Air Quality and Public Health. Reflections from Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham

Transcription

1 Air Quality and Public Health Reflections from Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham ADPH and LEDNET - 3 rd March 2017 Steve Shaffelburg, Strategic Public Health Advisor Muge Dindjer-Policy and Scrutiny Manager

2 Reflection #1 Poor air quality is universally viewed as a public health problem but not necessarily as one that Public Health is leading.

3 Reflection #2 Public Health will be welcomed with open arms but only if we bring something to table (and another publication or conference isn t the answer)

4 Reflection #3 Translating Proportionate Universalism into action People living with heart disease and chronic conditions (GAP NHS Initiative 2016) School children (Travel Plans)

5 Reflection #4 Public Health s expertise in behaviour change comes in handy LBHF s Resident Panel on AQ, 2016

6 Reflection #5 And so does our funding but how do we leverage more gain?

7 Reflection #6 Acting Like a Champion isn t just a Public Health responsibility From RBKC s Air Quality and Climate Change Action Plan : 1. Reduce emissions 2. Reduce exposure and increase resilience 3. Influence change by Acting as a champion and lead by example in tackling poor air quality and climate change

8 Reflection #7 We haven t cracked the top line health message yet but it definitely isn t 6.7% of annual all-cause adult mortality is attributable to anthropogenic (human-made) particulate air pollution (measured as fine particulate matter, PM2.5*)

9 Reflection #8 ADPHs can kick some doors open but which ones?

10 Air Quality Task Group Muge Dindjer-Policy and Scrutiny Manager ADPH and LEDNET - 3 rd March 2017

11 Why are we doing this? 25% of residents (aged 16 and over) say that pollution is one of the main things they like the least about living in their local area 1. This is the top concern over cost of living/housing (21%), noise (21%) and traffic congestion (20%). Over time those saying that poor air quality is a very or fairly big problem has gone from 13% in 2011 to 26% in According to our latest residents survey, carried out in September 2016

12 Our approach to effective scrutiny Citizen Focused Impact Critical Friend Evidenceinformed

13 Critical-friend

14 Terms of Reference for the Air Quality Task Group To further develop understanding To identify additional steps that can be taken To inform the review of the Air Quality Action Plan

15 Collaborating with Partners Kings College London: Professor Frank Kelly The GLA: Presenting evidence and scrutiny co signed consultation response Transport for London: Presenting evidence to Task Group and attending residents society meeting Developers: Hosted tour of new development and presented evidence to task group Local campaigner from Marylebone Residents Forum: Residents perspective and action and challenge to us Residents Association meeting: Triggered by Task Group Engaging with Public Health Getting it on the agenda of Directors: Hearing the evidence directly form academic experts

16 Progress to Date Evidence review commissioned from Kings College London - evidence sessions focused on: Emissions from buildings Emissions from Transport Health impacts Visit to state of the art refurbishment at St James s Market to see environmental standards in action Excellent collaboration with the Cabinet Member Responses from the public via Open Forum on our website and residents society meeting

17 Shared Values A desire to do more to protect communities A desire to select action based on evidence of what works (but limited evaluation) An acknowledgment of the need for multi layered action- top down and bottom up An understanding of the roles different partners can play e.g. academia to provide independent evidence review to make recommendations more robust

18 What has facilitated the collaboration? Political will on the executive and scrutiny sides of the Council Existing good relationships with the Estates in Westminster/Business Community- not taking place in a vacuum Air Quality demands action and evidence across the board- distinct roles for The Council The Mayor and TfL The private sector Communities

19 Challenges Finding a niche for scrutiny/the Council in a very crowded market place Limited resources- and staff- our research collaboration with Kings was very good value for money Westminster City Council already a brand leader- how do we do more? Challenges for Public Health pan London Ø Work with Mayor/TfL- open door Ø Provide evidence base Ø Engage with health partners re AQ messages into pathways

20 Potential Outcomes Currently writing report summarising evidence and with recommendations for Council (including public health), Mayor, government, employers and communities Presenting recommendations to cabinet They will inform the review of our Air Quality Action Plan Evidence review should give us the confidence to be bold Anticipate bigger role for the Council including a leadership role, business, more communications, more lobbying and communities taking action themselves to mitigate and stop contributing to the problem

21 Learning A huge amount of evidence- constant new reports difficult to keep abreast of Early collaboration with key stakeholders vital to smooth the path for your recommendations Academia want to engage with local government- be ambitious The process of carrying out the review has itself engaged key partners More learning once results are known