Agenda item

This report seeks approval for the adoption of the Air Quality Action Plan as well as approval for the Air Quality Management Area Order, which extends the AQMA to cover the whole borough.

Members are asked to note that due to their file size the eight appendices listed in the report have been published as a separate pack to the main agenda.

Cabinet RESOLVED

(1)    To note the Air Quality Action Plan (2023-2027) actions.

(2)    To agree the Action Plan can be published as final (as detailed within Appendix A of the report).

(3)    To approve the Air Quality Management Area Order (as detailed within Appendix E of the report).

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 18 December 23

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment. Infrastructure and Climate Action) introduced a report setting out for adoption Brent’s Air Quality Action Plan 2023 – 27.

In considering the report, members began by recognising the significant problems created by air pollution and commitment to taking action to improve air quality and raise awareness of its impact, particularly on the most vulnerable residents.  In order to focus these efforts, Cabinet was advised that the 2023-27 Air Quality Action Plan contained 37 measures designed (working in partnership with key stakeholders) to reduce levels of the main air pollutants.  These measure included 16 priority actions developed, following an extensive community outreach and consultation process, under 5 main themes as detailed within the Action Plan included as Appendix A to the main report, with the core aims being to reduce pollution concentrations as quickly as possible (striving to meet World Health Organisation guidelines); to raise awareness of the health impacts of air pollution and address health inequalities; and to influence change leading by example and working with strategic partners.

Members were advised that the updated Air Quality Action Plan had been approved by the GLA and had also been subject to detailed consideration by the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) in October 2023, with the actions identified to improve air quality also supporting a range of key Council policies within the Borough Plan, Inclusive Growth Strategy, Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Brent’s Long Term Transport Strategy, Local Plan and Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.

In recognising the action being taken to reduce air pollution and improve air quality as critical to addressing wider inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing for communities across Brent, members thanked officers for the work undertaken to develop the Action Plan and welcomed the engagement with health partners through the HWB in reinforcing their key role in supporting delivery of the key measures, on which it was noted implementation which would continue to be monitored.  Whilst highlighting the need for significant Government investment to support the action required it was felt the approach adopted by the Council within the Action Plan demonstrated the positive impact that could be made locally in seeking to improve air quality and raise awareness of the associated health impacts with reference made to various initiatives such as the introduction of Green Neighbourhoods, programme of School Streets schemes and ongoing work to discourage engine idling around schools, delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and work to lobby for and encourage a wider programme of active travel including walking and cycling routes with partners such as TfL.  Members also recognised the coordinated nature of the wider strategic approach being developed which included, as an example, use of relevant planning policies and Brent’s Sustainable Environment and Development Supplementary Planning Document.

Members also commended the extent of community engagement and consultation undertaken in seeking to inform development of the updated Action Plan (as detailed in section 4 of the report) which it was noted had been designed to ensure the core aims and actions clearly reflected resident priorities.

Having recognised the importance in seeking to improve air quality and reduce pollution across the borough as a means of addressing the associated health and wellbeing and wider environmental impacts and supporting the extension of Brent’s Air Quality Management Area to cover the entire borough, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note and endorse for adoption the Air Quality Action Plan (2023-2027) and actions.

(2)    To agree the Action Plan can be published as final (as detailed within Appendix A of the report).

(3)    To approve the Air Quality Management Area Order (as detailed within Appendix E of the report).