Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places)

This report gives an overview of the Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan which are currently out to consultation. It identifies the implications for Stockport and requests the comments of councillors.

The Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan are currently out for consultation until the 29 April 2016.

Greater Manchester authorities are responsible for maintaining good air quality or improving air quality where required so as to meet mandatory limits. The two pollutants of most concern for the majority of areas of the UK where air quality is problem are NO2 and PM, derived from gasoline. Transport is by far the largest source of NO2 and PM emissions and is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Goods vehicles and buses make a disproportionate contribution to NO2 emissions.

The Executive is requested to comment on the proposed strategy and plan with particular focus on the proposed actions within the plan and delegate approval to the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) to approve the response on behalf of Stockport Council.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to comment on the proposed Greater Manchester Low Emissions Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan. The Strategy and Action Plan were currently subject of consultation until the 29 April 2016.

RESOLVED – That the proposed response to the Greater Manchester Low Emissions Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan consultation be approved, and final approval of the submission on behalf of Stockport Council be delegated to the Executive Councillor (Supporting Places).

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

This report provides details of the proposed Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report, prior to its consideration by the Executive Meeting.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the proposed Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan which were currently subject to consultation. The report identified issues which were specific to Stockport such as those arising from the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road and the Stockport Town Centre Access Package and Interchange. The report would be submitted to the Executive Meeting on 26 April 2016 and had previously been considered by the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 5 April 2016.

The local authorities in Greater Manchester were responsible for maintaining good air quality or improving air quality where required so as to meet mandatory limits. The two pollutants of most concern for the majority of areas of the United Kingdom where air quality was a problem were NO2 and PM, derived from gasoline. Transport was by far the largest source of N02 and PM emissions and was a major contributor to carbon emissions. Goods vehicles and buses made a disproportionate contribution to NO2.

The Executive Councillor (Supporting Places) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The difficult balance to consider was between maintaining economic growth, protecting the environment and the effect on people’s health, in particular elderly people, of poor air quality.

·          It was important that every effort was made to reduce the amount of freight being transported on the country’s roads, and reduce congestion and improve the reliability of journey times on the motorway network.

·         The effect on the A34 of an increase in cars caused by the housing development at Handforth was considered and the fact that slowing the speed of vehicles increased emissions.

·         The procurement of vehicles was a very important issue. Diesel fleets needed to be replaced as they produced higher particulate matter and the use of hybrid vehicles should be encouraged.

·         People should be encouraged to use buses, particularly hybrid buses with very low emissions such as the town centre shuttle bus.

·         The Council was trying to persuade taxi operators to use hybrid vehicles, through the licensing system or other systems.

·         There were environmental benefits to having a large air quality management area, although it might affect the local economy.

·         The Scrutiny Committee debated whether a congestion charge for Greater Manchester should again be considered as the Council’s objection when it was last considered in 2008 was to the proposed scheme, not the principle of a congestion charge.

·         The problems of poor air quality would only be compounded by the significant increases in population which were projected in the Greater Manchester Spatial Strategy.

·         Electric vehicles were currently prohibitively expensive for a lot of people.

RESOLVED – That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be forwarded to the Executive Meeting on 26 April 2016.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

This report provides details of the proposed Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee will be invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161-474-4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk  

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the draft Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan which were currently subject to consultation, and appended to the report. The report also identified the implications of the Strategy and Action Plan for Stockport.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Members discussed the feasibility of introducing low emissions zones, similar to those in operation in London. It was clarified that the draft Strategy referenced the possibility of such an initiative, it was likely to be for Manchester City Centre and would need to be enforceable. The likely consequences would be to increase emissions and decrease air quality  in the surrounding districts. Members expressed the view that as a Council, Stockport should consider how it might address those areas where air quality monitoring indicated it was poor, including the possibility of its own low emissions zones.

·         It was suggested that addressing air quality had been a struggle for all local authorities for a number of years, partly because there were limited levers available. Members discussed the possibility of bus regulation as a means to influence the quality of the bus fleets, as had happened with the quality bus corridors. These hybrid vehicles used on these routes reduced emissions from idling engines.

·         HGV and freight traffic was a particular issue for Stockport, as these were a contribution to the poor air quality along the most congested routes.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the comments of the Scrutiny Committee be considered as part of the Executive’s response to the Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan consultation.

(3) That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair, be requested to submit a response to the Greater Manchester Low Emission Strategy and Air Quality Action Plan on behalf of the Scrutiny Committee to reflect the views expressed at this meeting and previous discussions about air quality in Stockport.