Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Environment and Resident Experience. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport introduced the report.

The Cabinet member explained that the proposed Air Quality Action Plan set out measures to improve air quality in Haringey between 2025 and 2030. This Action Plan would replace the Council’s third plan (2019–2024), published in 2019. It was explained that Haringey remained committed to making the borough a better place to live and work. Air quality affected everyone living and working in the borough and was therefore an integral part of this vision.

The Cabinet Member explained that there were a number of initiatives already in place to improve air quality both London-wide and locally, and that these had been working well. The Council intended to build on these initiatives to further encourage active travel, implement transport improvements, reduce emissions from new developments, and reduce exposure for residents. It was explained that the proposed Action Plan outlined how the Council would work together to meet national air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO?) and PM10. It was stressed that the Council recognised that this could not be achieved alone and took a partnership approach, both across Haringey and with adjoining boroughs.

Haringey had previously been awarded Cleaner Air Borough Status by the Greater London Authority (GLA), which meant the borough met the following principles: political leadership, taking action, leading by example, using the planning system, informing the public, and integrating air quality into the public health system. While the GLA no longer awarded Clean Air Borough Status to individual boroughs, these principles and examples of best practice continued to be incorporated into the action plan.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr das Neves and Cllr Connor, the following information was shared:

• It was asked what the impact of the Air Quality Action Plan would be on resident experience and what the expected achievements of the plan would be. It was explained that the Council wanted to ensure that residents had the ability to help in tackling climate change was accessible to residents, including behaviour and information sharing programmes were included to ensure accessibility. It was highlighted that the Council was working collaboratively with other teams, including the public health team and schools’ team to ensure that there was a joined-up approach to tackling air pollutions issues and reduce preventative deaths due to poor air quality.
  
  
• It was explained that the Council undertook traffic assessments for School Streets to ensure that the other adjacent roads would not become dangerous. It was additionally explained that the Council was undertaking consultation work to understand the impact upon the road network to ensure a positive scheme.
  
  
• It was explained that the KPIs of the Air Quality Action Plan were reported on annually.
  
  

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Noted the content of the draft Air Quality Action Plan.
   
   
2. Agreed to consult on the Draft AQAP 2025–2030 in accordance with the consultation plan.
   
   
3. Delegated the sign-off of the Final AQAP, following public consultation, to the Director of Environment and Resident Experience, and the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport.
   
   

Reasons for Decision

1. Haringey had been declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) by the Council in 2001, due to air quality levels for nitrogen dioxide (NO?) and particulate matter (PMs) exceeding statutory limits. Haringey’s Annual Air Quality Report showed that national, regional and local programmes had helped reduce the number and concentration levels of air pollutants. Despite this progress, several areas of the borough still failed to meet UK Air Quality Standards—and no areas met the WHO Standards.
   
   
2. Under Part 4 of the Environment Act 1995, Haringey was required to provide an AQAP to address areas of poor air quality identified within the AQMA, with a specific duty to monitor and work towards reducing NO?, NO?, PM10, and PM2.5.
   
   
3. NO? was produced by burning fuel, with road transport and gas boilers (domestic and commercial) identified as the primary sources in Haringey.
   
   
4. PMs consisted of soot, dust, and other secondary particles formed by reactions in the air. The main sources in the borough included road transport, construction, domestic biomass/wood burning, and resuspension.
   
   
5. The Government identified poor air quality as the UK’s largest environmental risk to public health, attributing an estimated 28,000–36,000 deaths per year to it. Exposure to NO? and PMs was harmful in the following ways:
   1. Short-term exposure worsened pre-existing conditions like asthma and increased the risk of cardiovascular events.
   2. Long-term exposure increased the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia, and led to reduced life expectancy.
   3. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly, very young, those with health conditions, and pregnant individuals, were more affected, even on lower-pollution days.
      
      
6. The Haringey Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2024–2029) highlighted the impact of poor air quality and made it a key objective within the Healthy Place Shaping theme. This, alongside the Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) on air quality, informed the draft AQAP 2025–2030 and illustrated the co-benefits of clean air interventions.
   
   
7. The draft AQAP 2025–2030 replaced the 2019–2024 plan. When preparing the new plan, the Council had a statutory duty to consult with a range of stakeholders, including the Mayor of London.
   
   
8. Cabinet delegated the sign-off of the final AQAP to the Director of Environment and Resident Experience and the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport. This approach was in line with GLA guidance and ensured Haringey fulfilled its duty under the Environment Act 1995.
   
   

Alternative Options Considered

To not undertake an Air Quality Action Plan – This option was not viable, as the development and implementation of an AQAP was a statutory requirement.

To not consult on the Air Quality Action Plan – Also not a viable option. Statutory consultation was required, including engagement with:

• The Secretary of State;
• The Environment Agency;
• Transport for London and the Mayor of London;
• Neighbouring boroughs or district/county councils;
• Other public authorities;
• Local business groups;
• Other relevant stakeholders.

The statute did not define a minimum consultation period, but a 6-week consultation was proposed as standard practice. Other councils had consulted for periods ranging from 4 to 12 weeks.

An online questionnaire via the Commonplace platform was planned, with accessible formats provided. During the consultation period, two community events were proposed to support further stakeholder engagement.