Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
We asked if departments had considered revisiting the assumption of a clean air zone as...
Conclusion
We asked if departments had considered revisiting the assumption of a clean air zone as the baseline for judging local authority plans, given that there have been delays to implementation. DfT told us that the evidence from the latest annual assessment is that the clean air zone is the fastest way to achieve compliance, but that they are open to other approaches if local authorities can put together a package of measures that would achieve compliance faster.33
Government Response Summary
Local authorities are responsible for developing their own Clean Air Plans, with government support; they can use measures other than Clean Air Zones if compliance can be achieved as quickly.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Under the NO programme, local authorities are responsible for developing their own 2 Clean Air Plans. Throughout plan development, local authorities are supported by a dedicated account manager. Following a Clean Air Zone launch, the government carries out lessons learned exercises which include seeking feedback on the joint working relationship. 3.9 For the government to assure itself it is meeting its obligation to ensure NO 2 compliance in the shortest possible time, local authorities are required to benchmark their proposals against the delivery of a Clean Air Zone. Each local authority has the flexibility to identify measures other than Clean Air Zones; indeed, the Clean Air Zone Framework is clear that non-charging measures should be preferred if they will deliver compliance as quickly as charging.