Agenda item

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health (Councillor Jude Wells) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the progress that had been made on the development of Greater Manchester’s

Clean Air Plan following a public consultation on proposals that were developed pre-COVID-19 and the link to taxi and private hire common minimum licensing standard.

RESOLVED – (1) That the progress of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan be noted.

(2) That the next steps for the development of the Clean Air Plan and Minimum Licensing  Standards, listed at Section 12 of the report be noted,

(3) That the distribution of Bus Retrofit funding commenced in December 2020 be noted.

(4) That it be noted that Government ministers have agreed to consider extending Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges to the sections of the A628/A57 which form part of the Strategic Road Network, within the proposed CAZ boundary, subject to the outcomes of an assessment, which is expected to be completed by early 2021.

(5)  That it be noted that the GM Clean Air Plan is required to take action to tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances until compliance with the legal limits has been demonstrated and that the nearer term influence of COVID-19 on air quality is not expected to lead to sufficiently  long term reductions in pollution such that the exceedances of the legal limits of nitrogen dioxide will not occur without implementing a Clean Air Zone;

(6) That it be noted that the GM CAP final plan will be brought forward for decision makers as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021.

(7) That it be noted that the outputs of the MLS will be reported alongside the GM CAP as soon as is reasonably practicable and no later than summer 2021.

(8) That approval be given to the establishment of joint committees and to delegate to those committees the Authority’s functions as set out in report at paragraph 10.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6 of the report.

(9) That approval be given to the appointment of the Lead Cabinet Member with portfolio responsibility for Clean Air to sit on both committees for the purposes as set out in this report at paragraph 10.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6 of the report.

(10) That the requirement for the appointment of a further Cabinet Member as substitute for both committees for purposes as set out in this report at paragraph 10.5 with specific terms of reference, as set out in Appendix 6 of the report be noted.

(11) That approval be given to the entering into of a collaboration agreement with the other 9 GM local authorities and GMCA/TfGM to clarify amongst other matters the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the authorities in relation to those contracts set out in Appendix 2 that are required to maintain delivery momentum in line with JAQU funding agreements.

(12) That the agreement of the final form of the collaboration agreement be delegated to the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member with portfolio responsibility for Clean Air and Director of Public Health.

(13) That the awarding of contracts set out in Appendix 2 (subject to government funding) that are required to implement a charging Clean Air Zone in Spring 2022 to ensure the achievement of Nitrogen Dioxide compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2024 at the latest as required by the Ministerial Direction be delegated to the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member with portfolio responsibility for Clean Air and Director of Public Health.

(14) That the making of any consequential amendments to the Constitution with regard to, but not limited to, the incorporation of the joint committees’ terms of reference into Stockport Council’s Constitution be delegated to the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance) and Monitoring Officer.