Issue - meetings

To advise Members of the latest Air Quality Status Report which has been submitted to the Department of Food Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Each year, DEFRA requires all local authorities in England produce an Annual Status Report (ASR) in respect of air quality. The production of an ASR is intended to aid local transparency, increase accessibility of air quality to the wider public audience and encourage buy-in to delivering air quality improvement measures by those best placed to assist. The format of the report is specified by DEFRA.  The annual bias corrections used in the report are not usually available until at least the end of April each year, and the required information from Nottinghamshire County Council is not available until June.

The Air Quality Action Plan relevant to Broxtowe’s direct actions is now included into the Natural Environment Strand of the Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy and updated there accordingly.  Broxtowe’s ASRs are approved by the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change and the Director of Public Health before submission.

RESOLVED that the Air Quality Status Report and the updated Action Plan be approved.

Reason

The actions outlined in the air quality status report, support and reinforce the programme of activities identified in the Climate Change and Green Futures Strategy and delivery programme. These actions have already contributed to favourable environmental outcomes, such as the improvement of air quality, the reduction of carbon emissions and a contribution towards mitigating the worst impacts of climate change. Moreover, future actions resulting from Local Air Quality Management in Broxtowe Borough will continue to deliver beneficial results in the future.