Agenda item

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(Note: Note 4 and Note 11 to the report contained information which was ‘not for publication’ and had been circulated to Members of the Scrutiny Committee only).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