Issue details

Part IV Section 82 of the Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality within their areas. This involves comparing the measured or predicted pollutant levels against national air quality standards and objectives prescribed in regulations for the purpose of local air quality management (LAQM). 

LAQM is a statutory process through which local authorities monitor, assess, and act to improve local air quality, as set by the Environment Act 1995.

Local authorities are required to submit an annual status report (ASR) each year, including monitoring data, to the Secretary of State. The ASR aims to report on progress in meeting air quality objectives and identify new or changing sources of emissions. The ASR should be made available to the public, typically on the relevant local authority’s website.

The ASR for 2025 (reporting on air quality during the calendar year 2024) was submitted to and subsequently approved by DEFRA. 

The decision is therefore being made to formally adopt the ASR and publish the ASR on the Council’s website, in accordance with the Council’s statutory obligations in relation to LAQM.