Proposed Government Plan 2022-2025 (P.90/2021): twenty-sixth amendment. Air Quality Monitoring

STATES OF JERSEY

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2022– 2025 (P.90/2021): TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT

AIR QUALITY MONITORING

Lodged au Greffe on 30th November 2021 by the Connétable of St. Brelade

STATES GREFFE

2021  P.90 Amd. (26)

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2022–2025 (P.90/2021): TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (f) –

After the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" insert the words –

",  except  that,  in  Summary  Table  5(i)  the  Head  of  Expenditure  for Infrastructure, Housing and Environment should be increased by £250,000 to fund and implement an air quality monitoring policy to include provision of all necessary equipment".

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (j) –

After the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 9 to the Report" insert the words –

", except that the Climate Emergency Fund should be reduced by £250,000 to fund and implement an air quality monitoring policy to include provision of all necessary equipment"

CONNÉTABLE OF ST. BRELADE

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to receive the Government Plan 2022 – 2025 specified in Article 9(1) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 ("the Law") and specifically –

1. to approve the estimate of total States income to be paid into the Consolidated Fund in 2022 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 to the Report, which is inclusive of the proposed taxation and impôts duties changes outlined in the Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(a) of the Law;
2. to approve the Changes to Approval for financing/borrowing for 2022, as shown in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 to the Report, which may be obtained by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, as and when required, in line with Article 9 (2)(c) of the Law, of up to those revised approvals;
3. to approve the transfers from one States fund to another for 2022 of up to and including the amounts set in Appendix 2 – Summary table 2 to the Report, noting that the transfer from the Consolidated Fund to the Technology Fund is subject to the Assembly's approval of a proposition to create such a Fund in 2022, in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law;

4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2022 and the total cost of each such project and any amendments to the proposed total cost of a major project under a previously approved Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(d), (e) and (f) of the Law and as set out in Appendix 2 - Summary Table 4 to the Report;
5. to endorse the efficiencies and other re-balancing measures for 2022 contained in the Government Plan as set out in Appendix 2 Summary Table  6  and  reflected  within  each  gross  head  of  expenditure  in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 5(i);
6. to  approve  the  proposed  amount  to  be  appropriated  from  the Consolidated Fund for 2022, for each head of expenditure, being gross expenditure less estimated income (if any), in line with Articles 9(2)(g), 10(1) and 10(2) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report, except that, in Summary Table 5(i),the Head of Expenditure for Infrastructure, Housing and Environmentshould be increased by £250,000 to fund and implement an air quality monitoring policy to include provision of all necessary equipment;
7. to approve up to £480 million to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for the Past Service Pension Liabilities Refinancing head of expenditure, subject to the availability of funding, which may include, in full or in part, use of the borrowing/financing referred in paragraph (b);
8. to approve the estimated income, being estimated gross income less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2022 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
9. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2022 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report;
10. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2022 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report, except that the Climate Emergency Fund should be  reduced  by  £250,000  to  fund  and  implement  an  air  qualitymonitoring policy to include provision of all necessary equipment;
11. to approve an amendment to the policy of the Strategic Reserve Fund to enable that Fund to be used as a holding Fund for any or all monies related to the repayment of debt raised through external financing, with the monies used to offset the repayment of debt, as and when required; and
12. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2022-2025, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report.

Page - 3

P.90/2021 Amd. (26)

REPORT

The importance of air quality monitoring cannot be understated as it establishes whether there is an air pollution problem and, if so, assesses the level of the problem. The data collected and analysed can be used to assist in the creation of evidence-based policy. Monitors can be specifically placed in "hotspots" where a high level of pollution is thought (or known) to exist e.g. schools. There is undoubted concern regarding air quality around school where, despite pleas to desist, many cars are kept "idling" at drop off and pick up times compounding the problem.

The response to OQ.39/2019 (asked on 12th February 2019) provides details of the monitoring and reporting of air quality existing at that time and further questions from 2019 to date have elicited information regarding other initiatives.

A programme involving the installation of real-time air quality monitoring in key sites around the Island was instigated in 2019 which included sensors being placed at every school on the Island. Due to unforeseen difficulties this programme has faltered and only 2 real-time monitors remain working out of the 46 installed in schools with little or no prospect of this programme now continuing.

This proposition will provide funding from the Climate Emergency Fund ("the Fund") for a new air monitoring project.  

The Fund was established under the Government Plan 2020-2023 and its Terms of Reference can be found in Appendix 3 of  P.71/2019. The purposes of the Fund include " to support initiatives that respond to the climate emergency, as declared in P.27/2019, and initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants "[in line with adopted future plans or strategies for, inter alia, energy use and management, carbon reduction, sustainable transport approved by the States Assembly including as part of an approved Government Plan]. To use the monies for an air quality project falls within the Funds remit.

Financial and manpower implications

The amendment requests sufficient funding to implement an air quality monitoring policy,  which  will  include  provision  of  all  necessary  equipment.  Therefore,  both financial and manpower requirements are factored into the funding requested by the amendment itself.

Ongoing  monitoring  and  upkeep  of  the  equipment  may  need  to  be  factored  into subsequent Government plans accordingly.