Councillor Ewan Tomeny moved and Councillor Ed Lamb seconded a motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 13.

In moving the motion, Councillor Tomeny confirmed he was happy to accept the amendments proposed by all three other groups as follows:

As moved by Councillor Liz Grey and seconded by Councillor Gill Wood, to insert additional paragraph after paragraph 7:

‘Council welcomes that fact that Wirral officers have successfully secured £171,000 of DEFRA funding to engage with residents in campaigns aimed at developing understanding and behaviour that will improve Air Quality in Wirral. This included a very successful workshop with interested stakeholders and experts from across the region held in Wirral earlier this year.’

As moved by Councillor Andrew Gardner and seconded by Councillor Jenny Johnson, to insert an additional paragraph at the end as follows:

‘To further safeguard against adverse effects of air pollution, Council resolves to continue monitoring air quality across the borough and bring a report back to the relevant committee within the guidance of committee terms of reference.’

As moved by Councillor Stuart Kelly and seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, to insert ‘as means to tackle health inequalities within the Borough’ after ‘Wirral Plan’ in the penultimate paragraph.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 9.1, the Council did not debate the matter, and it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That

Health inequalities on Wirral are substantial, deeply rooted, and in many cases, worsening.

The 2022/2023 Wirral Plan Refresh underscores that health inequalities within our borough remain ‘stubbornly persistent’, and outlines addressing them as a key priority for the upcoming year.[1]

Health inequalities are caused by a web of many complex factors. One such factor is poor air quality, as recognised in the Wirral 2023 Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) published this June.[2] The report additionally recognises how air pollution disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in our communities, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions. Considering our commitment to reducing the significant health inequalities on Wirral, it is vital that we proactively pursue strategies able to mitigate contributing factors to these disparities.

In Bidston St James, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead & Tranmere, and Seacombe the number of deaths from respiratory diseases is over twice the expected rate based on national data.[3] On Wirral, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a respiratory condition linked to both air pollution levels and income,[4] is more prevalent compared to the rest of England. However, the Wirral COPD burden is not spread evenly, with the rate of emergency hospital admissions in Seacombe five times higher than in Heswall.[5]

Last year, Wirral Council undertook monitoring of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) at 56 sites across the borough.[2] These monitoring sites encompassed roadside and kerbside detection, and sensors outside of seven schools. At one-third of the 43 sites with comparative data from 2021, NO₂ levels had increased, while just one of the 56 sites met World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines (10 µg/m3 for annual average NO₂ levels).[6] Four out of five sensors placed at schools also showed an increase in NO₂ levels compared to 2021. Furthermore, PM_2.5 (particulate matter which causes a range of diseases) has seen no overall reduction between 2018 and 2022 and remains above WHO guidelines.[6] 

Currently, the 'Wirral Plan 2022/23 Refresh' document does not make any explicit mention or reference to air quality.

Council welcomes that fact that Wirral officers have successfully secured £171,000 of DEFRA funding to engage with residents in campaigns aimed at developing understanding and behaviour that will improve Air Quality in Wirral. This included a very successful workshop with interested stakeholders and experts from across the region held in Wirral earlier this year.

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to include air quality considerations in the refreshed Wirral Plan as means to tackle health inequalities within the Borough to be presented to P & R in November 2023, taking into account the recommendations and priorities detailed in the Wirral Air Quality Annual Status Report.

Furthermore, in alignment, with the Council’s commitments to reduce health inequalities and safeguard against the adverse effects of air pollution, Council supports the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines as long-term targets, and requests that the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee consider the adoption and implementation of these as part of its work programme.

To further safeguard against adverse effects of air pollution, Council resolves to continue monitoring air quality across the borough and bring a report back to the relevant committee within the guidance of committee terms of reference.

1:https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/documents/s50091567/Enc.%203%20for%20Wirral%20Plan%20Update.pdf

2: https://www.wirral.gov.uk/files/wbc036-wirral-air-quality-annual-status-report-2023.pdf

3: https://www.localhealth.org.uk/

4: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31285306/

5: https://wirral.communityinsight.org/

6: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228