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 to produce an Annual Status Report 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 Air Quality Action Plan relevant to Broxtowe’s direct actions is now included into the Air Quality Strand of the Climate Change and Green Futures Action Plan 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. Cabinet will be advised of the feedback received from DEFRA later in the year.

RESOLVED that the Air Quality Status Report 2024 and the Updated Action Plan, be approved.

Reason

Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 sets out statutory provisions on air quality. Section 82 provides that Councils shall review the air quality within their area. Section 83 requires Councils to designate Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) where air quality objectives are not being achieved, or are not likely to be achieved (i.e. where pollution levels exceed the air quality objectives) as set Cabinet 25 July 2023 out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000.