The Officer Executive Decisions meeting on Friday 15 May 2026 approved the submission of Hackney Council's final Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for 2026-2030 to the Mayor of London for approval. This decision follows a period of consultation and minor amendments to the plan.

Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2030

The meeting resolved to approve the submission of the final version of the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2026-2030 to the Mayor of London for approval. This decision was made using authority delegated by the Cabinet on 26 January 2026, as outlined in Key Decision No. HCE S652.

Hackney Council declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in 2006, which legally requires the production of an action plan to improve air quality. The current AQAP, covering 2021-2025, has now lapsed, necessitating the development of the new AQAP 2026-2030. The development of this plan began in July 2024 and has involved extensive consultation, including a statutory consultation period from July to September 2025.

The report presented to the Officer Executive Decisions detailed minor amendments that were requested by the Mayor of London following the submission of the post-consultation draft. These amendments, affecting actions numbered 2, 3, 4, 11, and 32 within the AQAP Matrix, were considered minor as they did not alter the actions themselves, the policy direction, or the overall spirit of the plan. Instead, they aimed to reduce ambiguity, provide more specificity, or refine targets for progress reporting. Minor updates to supporting evidence in Section 2 of the AQAP were also made to reflect more recent statistics.

The decision to approve the submission of the final AQAP was made in line with the Council's commitment to tackling air pollution, as stated in the Hackney Labour Manifesto, and supports the Mayoral priority to improve quality of life by addressing air pollution. The plan aims to reduce concentrations of key pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), and ozone, acknowledging that while NO₂ levels have decreased, PM concentrations have not shown the same downward trend due to varied sources including non-exhaust traffic emissions, construction, and wood burning.

The report also highlighted that an iterative Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) process has been undertaken throughout the AQAP's development, ensuring that potential impacts on different groups have been considered. The proposed minor amendments were determined to have no material impact on equalities issues. Similarly, the environmental and sustainability implications were appraised, and the amendments were not found to cause any material change to these outcomes.

The Environment Act 1995 (as amended) mandates local authorities to review and assess air quality and designate AQMAs if necessary. In London, the Mayor of London oversees these functions under the London Local Air Quality Management (LLAQM) framework, and final approval of a borough's action plan rests with the Mayor. The AQAP 2026-2030 supports other council strategies, including the Local Plan, Transport Strategy, and Climate Action Plan.

The report also addressed potential risks, including the low risk of the AQAP not being accepted by the Mayor of London due to prior consultation. Risks related to air quality objectives not being met are managed through ongoing review and assessment. Reputational risks associated with failing to adopt an up-to-date AQAP were also noted. Financial implications were considered, with most actions assumed to be business as usual, while others might require additional funding sourced through grants or other contributions, subject to normal council financial processes.

The final version of the AQAP 2026-2030, along with its Equality Impact Assessment, was appended to the report. The decision is a Key Decision, meaning it affects two or more wards and will come into force five clear working days after publication unless called in by at least five non-executive members.