Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief
Executive which set out the progress that had been made on the
development of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan following
the decision that the GM Local Authorities will move to a statutory
public consultation on the GM Clean Air Plan as soon as reasonably
practicable in light of COVID-19 restrictions, and the link to taxi
and private hire common minimum licensing standards. The report
also considered the formal governance mechanisms that would
underpin the delivery of a GM Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the
supporting measures.
This report was not seeking a decision on whether to make a
scheme as that has been mandated by the Secretary of State. It was
setting out a position for consultation on the daily charge,
discounts and exemptions of a Category C GM Clean Air Zone, and the
proposals for the supporting funds that had been developed taking
stakeholder engagement and statistical modelling into
account.
The report sought agreement to consult and endorsement of
the policy for consultation. The policy would be reviewed in line
with the findings from the statutory consultation.
This report provided an update
on recent developments of the GM Clean Air Plan including the LGV
and hackney funding position, and interaction with the strategic
route network and Highways England. It confirmed arrangements for
distributing funding received for bus retrofit and highlights
separate discussions with DfT about funding for bus
replacement.
It also set out the results of
the public conversation that was held last year and the key points
from a number of focus groups that were held with key impacted
stakeholders and set out a proposal for consultation, within
current Government COVID-19 guidelines, over an eight-week period
starting in October 2020.
Options/alternatives considered
Option 1 – To agree the recommendations as contained
within the report
Options 2 – Not to agree the recommendations
contained within the report.
RESOLVED – That:
- The progress of the Greater Manchester Clean Air
Plan be noted.
- Transport for Greater Manchester had confirmation
that the funding award for Bus Retrofit should be distributed as
soon as possible as per arrangements put in place for the Clean Bus
Technology Funds and this was noted.
- The update on the possible impacts of COVID-19 on
the GM Clean Air Plan be noted.
- Oldham Council along with the other nine GM local
Authorities to hold an 8-week public consultation on the GM Clean
Air Plan commencing in October 2020;
- The GM local Authorities intention to consult on
GM’s proposed Minimum Licensing Standards, alongside the
Clean Air Plan consultation be noted.
- Transport for Greater Manchester to act as the
Operating Body for the GM Clean Air Zone and supporting measures as
set out at paragraph 7.5 of the report be agreed.
- Oldham Council along with the other nine GM
Authorities individually to be a ‘charging authority’
for the purposes of the Clean Air Zone, pursuant to the Transport
Act 2000 be agreed.
- The Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan Policy for
Consultation at Appendix 3 of the report be endorsed.
- The Equalities Impact Assessment on the Clean Air
Plan, as set out at Appendix 5 of the report be noted.
- The submission of further reports would be brought
forward to set out the formal governance mechanisms that will
underpin the delivery of a GM Clean Air Zone and the supporting
measures, including the full scope of the suite of powers that
would be needed to be delegated to the Operating Body be
noted
- The delegation to Helen Lockwood and Cllr Barbara
Brownridge to approve the submission of the cases for measures to
the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit to support the GM Clean Air
Plan be agreed.
- The delegation to Helen Lockwood and Cllr Barbara
Brownridge to approve the GM Clean Air Plan consultation materials,
to include the Equalities Impact Assessment on the consultation be
agreed.
- It be noted the submission of a response to
Department for Transport’ s Decarbonising Transport –
setting the challenge, as set out at Appendix 1 of the report had
been submitted to Government.