Schedule 11: Local air quality management framework New section 83A Duties of English local authorities in relation to designated areas
Subsection (1) sets out the application of this section.
	Subsection (2) applies a duty on local authorities to prepare an action plan to ensure air quality standards and objectives are achieved in the Air Quality Management Area it has designated in accordance with section 83. This tightens the requirement to ensure that action plans should secure the required standards and objectives.
	Subsection (3) sets out that an action plan’s purpose is to set out how the local authority will secure air quality standards and objectives in the air quality management area.
	Subsection (4) sets out that the action plan must also maintain air quality standards and objectives in the Air Quality Management Area, once achieved.
	Subsection (5) provides that action plans must set out measures the local authority will take to secure and maintain air quality standards and objectives within the Air Quality Management Area, and requires a date by which these measures must be carried out to be set out in the plan.
	Subsection (6) provides that local authorities may revise the action plan, and must revise the action plan if new or different measures are required. This will be applicable if the existing plan is not securing compliance, or if there are new circumstances which need to be taken into account.
	Subsection (7) sets out that the following two subsections apply where a district council preparing a plan is in a two-tier authority.
	Subsection (8) provides that, in the case of disagreement between a county and district council on the contents of the plan, either the county council or the district council preparing the plan can refer the matter to the Secretary of State.
	Subsection (9) gives Secretary of State the power to confirm or reject the proposed action plan and the actions to be taken, where there is disagreement between the district and county council. This would apply where the Secretary of State considers the plan to be inadequate and not likely to secure compliance with air quality objectives.
	Subsection (10) requires that, if an action plan has been referred to the Secretary of State under subsection (8), the district council must abide by the Secretary of State’s decision.
	Paragraph 7 amends section 84 of the Environment Act 1995 to clarify that this section now applies only to Scottish and Welsh local authorities.
	Paragraph 8 inserts new sections 85A and 85B into the Environment Act 1995. These new sections define the new duties of air quality partners. These could be neighbouring authorities, relevant public authorities or the Environment Agency, where relevant to a local pollution exceedance or likely future exceedance.