TfGM regional work, for which the deadline was December 2018.

The Sub-Committee received clarification that the Council could bid for funding to implement the proposed measures. How funding would be allocated was not yet clear and an update on this would be provided in future.

The Sub-Committee received clarification on a recent report that indicated planting trees of certain types could reduce pollution. This was a measure that would be considered, as the right trees in the right places could make a significant difference. The dispersal area was approximately four metres, and people walking or living very close to a road were the most affected.

RESOLVED that the Sub-Committee noted the progress made and would receive a further update at its meeting in September.