A motion which aims to tackle air quality problems across Sutton has been voted through by councillors – but not before tensions rose during the debate between the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties.
The move seeks to get the council to commit to reviewing its own 2013 air quality plan if certain limits are breached following its implementation.
Conservative Worcester Park councillor Tom Drummond, who proposed the motion, highlighted data which apparently shows the air breathed by residents in Central Road broke aspired pollution targets 75 percent of the time.
He insisted the move was not about air quality but about failure, adamant Sutton’s current strategy is not working as first intended.
Cllr Tom Drummond
But it was later slammed as being “poorly researched” and “technically weak” by Liberal Democrat councillor Mo Saqib, who’s day job is in zero emissions technology.
He pointed to several apparent weaknesses - such as specific terms used, certain means being measured, and the Government’s legal battles over air quality breaches.
Among the huge raft of amendments made by both him and Worcester Park councillor Drew Heffernan, the term oxides of nitrogen (NOX) was replaced with nitrogen dixode (NO2), and instead of a full review of the air quality action plan there would be inquiries into what caused the spikes.
Any inspections would also be dependent on the Government's clean air strategy, alongside "any further statutory obligations placed upon the council".
Mr Saqib, of the Beddington South ward, said: “The Conservatives have no moral high ground when it comes to tackling air pollution. In the last three years the Government has been sued three times by the environmental legal NGO [non-profit organisation] ClientEarth.
“Of the three times, the court ruled in favour of ClientEarth and against the Government – i.e., the Government’s air quality plan each time were ruled to be inadequate in various ways.
“Councillor Drummond says it’s a failure on the part of the council, it’s a failure on the part of the Conservative government.
“He said it’s a dereliction of duty by the council, it’s a dereliction of duty by the Conservative government.”
Cllr Mo Saqib
Debating ensued from both parties before Mr Drummond revealed the amendments were made just minutes before the council meeting itself, which started at 7pm.
After stating the Lib Dems didn't want a "serious debate" about air quality in Sutton, he added: “You didn’t take councillor [Richard] Clare’s advice and you played party politics, so we will not be accepting them.”
Councillors soon moved to vote, though opposition leader Tim Crowley said they would not vote for or against – asserting their motion had been reduced “to a laughing stock”.
The council’s deputy leader councillor Jayne McCoy then claimed the Tories were guilty of handing out amendments on previous motions when a meeting had already started.
She said: “I should be clear that we were still drafting this amendment about half an hour before we got here because we had to get clarification on the details.
“It’s perfectly legal to produce an amendment and it’s in the constitution that you can table an amendment right up until a council meeting.”
The air quality motion was voted through at full council on Monday, November 12, with the proposed amendments also being carried over.
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