LGA issues recommendations for tackling urgent risks from air pollution, reiterates concern about underfunding of regulatory services

The Local Government Association has raised concerns again over the underfunding of regulatory services and the challenge of absorbing new regulatory duties without the ability to recruit more staff in its recent recommendations to the government on air pollution.

The LGA also said the Government “must act now” to tackle air pollution and lamented the "impossible position" it says councils are in when it comes to meeting their statutory duties on air quality.

The call comes as part of the LGA’s response to the revised draft of the National Air Pollution Control Programme, which sets out measures and analysis for how emission reduction commitments can be met across the UK.

In its statement on the revised draft of the National Air Pollution Control Programme, the LGA said new air quality enforcement responsibilities for councils must be supported with additional resources, “and we want to work with government on longer term plans that will place regulatory services on a financially stable footing and address the shortage of skilled staff”.

Revision of the National Air Pollution Control Programme was triggered because certain types of pollution may be at risk of exceeding agreed upper limits set for 2025 and 2030 (NH3 ammonia, NOx, SOx and PM2.5).

The major sources of pollution are agriculture, industry, road transport, domestic appliances and domestic burning, according to the programme.

"Given the seriousness of the situation, government must act now to tackle these sources of pollution," the LGA said.

It added: "Councils are a key partner in reducing air pollution, but they are in the impossible position of trying to meet their statutory duties on air quality with few levers over the sources."

A number of recommendations were made by the LGA, including a call for the implementation of the new air quality enforcement powers for local authorities set out in the Environment Act. The powers remain to be implemented as further consultation and secondary legislation is required.

"Defra should provide an updated timetable for the implementation of air quality measures set out in the Environment Act," the LGA added.

On transport, the LGA said that the Department for Transport, Defra, and HM Treasury should "rebalance" policy set out in the Net Zero Plan to recognise the importance of local authorities' role in supporting the shift from cars as well as the shift from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles.

The LGA also highlighted the Government's Net Zero Strategy and Heat and Building Strategy, and recommended the Government bring forward the £3.8 billion Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Alongside this, the LGA recommended bringing forward the implementation of the Future Homes and Future Buildings Standards "to ensure that developers do not build to older efficiency standards for longer than necessary".

An effort to empower the local planning system to ensure that developers build new homes that are energy efficient and net zero was also recommended.

The LGA meanwhile suggested the development of a communication 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.

You can read the full statement, including all recommendations made to the Government, by clicking here.

Adam Carey