Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health.

The report sets out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside (OBC), and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester (GM) local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(NOTE: This report contains confidential appendices which has been circulated to members of the Cabinet only).

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

a)    note progress made to date;

b)   note the ministerial direction under the Environment Act 1995 (Greater Manchester) Air Quality Direction 2019 which requires all ten of the Greater Manchester local authorities to implement a charging Clean Air Zone Class C across the region;

c)    agree the need to continue to proceed towards developing the implementation and contract arrangements of a charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester utilising the initial tranche of £36m of funding as required by the ministerial direction / feedback;

d)   delegate authority to The Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Adult Care and Health and Director of Public Health to determine the preparatory implementation and contract arrangements that need to be undertaken utilising the initial tranche of £36m of funding to deliver the CAZ and other GM CAP measures, as set out at paragraph 4.11;

e)    note that the report to determine the timings for commencing the consultation will be received in the Spring of 2020;

f)     note the outstanding need to secure a clear response from the Government on clean vehicles funding asks;

g)   note that Highways England have not been directed to act in relation to tackling NO₂ exceedances in the same way as the Greater Manchester local authorities, and that this will leave some publicly accessible areas of GM adjacent to trunk roads managed by Highways England, with NO₂ exceedances that are not being addressed by the Highways England plan;

h)   delegate authority to The Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Adult Care and Health and Director of Public Health to agree the final content and submission of the documents listed in Appendix One for formal submission to JAQU and note their Publication status; and

i)     delegate authority to The Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Adult Care and Health and Director of Public Health to determine any further technical reports for formal submission to JAQU; and

j)     note that Cabinet Member Adult Care and Health will co-sign a letter from the GM Authorities to the Transport Secretary asking them to bring forward the launch of a statutory consultation to strengthen rules on vehicle idling.

Officer Contacts: Mark Glynn 0161 474 3700, Sue Stevenson 0161 474 3451, mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside (OBC), and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester (GM) local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(NOTE: The report contained information ‘not for publication’ in its appendix that had been circulated to cabinet members only).

The Leader of the Council stated that it was important to note that the Council was required to respond to a ministerial direction to address nitrogen dioxide exceedances, and that the ten GM authorities were working together to implement a Clean Air Zone across Greater Manchester as part of its recommendations as a means of addressing the very specific issues raised within the strict timescales provided.

It was further noted that within the recommendations, there was also a desire to work with the rest of Greater Manchester to lobby the government to launch a statutory consultation on measures to address issues of vehicle idling which was a significant contributor to nitrogen dioxide exceedances.

RESOLVED – That in relation to ‘Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan – Tackling Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside – Update’, the Cabinet has:-

·         noted progress made to date;

·         noted the ministerial direction under the Environment Act 1995 (Greater Manchester) Air Quality Direction 2019 which requires all ten of the Greater Manchester local authorities to implement a charging Clean Air Zone Class C across the region;

·         agreed the need to continue to proceed towards developing the implementation and contract arrangements of a charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester utilising the initial tranche of £36m of funding as required by the ministerial direction / feedback;

·         delegated authority to The Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Adult Care and Health and Director of Public Health to determine the preparatory implementation and contract arrangements that need to be undertaken utilising the initial tranche of £36m of funding to deliver the CAZ and other GM CAP measures, as set out at paragraph 4.11;

·         noted that the report to determine the timings for commencing the consultation will be received in the Spring of 2020;

·         noted the outstanding need to secure a clear response from the Government on clean vehicles funding asks;

·         noted that Highways England have not been directed to act in relation to tackling NO2 exceedances in the same way as the Greater Manchester local authorities, and that this will leave some publicly accessible areas of GM adjacent to trunk roads managed by Highways England, with NO2 exceedances that are not being addressed by the Highways England plan;

·         delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health and Director of Public Health to agree the final content and submission of the documents listed in Appendix One for formal submission to JAQU and note their Publication status; and

·         delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place Management and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health and Director of Public Health to determine any further technical reports for formal submission to JAQU; and

·         noted that Cabinet Member Adult Care and Health will co-sign a letter from the GM Authorities to the Transport Secretary asking them to bring forward the launch of a statutory consultation to strengthen rules on vehicle idling.

