The Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee met on Thursday 18 July 2024 to discuss the council's environmental strategy and approve an updated Air Quality Action Plan. Key decisions included the re-procurement of an environmental enforcement contract and the adoption of the new Air Quality Action Plan, despite some public consultation responses indicating a lack of concern about air quality.

Delivering Ambitious for Sutton

The committee received an overview of the Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee's responsibilities and priorities for the upcoming year, as outlined in the Delivering Ambitious for Sutton report. This report detailed the committee's oversight of services including parks, waste management, environmental health, parking, highways, and wellbeing services. Key priorities for the year ahead include progressing work on climate action, including the development of a climate portfolio, and the procurement of a new parking enforcement contract. On the highways front, flood alleviation schemes and tackling air quality through an action plan were highlighted. The report also mentioned the ongoing refurbishment of the depot at Thrayfield Lane and the development of a new cultural strategy.

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq questioned the adequacy of the Department for Transport (DfT) funding for road maintenance, noting that while £7.1 million was allocated over 10 years, it would not be enough to address the existing backlog. Councillor Paul Cole inquired about the timeline for installing electric vehicle (EV) charging points, with officers indicating that the procurement process was ongoing and delivery would likely extend into the next year. Concerns were raised about the affordability of EV charging for residents. Councillor Nick Mattey raised questions about the council's recycling rates and the amount spent on waste incineration, suggesting that a significant portion of the waste being burned might be recyclable.

Approval of the Air Quality Action Plan

The committee approved the London Borough of Sutton's Air Quality Action Plan for 2024-2029. This plan sets out the steps the council will take to improve air quality, a legal requirement reviewed every five years. The plan was developed following a public consultation, which received over 730 responses.

During the discussion, Councillor Tony Shields expressed strong disagreement with the plan, citing that 87% of respondents to the consultation indicated they were not concerned about air quality in Sutton. He argued that the council was ignoring public opinion and suggested the £2.2 million allocated for the plan could be better spent on road maintenance. David Kingstone, Team Leader for Licensing and Environmental Compliance, explained that the plan was a legal requirement and that even where air quality meets national objectives, there can still be adverse health impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations.

Councillor Isabel Araujo questioned the source of the data indicating an air quality problem, and David Kingstone explained that monitoring stations and modelled data were used. He also noted that while air quality has improved over the last five years, this improvement was partly due to the impact of COVID-19. Councillor Christopher Woolmer, Chair of the committee, asked about the borough's progress towards World Health Organisation (WHO) levels for PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide. David Kingstone confirmed that while the borough was broadly compliant with national objectives, it did not meet the WHO's ultimate objective for PM2.5.

A proposal by Councillor Tony Shields to shelve the report and conduct a fresh public consultation was put to a vote but was not carried. The committee then voted to approve the revised Air Quality Action Plan.

Environmental Enforcement Services

The committee agreed to re-procure a waste environmental enforcement contract on an income share basis for a period of three years, with a one-year extension option. This decision follows a successful three-year pilot programme that has seen reductions in fly-tipping and littering.

Paul Brockwell, Interim Head of Waste, Street Cleansing and Enforcement, presented the report, highlighting that prior to the pilot, fly-tipping had increased by 30% by the end of 2021. The partnership with an environmental enforcement provider since 2022 has resulted in a 16% reduction in fly-tipping and a 69% reduction in littering reports in some areas.

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq asked about a break clause in the contract and the percentage of revenue the council would receive. It was clarified that the new contract would not include an annual break clause and that the council would receive approximately 15% of the income generated, after the contractor's overheads. Councillor Tony Shields raised concerns about the appeals process for enforcement actions, and it was explained that a robust complaints procedure, including a three-stage council process and the option to go to the Ombudsman, would be in place.

Councillor Nick Mattey inquired about the potential for expanding the service to cover other environmental crimes such as graffiti and fly-posting, and it was noted that while this is a possibility for the future, it is not part of the immediate re-procurement. Concerns were also raised about the prosecution of major fly-tippers, with officers confirming that investigations and prosecutions had occurred, though organised crime groups can be difficult to pursue.

The recommendation to re-procure the contract on an income share basis was carried.