Issue - meetings

To receive any questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters relevant to the Council’s activities.

Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Mayor and councillors on matters within the powers and duties of the Council.

One public question was submitted as follows:-

·         Relating to the Council’s investment in car parking provision at Manchester Airport and its compatibility with the need to make improvements to air quality.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance and Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) responded that Greater Manchester was being ambitious by bringing forward the target date for carbon neutrality from 2050 to 2038 which will allow Greater Manchester to play its part in complying with the Paris agreement to limit global temperatures to 1.5 degrees.

It was stated that there needed to be an inclusive approach to Manchester Airport, of which the Council was a key shareholder, and had an interest in ensuring its continued success.  The building of a new car park was necessary to facilitate the success of the expansion of airport terminal building.  The airport was committed to tackling air quality and reducing the number of passengers accessing it by car.  In addition, the airport was aiming for the carbon neutrality of its ground operations.  It was also noted that the government had introduced legislation so that in the future there would be no petrol or diesel powered vehicles, so vehicles using that car park in the future would not be emitting carbon dioxide.