Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised that all councils had a statutory responsibility to assess the present and future air quality of their area in relation to the requirements of the National Air Quality Strategy and identify the main sources of the pollutants affecting air quality. The main types of pollutant affecting the air quality in North West Leicestershire are particulates and nitrogen dioxide.  He highlighted that to meet these responsibilities the Council had a published Air Quality Strategy and as a result of assessing the pollutants there were currently 5 declared AQMAs for the exceedance of NO?.

He stated that each year the Council was required to publish an annual status report (ASR) to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the template Local Authorities were expected to follow for the report was provided in a Government technical guidance, with the overall aim of the document to report on progress in achieving reductions in concentrations of emissions relating to relevant pollutants below air quality objective levels. He added that the information contained in the ASR was based on last year’s monitoring and modelling data.

He informed Members that since changes were required to two of the AQMA’s Cabinet was asked to approve the annual status report for submission to DEFRA and to agree to amend the Coalville air quality management area and revoke the M1 air quality management area.

He outlined that apart from the statutory work, the council also worked closely with Public Health at Leicestershire County Council, in particular, officers attend a steering group and workshops to support the work of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) within its air quality chapter with the purpose of improving air quality and its impact on health. An Action Plan for the JSNA was due to go to LCC Committee in June 2020.

He advised that the council also worked with internal teams to assist with the implementation and development of the health and well-being strategy action plan and the carbon neutral agenda. He noted the all member workshop and briefing on 20 January with Etude which woudl set out the short, medium and long term actions.

He hoped to provide Cabinet with an update on the wider and non-statutory air quality work and that an update report on the wider air quality work would  be presented to Community Scrutiny in 3 months and then Cabinet.

Councillor R Blunt stated that it was an issues that was getting higher on priority lists and that the Council needed to be seen as being on the front foot.

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The annual status report for submission to DEFRA be approved

2.   The amendment to the Coalville Air Quality Management Area be agreed

3.    The revocation of the M1 Air Quality Management Area be approved

4.    The Community Scrutiny recommendations be noted and a review and further report to Cabinet on the need for additional capacity for air quality functions in the district be agreed

Reason for decision: Compliance with Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1995