URL: https://democracy.southend.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1554

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment, and Waste

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: Approval of the Essex Air Quality Strategy 2025 and action plan and supporting information document.

Content: That the Essex Air Quality strategy, the action plan and the supporting information document be approved, adopted and formally published. As set out in the decision report. Option 1 (recommended): Agree to adopt and formally publish the Essex Air Quality strategy, and the action plan, as appended to this report. This will be published on the EssexAir website,  (www.essexair.org.uk) on behalf of the Essex Air Quality Consortium, and a link to the strategy will be provided on Southend-on-Sea City Council’s website.    Option 2 (not recommended): Progress with finalising a joint Air Quality Strategy but do not publish or work further with partner organisations on this matter. This risks completing a strategy that does not have full buy in from partner organisations and doesn’t benefit from external visibility.     Option 3 (not recommended): Do not progress any further work on a joint Air Quality Strategy. This would result in considerable abortive work for all the local authorities and partners involved in the development of the strategy to date. Furthermore, without a strategy, the Essex Air Quality Consortium is less likely to be able to benefit from public and private funding opportunities for improving air quality.      Option 4 (not recommended): Do not approve and adopt the Air Quality Strategy. When the Council revoke their Air Quality Management Area’s we will need to produce an Air Quality Strategy as required by the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Regime and in line with Defra’s requirements. This would result in formal consultation and resource implications. 

Date of Decision: March 26, 2026