Public Consultation on the draft Air Quality Action Plan
Section 7 of LAQM.PG(S)(16) relates to consultation and outlines that the Scottish Government expects local authorities to continue to work closely and exchange data with other authorities, agencies, businesses and the local community to improve air quality. The Environment Act 1995 provides the statutory basis for consultation and liaison.
In relation to Air Quality Action Plans, Local authorities are required to consult on their preparation of their draft action plan so that consultees have the opportunity to provide their preliminary views about what the plan should include. Whilst some consultation with external stakeholders should, where possible, take place during the development of the draft plan, a full public consultation exercise should be undertaken following Council approval of the draft action plan.
In the public consultation process, under the Environment Act, the authority is required to consult with:
- Scottish Ministers
- SEPA
- All neighbouring local authorities
- Any National Park authority within or adjacent to the local authority area
- Other public authorities as appropriate (e.g. Transport Scotland)
- Bodies representing local business interests and other organisations as appropriate
Across Scotland, authorities who have prepared AQAPs have adopted a number of approaches to fulfil their obligations in terms of public consultation, including:
- Hosting workshops for members of the public and business communities;
- The development of feedback leaflets and online feedback forms;
- Letter drops to properties located in and around the AQMA;
- Making copies of the draft plan available at Council offices and libraries
Whatever the approach the authority chooses to adopt when undertaking the public consultation, the process should include the following as a minimum:
- Details of which pollutants the authority will look at and information regarding the primary sources of these pollutants;
- The timescales for implementing each proposed measure; and
- Details of other organisations or agencies whose involvement is needed to meet the plan’s objectives and what the authority is doing to get their co-operation.
Each authority should decide the timescale for consultation, however, this should be no fewer than 6 weeks in duration.
Examples of some documents that have been prepared by authorities in Scotland for consulting on a draft air quality action plan are available below:
