(time limit 15 minutes).
Air Quality
Councillor Shah to MOVE and Councillor Jabbar to SECOND:
This council notes that air quality remains a significant issue affecting the life quality of the residents of Oldham, with levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) driven up primarily by road transport. Local modelling has identified a number of stretches of road in the borough where NO2 levels are expected to exceed legal limits beyond 2020, mainly on major roads near our town centres.
Air pollution recognises no boundaries, so a response is needed from individuals, from local governments and from national government. This council notes the important work ongoing across Greater Manchester to campaign for clean air, and welcomes the commitment of the Combined Authority to hit World Health Organisation targets for air quality by 2030 as part of being a WHO BreatheLife City. Greater Manchester councils have also pledged to be 100% fossil fuel free by 2050.
Given the scale of the challenge, this council notes with concern that national government has recently removed grants to encourage the take up of electric vehicles, and acknowledges the criticism of this decision by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee.
This council resolves:
1) To work closely with the GMCA to deliver the Clean Air Plan, and to continue to promote the GM Clean Air campaign to encourage residents to think about how they can do their bit to reduce air pollution.
2) To ask the Chief Executive to seek immediate clarification from the Secretary of State on how national government will support Oldham’s ambitions to improve air quality, particularly given recent decisions to cut grants for electric vehicles.
3) To seek new opportunities to further establish Oldham as the region’s greenest borough and improve the life chances of residents and particularly young people beyond the Clean Air Plan, including:
a) Reducing air pollution caused by vehicle use around schools at the start and end of the school day.
b) Incentivising the use of electric vehicles through improved access to charging points and other preferential schemes, preparing the borough for a future where 3 million charging points will be needed nationally by 2040.
c) Growing trees in key sites in the borough to dampen pollution effects and make more liveable places.
Minutes:
Air Quality
Councillor Shah MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED the following MOTION:
“This Council notes that air quality remains a significant issue affecting the life quality of the residents of Oldham, with levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) driven up primarily by road transport. Local modelling has identified a number of stretches of road in the borough where NO2 levels are expected to exceed legal limits beyond 2020, mainly on major roads near our town centres.
Air pollution recognises no boundaries, so a response is needed from individuals, from local governments and from national government. This council notes the important work ongoing across Greater Manchester to campaign for clean air, and welcomes the commitment of the Combined Authority to hit World Health Organisation targets for air quality by 2030 as part of being a WHO Breathelife City. Greater Manchester councils have also pledged to be 100% fossil fuel free by 2050.
Given the scale of the challenge, this council notes with concern that national government has recently removed grants to encourage the take up of electric vehicles, and acknowledges the criticism of this decision by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee.
This council resolves:
1) To work closely with the GMCA to deliver the Clean Air Plan, and to continue to promote the GM Clean Air campaign to encourage residents to think about how they can do their bit to reduce air pollution.
2) To ask the Chief Executive to seek immediate clarification from the Secretary of State on how national government will support Oldham’s ambitions to improve air quality, particularly given recent decisions to cut grants for electric vehicles.
3) To seek new opportunities to further establish Oldham as the region’s greenest borough and improve the life chances of residents and particularly young people beyond the Clean Air Plan, including:
a. Reducing air pollution cause by vehicle use around schools at the start and end of the school day.
b. Incentivising the use of electric vehicles through improved access to charging points and other preferential schemes, preparing the borough for a future where 3 million charging points will be needed nationally by 2040.
c. Growing trees in key sites in the borough to dampen pollution effects and make more liveable places.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor C. Gloster MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following AMENDMENT:
Amend resolution Point 3a) by adding at the end ‘and at play areas, care homes and medical facilities by:
· Looking to Introduce pilot schemes such as enforceable ‘no-idling’ zones, street closure orders or ‘gates’ outside schools and children’s play areas in the Borough.
· Working with our NHS partners, to look at extending ‘no-idling’ zones outside Medical Centres, care homes and in hospital ‘pick up’ areas.’
· Discouraging, through our licensing powers, idling by taxis and private hire vehicles, using enforcement powers when necessary.
· Requiring drivers of Council operated vehicles not to idle, and ask the same of our public sector partners and our public transport providers with respect to their own vehicles.
· Conducting an information campaign to influence driver behaviour by urging motorists to turn off their engines if they think they are not going to move for around two minutes and asking them not to manually override ‘stop-start’ systems.’
Amend resolution Point 3b) by adding at the end ‘by:
· Hosting on its website:
o Information about the grants made available by the Government to the public and to businesses through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles for the installation of electric vehicle charging points on its website
o Information about approved installers engaged in this work
o An online register of electric vehicle charging points that are publically accessible
· Developing proposals to bid for grants from the:
o Workplace Charging Scheme to install charge points in Council buildings to encourage a greater use of electric or hybrid vehicles by its staff
o On-Street Residential Charging Scheme to install, in conjunction with our PFI contractor, charge points in street lighting columns, where appropriate, in instances where there is current on-street parking provision
o Taxi Infrastructure Scheme to provide charging points at taxi ranks
· Working to install public charging points in each of the districts, focusing on public car parks
· Encouraging local taxi drivers to move to hybrid or electric vehicles
· Looking to replace, at the end of their operational life, Council vehicles with new hybrid or electric vehicles
· Encouraging the establishment of Electric Car Clubs across the Borough
· Establishing principles for use in procurement to encourage use of electric or low emission vehicles by contractors
· Reviewing our planning conditions to pre-empt anticipated Government legislation in requiring new housing developments and businesses to install electric vehicle charging points
· Exploring the possibility of Oldham being a location for a battery storage facility and charging hub as part of the nationwide network, given the borough’s proximity to the motorway network’
Add resolution Point 3d) ‘To look at the practicalities of installing a network of air pollution monitors across the borough, and of introducing mobile monitors to test outside schools and outside care homes and in play areas.’
