Agenda item

The report of the Director – Neighbourhoods is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)               the existing Smoke Control Area coverage remains unchanged for a period of two years, at which time it will be reviewed; and

b)               the development and delivery of a public awareness campaign around domestic burning be approved.

Having declared an interest, Councillor Brennan took no part in the debate and voting on this item.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Inglis presented the report of the Director – Neighbourhoods, which detailed the review of the Smoke Control Areas.

Councillor Inglis stated that in 2022, the Government proposed a new legally binding target to reduce levels by 2040, focusing on reducing the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which caused the most harm to human health, and that the national Air Quality Strategy expected all local authorities to effectively use their new powers to reduce PM2.5 emissions from sources within their control.

Councillor Inglis confirmed that the Communities Scrutiny Group considered a report in October 2023, outlining a public consultation on revised Smoke Control Areas within the Borough, with four options. The Group chose the option to revoke the existing Smoke Control Orders and sought to declare the whole Borough as a Smoke Control Area, as defined in the Environment Act 2021. A public consultation was held, with 80% of the 1,206 responders in disagreement with the option to extend the current Smoke Control Area to cover the whole Borough, with the reasons detailed in paragraph 4.6 of the report. Cabinet noted that the main reasons provided by the 20% of respondents who did agree with the proposal were the need to improve air quality, health reasons and quality of life.

Councillor Inglis stated that the Council had listened to those concerns, balancing them with the positive responses and the requirements of the Act and was proposing that any decision to change the current Smoke Control Areas should be postponed for a further two years, to allow for a public awareness campaign and for people to start making plans and changes that would be required in the future. It was acknowledged that the Council was at risk of criticism from DEFRA; however, Rushcliffe was largely rural, outside of the current zone, with any risk to public health greatly diminished given the highest risk was in areas of poor deprivation and high urban density. Councillor Inglis concluded by thanking residents who had responded to the consultation and trusted that they were assured that their concerns and opinions had all been considered.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor J Wheeler thanked all those who had responded to the consultation and stated that the Council had recognised that this was not the right time to change current arrangements. The Council would need to work with residents living in rural areas, to see how they could be helped and it was important to recognise the differing needs of those communities and that some could not afford to change things at the moment.

The Leader agreed that it had been helpful to have a large response from the consultation and that the recommendation reflected the majority view of those residents.

Councillor Upton stated that the recommendation allowed time for reflection and to consult again. He referred to the diversity of the Borough, that one option might not be suitable for all and a compromise might be required.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)               the existing Smoke Control Area coverage remains unchanged for a period of two years, at which time it will be reviewed; and

b)               the development and delivery of a public awareness campaign around domestic burning be approved.