Agenda item

To inform the Joint Public Protection Committee (JPPC) of the submission and results of the annual air quality reports for Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Councils. These reports are for the monitoring data and action planning update for the calendar year 2023.

To inform the JPPC that the annual air quality report for Wokingham Borough Council has also been submitted and the results received and passed on to Wokingham Borough Council in accordance with the shared service arrangements effective from the 1 April 2022.

The Committee considered the report (Agenda Item 9) which informed Members of the submission and results of the annual air quality reports for Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Councils. The reports covered the monitoring data and action planning update for the calendar year 2023.

The Committee was also advised that the annual air quality report for Wokingham Borough Council had also been submitted and the results passed to them, which was in accordance with the shared service arrangements effective from 1 April 2022.

The annual reports were submitted to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Air quality improvements had been made and some Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) had been revoked. Within Bracknell Forest, the Crowthorne AQMA remained in place as did another for Wokingham.

DEFRA had provided commentary on the reports and this was largely positive. As well as the revocation of some AQMAs, the Crowthorne AQMA had been reviewed and updated.

There were no AQMAs within West Berkshire, however monitoring activity still took place.

In conclusion, air quality across the three local authorities was good.

In terms of next steps, the published AQMA for Crowthorne needed to be implemented and the West Berkshire Council Air Quality Strategy development had commenced. The latter document would need to be developed alongside other strategies and plans, and would be produced in consultation with the Director of Public Health.

Councillor Howard Woollaston queried why reference was made to the Wokingham report when they were not within the Public Protection Partnership (PPP). Sean Murphy, Service Lead – Public Protection, noted the point but explained that it was to highlight this joint area of work which was part of the shared service arrangements with Wokingham Borough Council.

Councillor Justin Pemberton queried the time period for the Crowthorne AQMA (2024-2029). Damian James, Assistant Director – Contract Services, explained that this was set by DEFRA. However, he added that officers were working on a number of actions to improve the issue with the hope that the AQMA could be revoked prior to 2029. Improvements were already being made in Crowthorne.

Councillor Pemberton queried progress being made with anti-idling campaigns. Mr Murphy described work being undertaken, particularly in the vicinity of key premises such as schools. Pollution levels in those locations were found to be in a good place, but work continued to publicise the benefits of anti-idling. Mr James added that PPP officers worked with parking enforcement in Bracknell Forest to help encourage drivers to switch off their engines around schools and other key locations. Councillor Mary Temperton expressed thanks for the improvements made on anti-idling by taxi drivers.

Mr Murphy explained that work to reduce pollution went beyond vehicle emissions. He gave the example of wood burning and explained that controls were in place for the sale of wood for this purpose.

RESOLVED that:

·       The Committee had been informed about the contents of the two Air Quality Annual Status Reports for Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Council.

·       The Committee had been informed about the feedback from DEFRA on the reports.

·       The Committee had been informed about the progress made on the measures to improve air quality set out in each report.

·       The ongoing and planned future measures to improve air quality be approved as set out in each report.

·       The Committee had been informed that the Air Quality Status Report produced by the PPP on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council had been submitted to DEFRA and feedback received, with both passed to the authority for processing under their governance arrangements.