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

The report sets out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(NOTE: This report contains two appendices which have been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or 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) setting out the progress that had been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications for the ten Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(Note: Note 4 and Note 11 to the report contained information which was ‘not for publication’ and had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• It was queried how much of the initial tranche of £36 million that had been allocated towards developing the implementation and contract arrangements of a Charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester had been allocated for Stockport. It was also queried how this initial development work could take place as no decision had yet been taken on the number of cameras that would be required to enforce the Zone, and how the oversight of this expenditure would be monitored.
• There was currently a lot of detail to be worked through, for example whether the companies who were upgrading vehicles would be obliged to inform the DVLA.
• A glossary of the acronyms would be helpful for Members.
• The exclusion of Highways England from the scope of the ministerial directive on air quality was disappointing.
• It was important that small businesses were not adversely affected by the proposals. The clean air and vehicle scrappage proposals would be introduced at a significant cost to residents and local businesses. Larger businesses may transfer in the future to an area which was not in a Clean Air Zone.
• It was queried whether there were any legal penalties which could be introduced, such as local byelaws, to prevent engine idling near to schools. Members were advised that whilst there was legislation in place to allow local authorities to impose fixed penalty notices for engine idling, it was currently very difficult to enforce and the penalty was a relatively small fine. However, work was taking place around schools to discourage engine idling.
• The Scrutiny Committee needed to consider the proposals again when more figures and information were available and the Scrutiny Committee would be able to look at the scheme in its entirety.
• Extra equipment would be required to measure and assess the air quality once the proposals were introduced.
• It was noted that the Council acknowledged in the report that residents had expressed concern regarding the air quality from aircraft and that Officers would continue to work with Manchester Airport to address these concerns.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

(NOTE: This report contains two appendices which have been circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee only).

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161-474-4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the progress that had been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside, and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was queried how much of the initial tranche of £36 million that had been allocated towards developing the implementation and contract arrangements of a charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester had been allocated for Stockport.  It was also queried how this initial development work could take place as no decision had yet been taken on the number of cameras that would be required to enforce the Zone, and how the oversight of this expenditure would be monitored.  In response, it was stated that there were no imminent plans to sign off any expenditure, however the proposed delegation arrangements were such that officers could only exercise those functions following consultation with relevant Cabinet members.

·         Details of the robustness of the various Funds available that aimed to provide financial support for the upgrade of light and heavy goods vehicles, buses and taxis would be circulated to members of the Scrutiny Committee along with details of the funds that had been made available by other local authorities.

·         There was a need to increase residential development in areas near to public transport corridors, however these were often the areas with the poorest air quality.

·         There remained a focus on goods vehicles within the Clean Air Plan, while it needed to be acknowledged that the biggest contributor to poor air quality was from private cars.

·         It was important that the government was advised that this authority strongly objected to the exclusion of Highways England from the scope of the ministerial directive on air quality.

·         Work was taking place to improve signage around schools to discourage engine-idling.  It was stated that while there was legislation in place to allow local authorities to impose fixed penalty notices for engine-idling, it was currently very difficult to enforce.

·         The impact of air traffic was also excluded from the scope of the ministerial directive on air quality, and it was noted that the flight path for Manchester Airport was directly above Stockport town centre.  It was also noted that 40,000 jobs in Stockport and the wider conurbation were reliant on the airport.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report sets out the progress that has been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside and the implications for the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161-474-3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk or Sue Stevenson on 0161-474-4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the progress that had been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside and the implications for the ten Greater Manchester local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and their statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The plan could be more ambitious if the Council had greater control over the emitters, for example the M60 and Manchester Airport.
• Members expressed concern about the different approach expected of Highways England with regard to clean air compared to local authorities
• Government funding existed for the production of clean air plans, but discussion remained to be had about the quantum of funding.
• The Greater Manchester Combined Authority was awaiting guidance from the Government as to when the plan would go out for consultation on its detail.
• Clean air grants were currently given to bus operators and there already existed buses with reduced carbon emissions.
• A Member enquired whether there was any data on where people lived who presented themselves to Accident and Emergency Departments with respiratory problems. It was pointed out that people may, of course, work in a different place to where they lived so analysing this data may be problematic.
• An increase in the number of visits to hospitals as a result of respiratory problems could lead to more car journeys.
• Members expressed concern about the limited penalties available for vehicle idling and enquired if there was anything more the Council could do to deter motorists from doing so. The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health advised that she had been a co-signatory to a letter from the Greater Manchester Local Authorities to the Secretary of State for Transport asking him to bring forward the launch of the public consultation on this issue.
• The number of electric charging points being included in development applications was not enough to cater for the anticipated move to electric vehicles in the future. The technology for the disposal of batteries needed to be developed as well.
• Work was taking place in schools to advocate greener modes of transport, for example training on road safety, cycle training and pedestrian training.
• The charges incurred by small businesses could be prohibitive for them and was an issue that needed exploring.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.