Add a resolution Point 4) ‘To ask the responsible Cabinet Member to provide a written annual report to full Council on progress made.’
Motion as Amended to read:
“This council notes that air quality remains a significant issue affecting the life quality of the residents of Oldham, with levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) driven up primarily by road transport. Local modelling has identified a number of stretches of road in the borough where NO2 levels are expected to exceed legal limits beyond 2020, mainly on major roads near our town centres.
Air pollution recognises no boundaries, so a response is needed from individuals, from local governments and from national government. This council notes the important work ongoing across Greater Manchester to campaign for clean air, and welcomes the commitment of the Combined Authority to hit World Health Organisation targets for air quality by 2030 as part of being a WHO BreatheLife City. Greater Manchester councils have also pledged to be 100% fossil fuel free by 2050.
Given the scale of the challenge, this council notes with concern that national government has recently removed grants to encourage the take up of electric vehicles, and acknowledges the criticism of this decision by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee.
This council resolves:
1) To work closely with the GMCA to deliver the Clean Air Plan, and to continue to promote the GM Clean Air campaign to encourage residents to think about how they can do their bit to reduce air pollution.
2) To ask the Chief Executive to seek immediate clarification from the Secretary of State on how national government will support Oldham’s ambitions to improve air quality, particularly given recent decisions to cut grants for electric vehicles.
3) To seek new opportunities to further establish Oldham as the region’s greenest borough and improve the life chances of residents and particularly young people beyond the Clean Air Plan, including:
a) Reducing air pollution caused by vehicle use around schools at the start and end of the school day and at play areas, care homes and medical facilities by:
· Looking to Introduce pilot schemes such as enforceable ‘no-idling’ zones, street closure orders or ‘gates’ outside schools and children’s play areas in the Borough.
· Working with our NHS partners, to look at extending ‘no-idling’ zones outside Medical Centres, care homes and in hospital ‘pick up’ areas.’
· Discouraging, through our licensing powers, idling by taxis and private hire vehicles, using enforcement powers when necessary.
· Requiring drivers of Council operated vehicles not to idle, and ask the same of our public sector partners and our public transport providers with respect to their own vehicles.
· Conducting an information campaign to influence driver behaviour by urging motorists to turn off their engines if they think they are not going to move for around two minutes and asking them not to manually override ‘stop-start’ systems.’
b) Incentivising the use of electric vehicles through improved access to charging points and other preferential schemes, preparing the borough for a future where 3 million charging points will be needed nationally by 2040 by:
· Hosting on its website:
o Information about the grants made available by the Government to the public and to businesses through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles for the installation of electric vehicle charging points on its website
o Information about approved installers engaged in this work
o An online register of electric vehicle charging points that are publically accessible
· Developing proposals to bid for grants from the:
o Workplace Charging Scheme to install charge points in Council buildings to encourage a greater use of electric or hybrid vehicles by its staff
o On-Street Residential Charging Scheme to install, in conjunction with our PFI contractor, charge points in street lighting columns, where appropriate, in instances where there is current on-street parking provision
o Taxi Infrastructure Scheme to provide charging points at taxi ranks
· Working to install public charging points in each of the districts, focusing on public car parks
· Encouraging local taxi drivers to move to hybrid or electric vehicles
· Looking to replace, at the end of their operational life, Council vehicles with new hybrid or electric vehicles
· Encouraging the establishment of Electric Car Clubs across the Borough
· Establishing principles for use in procurement to encourage use of electric or low emission vehicles by contractors
· Reviewing our planning conditions to pre-empt anticipated Government legislation in requiring new housing developments and businesses to install electric vehicle charging points
· Exploring the possibility of Oldham being a location for a battery storage facility and charging hub as part of the nationwide network, given the borough’s proximity to the motorway network
c) Growing trees in key sites in the borough to dampen pollution effects and make more liveable places.
d) To look at the practicalities of installing a network of air pollution monitors across the borough, and of introducing mobile monitors to test outside schools and outside care homes and in play areas.
4) To ask the responsible Cabinet Member to provide a written annual report to full Council on progress made.”
Councillor Shah exercised her right of reply.
Councillor C. Gloster exercised his right of reply.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
On being put to the vote, 7 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT and 45 votes were cast AGAINST with 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
Councillor Shah did not exercise her right of reply.
On being put to the vote, the ORIGINAL MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Council work closely with the GMCA to deliver the Clean Air Plan and to continue to promote the GM Clean Air campaign to encourage residents to think about how they could do their bit to reduce air pollution.
2. The Chief Executive be asked to seek immediate clarification from the Secretary of State on how national government would support Oldham’s ambitions to improve air quality, particularly given recent decisions to cut grants for electric vehicles.
3. To seek new opportunities to further establish Oldham as the region’s greenest borough and improve the life chances of residents and particularly young people beyond the Clean Air Plan, including:
a) Reducing air pollution caused by vehicle use around schools at the start and end of the school day.
b) Incentivising the use of electric vehicles through improved access to charging points and other preferential schemes, preparing the borough for a future where 3 million charging points will be needed nationally by 2040.
c) Growing trees in key sites in the borough to dampen pollution effects and make more liveable places.