Blog: 16 September 2022 - Helen Edwards, LLG President

Those of you who follow environmental issues closely may be aware that the government has been consulting over the summer on its revised draft of the National Air Pollution Control Programme. The consultation closed on 4^th September, and the revised draft is due to be published later this year.

It should be of concern to all of us that the revision was triggered because certain types of pollution are at risk of exceeding upper agreed limits set for 2025 and 2030. The sources of that pollution are wide ranging, touching on almost every aspect of daily life, and are identified in the programme as being agriculture, industry, road transport, domestic appliances and domestic burning. The programme sets out measures and analysis for how emission reduction commitments can be met.

The LGA has published its response to the revised draft, which can be accessed here: Defra consultation on the revised Draft National Air Pollution Control Programme – Response from the LGA | Local Government Association

The LGA has stated that given the seriousness of the situation, the government must act now to tackle these sources of pollution, and it recognises that “Councils are a key partner in reducing air pollution”.

However, the LGA continues to express its concern about the difficulty councils will have in absorbing new regulatory duties given the continued underfunding of regulatory services, and also with few levers over the sources of pollution. New air quality enforcement measures are set out in the Environment Act, which is not yet implemented, and the LGA is asking Defra for an updated timetable for the implementation of these measures. It also wants these responsibilities to be supported by a broader package of measures that support manufacturers, retailers and consumers to switch to cleaner fuels and tackle air borne pollution at source, with enforcement action seen as a last resort.

It is worth reading the revised programme and the LGA’s response to it, which sets out clearly where it considers that greater clarity is needed from central government, and where it should provide additional support to Councils to enable them to meet the duties that are being placed with them. The LGA is also helpfully suggesting the development of a communications and incentivisation programme with local government to engage with social housing landlords and tenants, private rented sector landlords and tenants and owner occupiers on the need for fabric energy efficiency retrofit and the transition to heat pumps.

This is an issue that is likely to be high on the list of priorities for many of our elected members, and it is worth getting up to speed on the issues before the revised NAPC programme is issued. It is also worth considering in your own authorities how you will meet the new enforcement duties that are coming your way.

Our Energy and Environment Conference on 21^st October will include discussions around a variety of environmental issues, including weaving green objectives into the business as usual for local authorities, delivering decentralised energy solutions, and mitigating the risk of claims arising as a result of climate change.