Issue - meetings

Purpose of the report

For Cabinet to decide whether to approve the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2024-2029.

Decision

That Cabinet approves the Air Quality Action Plan 2024-2029 for implementation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have suggested alterations to the AQAP but felt it was sufficient as presented.

Reasons for the decision

The AQAP published in 2016 was out of date and had to be updated in accordance with statutory requirements.

Since 2013, Grantham had been subject to an AQAP; this was because SKDC declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) encompassing the main roads in the town centre. SKDC was required to update their AQAP every five years; however, in the future if NO₂ levels dropped the AQMA could be revoked. This would be possible only after three consecutive years of levels well below the national air quality objective. There was an annual status report on this issue.

The plan had been subject to consultation and had been accepted by DEFRA on 16 January 2025. Cabinet approval resulted in the statutory obligations of the plan being met.

NO₂ levels were measured in other parts of the District but did not reach the level at which an AQMA was required.